The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-01
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.
Hot Debate In the senate while In secret
Session.


Washington. May 3l.-The senate re-
manned in secret executive session for
three hours to-day. The entire time
was given to a rather free discussion
or the Hawaiian question. based on a
motion declaring IL to be the sense Of
the senate that annexation should not
be discussed In open session. At the
conclusion of the debate the senate
voted viva voce not to pursue the SUBJ
ject further except behind closed doors.
Senator Lodge did not press the SUBJ
ject of his speech after the public was
excluded. but other senators declared
themselves In favor OF prompt action,
the speeches of Messrs. Chandler and
Morgan being the most pronounced
Senator Morgan expressed the opinion
that. under h circumstances, the an
nexation OF the Hawaiian islands was
as much a war measure as any step
that could possibly be taken. and he
thought congress a remained in ses-
sion long enough to pass all war meas
ures. He paid his respects to those
who preferred adjournment to remain
ing here attending TO the country's
business. A large portion Of his speech
was made In reply to senator White,
who had antagonized the theory that
the Islands were in n a essential
to u success in the conflict with
Spain.
senator Chandler ~contended that the
possession of the islands was a military
necessity. He dwelt upon the fact
that Hawaii afforded practically the
only stopping place between our shores
AND the Philippines. He mentioned the
fact that we now have 1000 tons of
coal stored at Honolulu, and said that
III. in view OF the existing war, we
should be shown any favoritism what
ever, the republic would be held to a
strict accountability by other countries.
He called attention to the Geneva
award, and said hat under its terms we
would.i by forcing Hawaii to violate
neutrality. render that country liable
to all damage that might be done to the
people of other n~ationalities by ships
which had stopped in the Islands. wher-
ever that damage was done. This was
a principle for which the Spanish con-
tended, and IL would be a veritable trav-
esty on justice 10 render This friendly
and helpless power the subject of the
principle. The only prope way out of
the difficulty, he argued. was to an
mex the islands and thus serve our own
and protect them from the
vengeance of other powers. and he
thought no time should be lost in taking
this step.
Other speeches favorable To annexa-
ton were made by Senators Stewart
n Elkins, n Senator Allison. act
ing chairman OF the finance committee.
intimated n willingness 10 take up the
Hawaiian question after the passage of
the war revenue bill.
Let u.s." said he. finish this bill. and
then. IL necessary. take up the Hawaiian
question" He mad a plea against
investing the n subject with the 9TH
er.
Senators Pettigrew and White were
to annexation. and senator
Hale announced himself favorable TO
Ina adjournment after the passage of
the war revenue bill and the necessary
bills.
Mr.. Pettigrew devoted himself espe-
cially to senator Chambers declara-
ton that the acquisition of the islands
was a necessity of war. He c~ontended
such was not the case.
nate White thought he saw in the
effort to secure Hawaiian annexation
at this time a desire to establish a
precedent for future proceedings I'm
other cases and said the matter should
be postponed until after the war and
all efforts at annexation considered to-
gether.
Senator Lodge said. after the conclu-
sion of the secret session. that ne ac-
his purpose In calling at
to the necessity for action on
this subject before final adjournment.
and that ne would not further press
The subject I'm connection with the war
revenue bin. |