The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-18

Washington, March Ex-senator Proc
tor of Vermont, who returned last
Sunday from an extended trip to and
through the island of Cuba, this after
noon made a statement to the senate
of his observations on the island.
From many view points the state
ment was remarkable. 1t had evidently
been most carefully prepared. Every
element of sensationalism had been
studiously eliminated from it, and, ex-
cept so far as the facts recited were
sensational, it bore not the slightest
evidence of an effort TO arouse the pub
lie mind, already alive to the condl-
ton of affairs on the island
Calm and dispassionate to a notable
degree, the utterances of the senator
aroused a breathless interest FNery
person within the sound of his voice
was convinced that he was putting his
observations into careful terms, lest he
might subject himself to the criticism
of being emotional.
One of the best Characterization OF
the statement was made by Senator
Frye of Maine, few minutes after its
delivery
1T is" said he. ''just as if Proctor
had held up his right hand and sworn
to it,
That was the impression the state
ment made upon the senate.
ALMOST DRAMATIC.
The scene in the senate just preced-
ing and during the delivery or the
speech of Senator Proctor was almost
dramatic in the intensity of its inter-
est The national quarantine bill was
under discussion, and Senator Mallory
-reah a
in opposition to the pending measure.
Mr. Frye entered the chamber, and, IN
terrupting Mr.. Mallory, requested him
to yield to Mr.. Proctor, who desired TO
make a statement concerning his OBJ
servatiors in Cuba, of interest to the
senate and to the country
Instantly there was conlmotion on
the floor and in the galleries 1t had
been anticipated that Mr.. Proctor
would soor make a statement. but it
was not supposed that he would make it
on the floor of the senate. A call OF the
senate was demanded by Mr.. Chandler
On. H0, and in a few minutes every
senator in the capitol was in mis- seat.
and, the word having been passed
through the corridors, people fiocked
into the galleries until they were
packed.
Senator Proctor was accorded the
closest attention throughout his speech.
He confined himself to mis- manuscript,
and, at the conclusion, while there was
no demonstration, he was cordially con-
graduated by many of his colleagues.
Mr. Proctor read his speech from
manuscript, speaking rapidly, but
clearly. He said:
FOR PUBLIC INTERESTS SAKE.
More importance seems to be at
tached by others to my recent visit to
Cuba than have given it. 1t has been
suggested that 1 maze public state
ment of what saw and how the situa-
ton IMPRESSED me. This l 10 on ac-
count of public interest in all that con-
Germs Cuba, and to correct any iEac-
curacies that have not unnaCurally ap-
oeared IN some of the reported inter-
views with me.
my trip was entirely unofficial and
of my own motion; not suggested by
anyone The only mention 1 made OF
it to the president was to say &c him
that l contemplated such trip, and
to ask him if there was any objection
to it, to which he replied that lie could
see none No one but myself, there
fore, is responsible for anything in this
statement. Judge Day gave me brief
note of introduction to General Lee,