Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-31
THURST0N ON CUBA.
The Senator's Speech on the Island
Causes a Dramatic Scene.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Debate on the Measure tn Bs Closed To
Day-rhe Cuban Question said to
Have Caused serious Differ
ences In the Cabinet.

| dramatic in the intensity OF us inter
est was presented in the senate yester'
day during the delivery by Mr. Thur.
ston of Nebraska, of speech on the
Cuban situation. Within a few min
utes after the senate convened every
senator who could be present was in
his seat and by the time Mr.. Thurston
began his speech dozens Of members OF
the house were either standing or oc-
cupying chairs in the area without the
semicircle of seats His first sentence,
in which he stated that he spoke by
command of silent lips-a delicate and
touching reference to the loss of his
wife on his memorable trip to Cuba
commanded instant attention. A
hush fell over the great audi.
ence, which hung with almost
breathless attention and interest
upon every word. Some surprise
has been expressed that Senator
Thurston should appear in public
prominently so soon after the demise
of Mrs. Thurston, but the first sen.
tence Of his speech furnished key TO
his action. The speech was very gem
orally regarded as mastery effort,
and even those who could not agree
with his conclusions conceded the
power of his grafton. As he neared
the end Of the speech his voice,
which had been clear and
ringing, noticeably, broke. He
| was almost overcome with emo
ton but rallied with an effort and
closed in manner that thrilled his
auditors. Staid aud dignihed senators
tarned away and wept and in the gal
leries tears welled to hundreds OF eyes
1t was a remarkable scene and the
stiffness until the last word had been
pronounced was as Of death itself.
As Mr.. Thurston sank into his seat
and buried his face In his hands, the
galleries were swept by such tumult
of applause as has not in long time
been heard in the senate chamber.
The senate passed these bills yester.
day: For the protection OF songbirds
providing that the importation into
the United States of birds, feathers or
parts of birds for ornamental purposes
be prohibited, and prohibiting the
transportation or sale of such articles
| in any territory of the United States
or in the District of Columbia; to ex-
tend for one year the time of begin
ming the construction Of bridge
across the Missouri river at st. Charles,
Mo-; to provide for the purchase of a
site and the erection of public build.
ing thereon at Joplin, Mo-, at cost Of
100000 On motion an adjournment
was taken until Monday.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
WASHINGTON, March 95..-The naval
appropriation bill was taken up in the
house yesterday and after consider
able difficulty an arrangement was
made to close general debate at one
o'clock to-day. There was great pres
sure for time, but the leaders desired
to limit, Us far as possible, the op.
portunity forinhammatory utterances.
The debate yesterday was not on SEN
sational lines, but every radical ex-
preston was cheered to the echo by
the crowded galleries. The speeches
o. Messrs. Dayton, of West
Virginia, and Arnold, of Pennsyl-
vana. both of whom took advanced
positions in favor of aggressive action
to stop the war in Cuba, aroused in
tense enthusiasm. Messrs Boutelle,
chairman of the naval committee, and
Meyer, democrat of Louisiana, also q
member of the committee, confined
their remarks closely to the bill and
the extraordinary emergency which
necessitated the large increase 1t car
ried.
DIFFERENCES IN THE CABINET.
| WASHINGTON, March 20. The Cuban
question has caused serious differences
among the members of the cabinet
and it is regarded as possible that Sec
retaries Gage and Bliss may resign
their portfolios. Both these men art
bitterly opposed to recognizing the in
dependence of Cuba, and they lool
with no favor on the plan of re
lieving the suffering on the Is
land by armed intervention. They OBJ
ject to any action on the part Of thi'
government attempting to interfere
with SPANS control Of Cuba. Secre
taries Alger and Wilson are both doing
all they can to induce the president To
recognize Cuba without further delay
Attorney General Griggs and Score
taries Gary and Long are somewhat
undecided on the proposition, but ART
inclined to support the president