The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-02
D|SC0RD IN THE SENATE
Senator Lodge Withdraws His
Danish West Indies Bill.
BAD FAITH WAS CHARGED
II Was Asserted That Advantage Was
Being Taken of the Present Situa-
ton to Rush Through
Questionable Measure.

Washington. April 1.-The senate
/ spent almost the entire day i'm the dis
| cussion OF the resolution reported yes
| terday from the senate committee on
foreign relations for the acquisition of
| the West India islands owned by Dem
! mark. and the session was closed by
practical withdrawal Of the resolution
| by Senator Lodge. He stated that the
! debate had developed such a wide diff
| ference of opinion in the senate, when
there had heretofore been such unani-
nifty. that he would not further press
the matter at a time when the pres-
dent needs the support of all senators of
| all parties. He moved that the senate
proceed tn the consideration of exec
utive business. thus voluntarily for the
time abandoning the resolution.
| This action on the part of Senator
Lodge was preceded by an animated
| debate I'm which many sharp words
| We're exchanged over the policy of
| bringing in a proposition liable to di-
vide the senate at a time when unani-
| nifty was especially desirable, and when
| all parties had shown a disposition to
| give their uttermost support to the ad-
| ministration in preparing for the war
which almost all the speakers consld-
cred probable. Many speeches were
/ pi iiiS anu cpiiit Ntnt 81
| far as to intimate that an advantage
had been taken of the situation to press
| a proposition which they considered
| questionable. with the hope that the
| senate in it's patriotic desire to support
| the president at a critical time would
| consider the matter favorably now.
| whereas IL would not do so in times of
quiet. Senator German and Senator
| Pettigrew were among those who took
/ this nnGifinn Mr. t.nrman rafarrad n
| the recent unanimous action OF con-
| gress in entrusting the vast sum of
| $50. 900 for his expenditure and main
| tanning the dignity of the country, into
| the hands of the president. and said
that since the days of Washington no
such confidence had been imposed In a
chief executive of the nation, but that
while this was a great trust IL carried
with 1t vast responsibility. So far. the
Legislative branch of the government
had been united i'm support of the exec
utive. 1t was evidently impossible to
| preserve this cohesion on the part of
| this proposition. and he counseled that
IL be not pressed.
Senator Pettigrew took n similar po-
| sition. He said he was willing to sup
| port the administration In all reason
| able and just measures i'm preparation
| for what appeared an inevitable war.
| but he did not intend because of his 10y
| atty in this respect to be induced to
| give his adherence to measure that
| did not appeal TO his own Judgment.
| The islands were. he said, fully 1000
| miles from our own coast, and to at
| tempt to acquire them now. would be
| in violation of our policy of not annex
| ing territory which il not contiguous
| He said there was no assurance beyond
| the word of senators that the president
| really desired the purchase of the ISL
| on foreign relations had taken advan-
! tage OF the present apparently friendly
| spirit of congress to spring a question
| Of policy. which at least had had only
| very brief consideration. from the
| executive. He said Senator Lodge had
| had a report in favor of the policy now
1 undertaken i'm his desk for a year. and
| that the friends Of the measure sought
! to get IL through now under the stress
| of war pressure. He called attention to
| the fact that Senator Lodge had safl
| that the islands could not be annexed
! in time Of war; and II this was true
and with war imminent as IL IL. IL Is
| evident that there would not be time to
/ complete the purchase in time to make
| them available. If there was going To
be war. the United States. he thought.
| could secure all the coaling stations
necessary on the island of Cuba. and
that IL there was no war none would be
needed.
Senator Lodge replied briefly to this.
submitting his long advocacy of the ac-
| quisition of the Danish possessions and
| explaining his efforts TO secure action
| at the present time. He said he had
| called upon the president with reference
| TO the purchase of the islands. and that
| not only he. but the naval officials. had
| concurred in the opinion that their pos
/ session would be Of inestimable value in
| case of hostilitles in the West Indies.
Senator Perkins and Senator Elkins.
| both republicans. attacked the purchase
| proposition as unwise. in that IL was
| liable TO involve us in extra expense
and unnecessary ENHANCEMENT. Sena-
tor Teller stated that ordinarily he
| would favor annexation and that he
! had done so for many years, but that
ne would not advise an effort to secure
! action at "A critical time like the pres
| ent. when IL was unwise TO bring in any
| proposition calculated to create discord
| and division. He therefore criticised
| the action Of the committee in reporting
the resolution at this time.
Senator Bacon of Georgia spoke
| against the resolution, saying that for
present or immediate war purposes
| they would be useless. and that they
| could be acquired If wanted at some
! future time. The acquisition of the ter
| ritory. in his opinion. should be by
treaty anu not bN ltSiSidliNt act ne
/ said IL would take a year To fortify
| either Of the West Indies so as 10 make
| them available for any purpose. At
/ present We have not the guns nor the
! time 10 complete the works for forti-
| flying any portion of the islands.
Senator Mason was among the sup
porters Of the resolution. He put his
/ support on the ground that he was
willing to aid the administration in any
4 Fr.,s
/ full prosecution Of a war with Spain.
The senate went into executive ses-
| sion on motion of Lodge. member Of the
! committee on foreign relations. The
purpose Of the secret session was con-
! sideration of the resolution reported
! yesterday for acquisition OF the Dan
| ish West India islands. The reason
| for considering the matter behind
/ closed doors is the belief our relations
with Spain will necessarily be dis