The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-06
A SPLIT IN THE SENATE
TWO FACTIONS WITH A SHARP
LY DEFINED DIVISION
Hanna Element VIII Advocate the
Mckinley Plan Of Intervention
Without Recognising Independ-
ence, While the Radicals VIII
Oppose Any Such Solution Of the
Cuban QuestiOn-LOng Wrangle.

WASHINGTON. April 5.-A debate
which occurred in the executive ses-
/ sion of the senate late this afternoon
would indicate that no matter what
| may be the character Of the resolution
to come from the committee on foreign
| relations. the resolution will cause q
serious and perhaps prolonged discus
| sion. 1t emphasizes the fact that there
are two elements in the senate-one for
independence with Intervention, an
other for intervention alone, and these
two factions will fight vigorously for
their ideas.
The relations of the United States
with Spain was the uppermost topic in
the executive session and constituted
the subject of many conferences among
| senators.
The activity was due to the an
nouncement that the presidents mes
sage would recommend the adoption of
| a policy looking to intervention in Cuba
on the part Of the executive branch of
the government rather than the recog-
milton of independence, and to an eff
fort to make smooth the way for the
reception of such a report.
The executive session was devoted
! to general discussion Of the policy
to be pursued towards Spain, and de-
! Neloped the fact that much. opposition
|
| policy in line with the presidents de-
sires.
The question was raised by Senator
| Allen, who made a long speech, pre-
dieting much dissatisfaction in the
country at large with a policy on the
Fart of the executive that did not go
to the extent of giving the Cubans their
| entire independence of the mother
| country.
Senator Allen was followed by other
| speakers in the same line, and the fact
| was made very evident that if the COM
mittee on foreign relations should bring
in resolution merely complying with
| the presidents request and stopping
short of a declaration for independence,
| there would be an effort In the senate
! to amend it so as to accomplish this
| end
Amendments Promised.
Indeed the announcement was made
| by more than one senator that he would
| offer such an amendment and by many
more that they would support an effort
pendence declaration to a resolution
providing simply for intervention.
The committee was therefore urged
| not to yield to the wishes of the presi-
| dent, but to stand out strongly for
| complete action. The policy of the pres
| ident for executive intervention only
| was criticised as one which would place
| the entire question in the hands OF the
| president and thus leave the matter
! where it now is, except that it would
! be a voluntary REIMBURSEMENT of the
| right Of congress in the premises-the
right among others to declare war.
| The greater part or the speech-mak-
ing was in opposition to the executive,
off tod !,
probable action of the committee. There
| was also a reference to the intention Of
the president to withhold the Cuban
consulaS correspondence, and a sugges-
ton was made that If this matter was
of character too inf1ammable to per-
nit of its being made public that it
| be given to the senate in secret ses-
! sion. .-.
A resolution was offered that the en-
! tire Cuban question should be -censid-
cred behind closed doors on account of
the probability of utterances which
would afford information to the enemy
This proposition was debated. but
without reaching a conclusion
While the senate was in executive
| session a formidable element In the
senate was considering what should be
| done IL case resolutions should be re-
ported providing for recognition of in
| dependence. This faction was compos-
| ed of what is known as the conserva-
tive elemrnt on the Republican side of
| the senate. The conference was held
! in Senator Aldrich's committee room
and among those present were Senators
Hanna. Plat Comm. Spooner, Hale.
Fairbanks and Aldrich. Senator ALI
| son was also there for a brief time.
Back of Mckinley.
A general purpose was expressed to
IL
should recommend a recognition of
Cuban independence, and which did not
indeed conf1ne itself to the support of
| the presidents recommendation for in
| tervention only.
A decision was reached to labor with
| the committee on foreign relations not
| to report a resolution with a double
purpose, and the intention was ex-
| pressed on the part of some to oppose
| it's adoption if reported.
| In accordance with the action Of this
| committee, Senators Allison and Aid
| rich had a prolonged conference later
| with Senators Davis, Frye and Lodge
| of the committee on foreign relations
| These members Of the foreign commit
| tee were able to assure the other Sem
ators that no effort would be made to
i report the resolution tomorrow or the
| same day on which the message is re-
ceived; but they could not give the
same assurance as to-the character of
! the resolutions.
They did not conceal from their Wis
| itors the fact that the committee al
ready had agreed upoi: a resolution
providing both for independence and
| Intervention, and that it might be diff
ficult to change the recommendation.
| But on this point no one could speak
definitely until the committee confer,
and the visiting senators were .compell-
| ed to withdraw without receiving any
| very satisfactory assurances.
The prevailing opinion among SEN
| ators is that the committee will recede
| from it's position for both independence
and Intervention and report a resoiu-
ton in accordance with the president 8
| recommendation for Intervention alone.
but this is not certain. Of three mem
! bers off the committee seen, all classed
as pro-Cubans, Senator Frye announc-
ed himself satisfied with Intervention
| another, Senator Foraker, announced
that he would not favor the change.
! A third, Senator Davis refused to
commit himself.
Senator Lodge had previously said
!. that he would support the presidents
/ position.