The evening times., 1898-06-01

nexattontsts IN the Senate. sperformed a
signal service for the cause OF the an
nexation yesterday afternoon. when be OBJ:
jected to a speech Mr.. Eodee OF Massa-
chussets was making, nnd -insisted that
the Senate proceed behind closed doors.
Mr.. Lodge on last Ffslhy gave notice
that he would at the pfoeer time OFFER
an amendment to the Eqr revenue bill
providing for the annsxatlon Of the Ha-
waiian islands. Mr.. Lodge believes. as
do great many other senators, that the
annexation OF these islands is as essential
as a war MEASURE as the passage of the
war revenue bill. and for that reason he
believed his amendment wds germane to
the measure under consideration. The
amendment. however. created a great deal
Of opposition and the radical anti-annexa-
tionists, under the leadership Of Senator,
South Dakota. threatened to hold up the
war revenue bill and prevent its passage.
unless the Lodge amendment was with
drawn. ina
This matter was discussed fully in the
Finance Committee meeting Monday, and
the Republican members cf that commit
tee then agreed that they would insist
that the Lodge amendment should pot
be pressed. This action was due. not to
antagonism to the amendment, but to the
fear that II would lead to a prolonged de-
bate and possibly the defeat Of the war
revenue bill itself. It was also agreed
that II Mr.. Lodge. in the-course OF the
debate. should call UP his amendment and
proceed to discuss 1t the Senate should
consider the matter in, secret legislative
session. This agreement was reached by
and INTEL fkn ~ Hn pnr,rrt ffpar
members of the Committee on Finance.
and when Mr.. Lodge took the floor yester-
day to speak upon the subject. he had
full knowledge of the conclusions that
had been previously reached by the FL
nance Committee. That part of his speech
which was permitted to be made in open
session showed the ability of Mr.. Lodge
to discuss a subject without referring to
his text. 1t was as neat piece of work
as has been exhibited In the Senate for
many a day, and although his statements
trod dangerously near the forbidden
ground those opposed to his views were
compelled to listen without being able to
stop him.
After he had spoken perhaps S--enty
minutes. Mr.. Lodge took up the subject
of Admiral Dewey's magnificent victory
at Manila, and expressed the belief that
great as was the achievement of the
American admiral, he was today in a dam
gerous position. Mr.. Lodge was evf-
IDENTIFY intending to call attention to the
fact that the dangers surrounding Admit
raj Dewey were due to the difficulty ex-
perienced by this Government In sending
him re-enforcements over so vast
stretch Of water, without a suitable stop
ping place between San Francisco and
Manila. This would naturally lead Mr..
Lodge to discussion of the question of
securing coal and the adyisability of the
possession of the Hawaiian Islands from
military point of view. 1t was at this
point that M Turpie1 1interfered and sug-
gested secret session. Mr.. Lodge had
with considerable adroitness accomplish
ed his purpose and the action of Mr.. Tur-
pie In forcing a secret session was re-
ceived with grim satisfaction by every
friend OF Hawaiian annexation. Mr.. Tur-
pie by his objection had called the atten-
ton of the whole country to a feature of
| this debate and brought into prominence
an incident that might otherwise have
become one Of the mere episodes of the
general discussion.
The Secret sessicn.
After the doors had been closed Mr.
Lodge said that he had made his speech
and had nothing further ITO say. he had
| called the attention of the country to the
Importance of the subject and he was
content to let it rest there. The respon-
sibility was upon Congress to decide
whether or not the Hawaiian Islands at
this critical juncture should be or should
not be annexed. The succeeding debate
lasted for almost three hours and was
participated in by numerous senator's
Mr.. Hale. who represents the Reed senti-
ment in Congress, urged that the appro.
priation bill be PASSED and that Congress
go home without attempting to transact
| further legislation. r--r.-
Mr.. Gray appeared to be disturbed lest
Mr.. Lodge should give information to the
enemy. while as a matter Of fact. the
only Information Mr.. Lodge had given.
was the statement Of the fact that the
American Navy was at Manila.
Mr.. Chandler made one of the most
powerful speeches of the day. submitting
arguments favorable to annexation, which
were incontrovertible. He declared that
1t was absolutely necessary II the United
States is to send aid to Admiral Dewey
to land our troops in Honolulu and to stop
at that port for the additional supplies
Of coal with which to pursue the remain
der of the voyage. The Seeyetary. of the
| Navy. he said. now has LOO IONS Of. coal
In the harbor Of Honolulu and every ton
| Of 1t would be used by the men-of- war
| of the United States and the transports
4
| ippines. In addition to this he said it
| would be impossible. after the soldiers
| had Travelled the 2,100 miles separating
| Honolulu from San Francisco to prevent
| the men from landing at that port and
stretching their legs for a short time, es-
| pecially in view of the fact that Honolulu
was friendly port and an avowed friend
| OF. the United States openly awaiting an
nexation and expecting 1t.
/ 90 fo,yc cfd /
J Grafton of the subject Mr.. Chandler said
| tn q unless the United States took pos
session of the islands by annexation or as
a military measure. the Hawaiian repub-
lie would become responsible for every
dollar OF damage that was done at Manila
| by American ships that stopped at Homo
lulu and violated the neutrality laws by
/ securing coal or other aid and assistance.
| This was a matter that must be reckoned
upon after a treaty Of peace had been
signed.
The United States had forced that prin-
Iciple into International law In the Geneva
award growing out of our claims for dam,
i ages against Great Britain on account ol
the fitting out of the Alabama In Brit
Iish port and having forced that prlnci-
pie into international law neither the
United States nor Hawaii could avoid II
In this emergency. Mr.. Chandler con.
tended that the United States, great and
powerful as she was, had no right tt
force Hawaii to violate the neutrality
laws and then leave her -undefended
While the Senate was discussing this very
question: the cruiser Charleston NIGH
then be In the harbor at Honolulu coalinl
i In direct violation OF neutrality laws ant