The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-01-22
HARD FIGHT BEING CARRIED on
IN THE SENATE.
\ Strong Line Up on the Annexation
Side-SiXty-two Votes Claimed
Views on President Dole's Visit.
THURSTON AND GEAR.

ing the treaty. He never tries to use
what is known as Influence" in work.
ing on IA Congressman, but has the
honest habit of talking straight and
arguing with a man as a man, the
person presenting the most satisfac-
tory reasons to be the winner.
The statement that Senator Thurs
ton and Senator Gear had broken away
from the list of Republican Senators
supporting the treaty was of interest
to the President. and when these two
Senators called at the White House on
January 18th to talk patronage the
President found opportunity to talk
over the Hawaiian situation with
them.
The President and Senator Thurston
| had long chat on the subject. The
President thinks a great deal of Sen
ator Thurston and would be pleased
to see the Nebraskan added to the list
of Republicans supporting annexation
1t is understood that Senator FL
kins, a hearty supporter of anneXa-
ton, was with the President when
Senator Thurston walked in. The
West Virginia Senator has been work
ing hard with his Nebraska friend and
when they met in the presence of the
President today the arguments were
renewed. The President took part
with the energy known to him when
he is deeply interested in II subject
and he and Senator Thurston discuss.
ed the subject some time after Sen
ator Elkins left. The administration
is beginning to view the growing pow.
er of Japan with keen interest, and
the President thinks the acquisition
of Hawaii ought not to be delayed
He is confident that with the Islands
becoming part of this country, "A ca.
BILE to Hawaii and one to Japan would
be one of the certain results. This
cable line would give this country in.
stant communication with its feet IN
Asiatic waters and would put the
/ Emitted States on stronger basis that
it now enjoys. 1t would also. he be
lieves. do wonders in increasing the
trade of the United States with the
East The President must have hat
some strong argument sup his sleeve
when he encountered the Nebraska
Senator, because it left the Senator
in an undecided frame of mind, wher
shortly before he was against annex
alton. The President is familiar will
the subject and can argue fuentlN
with anybody, and he knows Senator
= Thurston is one of the men who mus
be convinced by argument befor,
changing his position.
SENATOR DAVIS SPEAKS.
Senator Cushman X. Davis of The
Foreign Relations committee continu
ed and completed his speech in the eN
ecutive session of the Senate on Wed
nesday, January 18th, on the Hawaii
an question, and was followed by Sen
ator Allison of Nebraska, Populist
who spoke in opposition.
Mr.. Davies requested in the begin
: ming that no questions should be ask
ed during the presentation If his ar
guments, as he preferred. he said, 10
to have the continuity of his thought
broken. The speech on that day Wa
devoted largely to the presentation o
the stragetic features of annexation
He displayed "A chart in front If III
presiding officers platform, showing
the location of Hawaii relative to thi
country and to Asia. One of tn
points brought out with considerabl
, elaboration was the probable effect oi
; the Nicaragua canal of the occupation
, of the Islands by some foreign power
He illustrated by reference to th
map. showing that Hawaii was in
straight line between the western ter
minus of the canal and Japan ant
China. The nation. he said whicl
controls Hawaii will control the grea
gateway of commerce, as the gun
,,1n oil MT -
. directly at the mouth of the canal.
, He devoted careful attention to tn
: importance of controlling Pearl Han
Dor, now owned by the United States
saying that the nation which main
- tanned possession of this harbor woui
hold the key to the military situatio
I in the North Pacific He read eXtracI
from reports by engineers and other
q in confirmation of this statemen
= which he made as to the character Z
a the harbor, which was that il WA
safe and commodious and could eas
ly be defended. He also presented tn
: necessity for controlling Hawaii AS
base of supplies in case of hostilitie
saying that it was almost necessary
= control il for this reason, on accour
of the impossibilty of Il warsai
crossing the Pacific without repleniSl
/ ing her coal supply.
Mr.. Davis ridculed the objection q
made by Japan that the addition
6 Hawaii as United States territory wi
, be violation of Japan's treaty right
l in the Islands. He said, in reply
this objection, that all rights woul
doubtless be protected. and instance
t the creation of the German empire ;
! showing the effect of annexation upC
the treaties of various countries whic
Y enter into a consolidation.
He referred to Japan's protest as Il
indication Of natural tendency
rnpacitv, and said that the goverl
ment of that country should have bee