The San Francisco call., 1898-03-30
Senators in Favor of War With Spain Introduce
 Resolutions.
Mason of Illinois Makes Most Sensational Speech in Which He Demands Satisfaction
 From CaStiIianS.
Call Office, Riggs House,


 climax in the proceedings of the Sen ate to-day. As on previous days of discussion of the Cuban question. thou sands of people flocked to the Capitol only a few of whom, comparatively, could gain admission to the galleries. Within five minutes after the Senate convened Allen of Nebraska introduced a resolution recognizing the independ- ence of the Cuban republic. This was followed by a resolution proposed by Rawlins of Utah, declaring war against the kingdom of Spain.
 Morrill, of Vermont, from the Finance Committee, reported a joint resolution providing for the importation, free of duty, of military supplies secured abroad, into the United States, and asked for it's immediate consideration It was passed.
 Several joint resolution bearing upon the Cuban question were then intro duced, each one containing a lively sensation as it was read.
 The first was by Allen of Nebraska, recognizing the independence of Cuba. Aliens resolution was, at his request, laid on the table.
 4 declaration of war was next intro duced by Rawlins of Utah.
 Senator Foraker of Ohio then pre- sented a resolution recogniZing the in dependence of Cuba and favoring armed intervention. Foraker asked that the resolution go to the Foreign Relations Committee. He said that his resolution had been long delayed. He intended, he said, to present it at the opening of the session last December, but he withheld it at that time because the Presidents message gave promise that within a reasonable time definite and decisive action would be taken by the administration so soon as auton- omy should be given fair trial A reasonable time seems now to have elapsed. The people of the country realize that all the necessary time has been given Spain to bring peace to the stricken island. Autonomy Foraker declared had failed, but just as its faiur6. ss as realized the country was confronted by the De Lome incident. Scarcely had the excitement created by this subsided when what has been styled the Maine incident" threw the country into a hurricane of excitement.
 Since that time" said the Senator. i've have been waiting patiently and under restraint for the report of the , Board of Inquiry. That report IS now ADefore the Committee on Foreign Rela- ~tions Whatever may be done as to the Maine incident action must come on the general Cuban question"
 Senator FOraker said he hoped at later date to address the Senate at length upon his resolution.
 Frye of Maine said he had not intend ed to offer a resolution at this time. but in view of others proposed he would present the one he had prepared
 The resolutions were all, except Al lens, referred to the Committee on For eign Relations.
 At the conclusion of the presentation of resolutions Mason of Illinois was recognized for a speech on the Presi- dents message of yesterday. Mason said he believed it was due to the coun- try now to know the general expression and intention of the members or the Senate. While he would not apologize for discussing the Cuban question at this time, he did not intend by so do- ing any disrespect either to the Admin istratfon or to the Committee on For eign Relations when he said that he was tired of the dilatory tactics that had been employed for three years to prevent assistance from the United States to the CubanS He continued:
 More than two years ago the plan or the Spanish Government to starve the women and children and non-comba- 4ants was begun. Every intelligent man. woman and child was informed Of 1t through the ordinary channels of in formation, the newspapers, and by the statements of disinterested witnesses, day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year, and 1t had received practically no attention from this Government until some of the members of this body visited the scenes of death and distress and brought pack to tbe Tinted States, on their words of honor. that no picture had been drawn nv the press that fully stated The hor- TOTS of the situation.
 oane they cornered at least 800 Ameri- can citizens with the reconcentrados ond refused to let them go out and earn a legitimate and honest living. It amounted to Imprisonment. We cIalmed eo a+ inc time, though many professed ,o+ +o believe 1t until the honorable Senator from Vermont described the daad line and the gun of the spanish soldier that kept the reconcentradoS to- pether. Any other self-respectng na- tion in the world would nave ordered their release and better treatment, or tbe1 Tvo,,Id have opened the gates of heIi on Morro Castle. This Govern Ioen+ however, upon the suggestion Of the President, took $5O,OO0 of the peo- ple's money out of the treasury or the United States and begged permlSslon of Spain for the privilege of feeding our citizens American bread on Spanish soil. am not complaining; l am not criticiZing; there is no other such re- cord in all the history Of the world. only repeat this humlliatlng statement to call attention to the Tact tildC every effort that has been made by the Presl- dent has been construed by Spain to be an act of cowardice and aosoIute and conclusive evidence that we are afraid of that mighty power and every such act of careful consideration on our part has made Spain more cruel to her own people. and more insulting to us.
 Mason then turned his attention to the destruction of the Maine, saying: "The battle-shiD Maine our gallant ship, went down, and 26S of our gallant sailors with her. At the time every citizen of the United States familiar with the Spanish character felt confi- dent it was Spanish treachery. Our ship was there by right of custom, ten dered hospitality, and also by treaty contract she had an absolute right to hn there T he dav closed and she rode l