The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-19
THE PARTY WHIP
Vigorously Welded by Speaker
Reed and Mr.. Dingley.
Was All That Prevented Cuban
Recognition the House.
FEELING WAS PLAIN
The Majority Was Greatly
Alarmed For a Time
BY the Danger of Stampede
of Its Members.

Washington, Jan. 19.-Cuba had a hear
ing in the house yesterday and for a time
it looked if parliamentary precedents
would be set aside and the senate resolu-
ton recognizing the insurgents as bellig-
erents would be attached as a rider to the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill Mr.. De Almond, a Missouri Demo-
crat, precipitated the issue by Offering the
resolution as an amendment, but point
of order against it was sustained Mr..
De Almond appealed. He urged the Re-
publicans who had professed friendship
for the struggling Cubans to override the
decision of the chair as the only chance
of securing action on the proposition. Mr..
Bailey, the leader of the minority, and
other Democrats, Joined in the appeal.
The excitement became intense, but the
appeals of Mr.. Dingley, the floor leader
of the majority, as well as other Republic
can leaders, to their associates not to join
in the programme succeeded. Mr.. Col
son (Rep., Ky.) warned his side that
less he was soon given an opportunity to
vote his sentiments on the Cuban question
he would cooperate in any revolutionary
method to secure action. The Republican
tactics kept to the front the point that
the minority were seeking to override the
rules of the house and they got every Re-
publican vote, sustaining the chair by the
vote OF 15Z to Il4. one democrat MT.
Fleming (Ga.), voted with them on the
ground that he could not violate his oath
by voting against UNFOLDING the rules.
During the debate Mr.. Bailey challenged
Mr.. Hit to give the house any assurance
that an opportunity would be offered on
the resolution passed by the senate at
the last session, but he received no reply.
Before the diplomatic bill came up the
army bill was passed.
Speaking to the point of order, Mr.. De
Almond declared that for months those
in control of the house had declined to
consider what the people of the country,
without regard to party, desired, namely,
that congress consider and act upon this
question of recognizing the belligerency of
Cuba. When the people of the country
felt as they did, it the duty of mem>
bers to override these petty little rules
which had been used to suppress action.
The newspapers were filled daily with
narrowing tales of starvation and cruelty
in Cuba. Should we emulate the example
of Nero who fiddled while Rome burned
and sit supinely and indifferently by when
men almost within sight of our shores
were fighting valorously for principles as
holy as patriots ever espoused or heroes
ever defended? He tainted the Republt-
cans with being subservient to those who
desired to prevent action on the question.
FufIAeT 1HdCl1Oiis l4C 4AtSA9tCNs FeeS - ~AH'~
grace to American manhood.
The autonomy offered by Spain, he de-
clared was revolving mockery, sham
and a deIusion. He warned the other side
that the question could not be evaded or
lodged; that with this opportunity before
them they could not go back to their con-
stitutents and plead the rules as an eX-
cuse for non-action.
Mr.. Hepburn. in the chair, then sus-
rz-1,.a lfav7 IN
De Almond in order to get the question
before the house in a better form, offered
the senate Cuban resolution as an amend
rnent and when it was overruled made
his appeal from the decision of the chair
By this time the greatest excitement e21~
listed in the house. The galleries mac
filed to overlooking; messengers had been
sent scurryine to all quarters of the CAPT
tol to summon Republicans who were alb
sent from the hall. It was evident that
there was fear on the part of the house
managers that the house might be car
ried off it's feet on this first occasion of
a test of the sentiment toward Cuba.
The house managers made their fight for
regularity of proceeding. The speaker.
who was in the lobby, came into the hall
and helped to rally his followers.
A break occurred in the Republican
ranks when Mr. Co1son CRep., Ky) de-
nouuced the inaction Of the house on the
Cuban resolution and the applause was
transferred to the Democratic side. rms
was short-lived, though, as Mr. Colson
concluded his remarks by declaring that
he would vote to uphold the decision OF
the chair But I warn my Republican
friends, he added, that we have de-
1aved too long the recognition of the in
s7lrgents. If we do not act we will be
swept out of power And if we are not
given the opportunity to act, for one VIII
toin anv revolutionary tactics in order
to cast my vote for Cuban independence
General applause.)
~ IIi++ moved to close the de-
bate on the pending paragraph there was
= - =, the lines on the motion, which
was. sustained, 153-118-