Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-13
WRESTLE WITH SPAIN
Great Day Of OratoricaI Exercise
in the Chamber Of the
Senators.
MASON CLOSES WITH THE DONs

Pettus and Butler Also Take Pull ut the
observation-disclosures Again Acts ~ the
Presidents interpreter in the House, but
Bailey Attacks the Interpretation =
House Foreign Affairs Committee Agrees
on . Resolution That viii Suit the War
Party.
Washington, April Is. - For nearly
three hours yesterday the senate had
the Cuban question in its several phases
under discussion. Three resolutions
duced-one by Lindsay of Kentucky,
directing that the contemplated opera
tons against the Spanish army in Cuba
be in concert with General Gomez, the
supreme command to be vested in the
commander of the United States forces,
to the end that the independence of the
Cubans be secured; the second by will
son of Washington. directing the pres
ident at once to take such steps as will
secure to the Cuban people an indie
pendent republican form of government,
and the third by Alien declaring the
existence of war in Cuba, and directing
the president to take steps to stop 4.
and secure to the people of the island
a stable and independent government
Following the introduction of the reso-
lutions speeches were delivered by Pet
tus of Alabama, Mason of Illinois and
Butler Of North Carolina.
Tenor Of the Three Speeches.
Judge Pettus presented an argument
that congress could not delegate to the
president the power to make war either
in general or in a special sense, and
declared that the making of any war
without an express declaration by con-
gress would be disgrace to the nation.
MasOn's speech was largely a legal
argument in favor of the recognition of
the independence of the Cuban republic
and was delivered with characteristic
fire and vehemence. Butler spoke for
the opposition on the floor of the SEN
ate, maintaining that it had thus far
upheld the hands of the administration
in the present crisis and would con-
tinue to do so for definite and vigorous
policy. He regretted that the president
had not presented such a policy to con-
gress. and held that Intervention with
out the recognition of independence
would simply mean the crushing Of the
Cuban patriots. Consideration of the
sundry civil bill was resumed, but no
progress was made.
Grosvenor Again Acts a. Spokesman.
Grosvenor of Ohio, now generally
regarded as the spokesman of the pres
ident on the floor of the house, late yes
terday afternoon in reply to an attack
upon the policy of the administration
interpreted the recommendations in the
presidents message to mean a request
for authority to use the army and navy
of the United States to establish on the
island Of Cuba government indepen-
dent of Spain. 1t was regarded as an
exceedingly important and significant
announcement. In the brief debate yes
terday the opening guns of the contest
that begins today were fired
Broadsides were exchanged and then
the house adjourned. Lentz, an Ohio
Democrat. who drew the fire Of Gros-
venor last Thursday, returned to the
assault again yesterday. attacking what
he termed the "vacillating' policy OF
the president, the midnight confer
ences" at the White House with Elkins
and John ]. McCook, and asserting
that the presidents recommendations
really meant that the United States
should coerce the Cuban insurgents into
an acceptance Of Spain's scheme of au-
tonomy.
Bailey Controverts Grosvenor.
Hepburn of Iowa made a spirited and
indignant reply, denouncing the intima-
ton Of such policy as little short OF
scoundrelism. Then came Grosvenor's
important announcement, upon which
Bailey, the Democratic leader, coun.
tered. taking the position that IL the
president had meant to declare for the
independence of Cuba he would have
said so in specific words. The message
was clear and lucid. he said. except as
to the recommendations and it had re.
Quired all the ingenuity of General
Grosvenor to torture such an inter
pretation from them. In conclusion he
declared that the president who would
coerce the Cuban patriots would not live
to survive the odium Of the American