Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-31
C,HEEg,,
U0ECh he gentleman from Texas states
to present privileged question.
tIeman will state it,

UnLIn ne gentleman from IeAas states
to present privileged question
tIeman will state it,
LABo, Mr.. BaiIey's Resolution.
Bailey then offered the resolution for
recognition of the independence OF
cuba as follows:
Resolved. By the senate and house of
representatives, that the long struggle by
the Cuban people against the force Of arms
and the horrors of famine has shown them
worthy to be free; and.
Second. the United States hereby rec
ognizes the independence of Cuba as a
free and independent state"
The reading was listened to amid a si-
lence profoundly impressive. and at its con-
clusion cheer after cheer was given from
the galleries and the floor.
The Republican side was ominously ST.
lent. The speaker raped vigorously for
order. and warned the galleries that no
demonstrations would be allowei.
Mr.. Boutelle Immediately made the point
of order that the resolution was not priv
fleged, and upon that Mr.. Bailey demanded
to be heard.
He demanded that the subject with
which the resolution dealt was too serious
and the occasion too important to be
hastily disposed OF. He insisted that he
had a right to present the resolution under
the rules and rulings. and the responsible
fly must rest with the majority If it was
ruled out of order and the ruling sustained.
A Precedent Cited.
He called attention to the fact that in
the Fifty-third- congress, wnen Mr.. Crisp
was speaker. Mr.. BouteIle. who now made
the point of order that this resolution was
not privileged, presented a resolution of a
similar character relating to Hawaii, which
the speaker held was privileged, but must
go to committee. Against that latter rul-
ing an appeal was taken, and the whole
Republican side had voted against tabling
the appeal. When he said that at the head
of the list of distinguished Republicans
who voted on that occasion was the honor
able speaker Of this house. the Democrats
went into a rapturous applause.
Meantime. the confusion was great. The
Republican leaders were evidently railying
their forces. Mr.. Hull chairman of the
committee on military affairs. who was one
Of the prime movers in the movement for
prompt and vigorous action on the Repub-
lican side. came forward with a strong
appeal to Republicans not to be carried OF
their feet.
At the outset, he acknowledged that his
sympathies. were with, the resolution
(Which. 1t transpired afterward, he believed
at that time contained a declaration of
war;. but he argued that 1t did not present
a question Of higher privilege than the con-
sideratIon OF an appropriation bill We
could have war. said he. whenever we
wanted II.
War Resolution Privileged.
A resolution declaring war was privileged,
he admitted.
But this is not resolution declaring
war" fnterposed Mr.. Bland. at is resolu-
ton recognizing the independence of Cuba,
which does not necessarily involve war"
IF the resolution falls short of that" re-
piled Mr.. Hull (and did not hear it fully
read), il It falls short of that point. it is
not operative.and. to my mind. does not pre-
sent any question of privilege at all. As I
have always said. I am in favor of this
government intervening at the very earliest
date unless conditions change materially so
that they will insure the liberty OF Cubans.
and cessation Of the deplorable condi-
tions that prevail in that island at the pres
ent time. Applause on the Republican
side) I am in favor of that principle, and
state now and here that will go as far as
any man on this floor for the purpose of
preserving the rights of the struggling pa
triots in their heroic efforts on that island
applause on the Republican side), and ]
am in favor Of the United States controll-
ing the destinies Of this continent and say
ing to Spain that she must get out Of the
Western hemisphere"
Mr.. Simpson Raises . Laugh.
Mr.. Terry. Democrat, OF Arkansas, ar
gued that a question involving a matter
of privilege was, in fact, one for the house
n decide While he was speakine the Re-
publicans were conferring.t The leaders
were circulating among them and such con-
fusion resulted that Mr.. Simpson. Populist.
OF Kansas. raised laugh amid the excite
ment by asking for order among the
speakers reconcentrados."
Mr.. Hopkins Republican, OF Illinois, an
other OF the Republicans who openly favors
armed intervention, called attention to the
distinctions between the resolution in the
precedent cited by Mr.. Bailey and the
present resolution. In the former resolu-
tion, It was contended that the dignity OF
executive. There was no such contention
here. Continuing, he appealed to his col
leagues TO rally to the support of the
speaker. The Republican members knew,
he said, that. within a brief time, action
would be had so that there was no necessi-
Amid profound silence the speaker then
made his ruling. He spoke in deliberate
distinct and emphatic tones and decided
that the resolution was not privileged in
The following ruling: