Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-02-02

Washington, Feb. mo business Of
importance was transacted by the sem
ate In open session yesterday. The
feature of the short session was a state
ment made by Clark (Eep) Of wyo-
ming. as a matter of personal privilege.
Concerning his vote in favor of the
Teller resolution. He maintained .ha:
his vote was In no way Inconsistent
with his Eepu5licanisni, and declared
that he would not permit anybody to
read him out of the party. as III was
satisfied the masses OF the party would
not convict him Of political hercsy.
The executive session took up the
Hawaiian annexation treaty and talked
about IL all the balance OF the day. The
anEexers are feeling better. They say
they are confident that sixty senators.
whose votes are Necessary for a two
thirds majority, will vote for ratifica-
ton. Corficensc Is found in the deter
mination Of the friends cf ratification to
press forward the treaty to a final vote
When the executive session opened yes
ici day ThurstoE made a motion for the
of the treaty until the LIST of March
The melton was voted down viva voce
Pistt Argues for iane xation.
F!att ot Connecticut opened the de-
bate with n carefully arranged argu-
ment in favcr Of annexation. He spoke
for about an hour and a half and dwelt
Particularly upon the Importance of the
acquisition Of iEe islands from n COM
mg-ciSl point Of view. He con;ende6
that our commerce would in all cases
follow our civilization and urged that
We should use every legitimate method
g. extend our trade with outside ma
lions. rs by pursuing this course we
would also extend our institutions and
ideas of government. He put i'm a good
deal If his time proving that the chief
opponent CT annexation was the sugar
trust. Pettirrew took the floor as soon
n PiItt had concluded, devoting HIM
self especially to replying to the Con-
ncctiCut senator's remarks concerning
the present government of the islands.
Rule of the People in Hawaii.
lie made a careful analysis of the
constitution under which the Dole gov
ernment exists, showing that 1t had
alleged" constitutional convention
composed OF nineteen members-one OF
whom was Dole-who had been mem
bers Of the committee on safety which
played such q prominent part during
ihc revolution. and OF eighteen other
delegates. He showed that while these
latter delegates had been elected by
what was called a popular vote such
was not the case. OF 1900 persons
entitled TO suffrage only 4.c00 had voted
for them. This convention of thirty
seven persons thus chosen had adopted
tine constitution. and il had never been
submitted TO "A popular vote. Pettigrrw
dwelt upon the fac; that Dole had been
member Of this convention and said
that gentleman had himself elected
president Of the republic.
Sngnr Men Control the Islands.
According 90 the terms of the consti-
tuition a senator must possess 5000
worth Of property or have an income OF
sl.200 Ter year and a person who was
not worth 1880 in taxable real estate
or had an income of $500 was disfran-
| ohised from voting for a senator. This
qualification practically. he said. shut
out ell persons except those connected
with the sugar industry from either be-
coming senators or from voting for
81 majors.
White was the next speaker. and he
put in large portion of his time quot
ing John Sherman against annexation
in the secretary's book of memoirs. as
ccntrasted with John Sherman for an
nexation now.