Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-04-01
AREIN FAVOR. OF WAR
Several Senators Introduce Resolu-
tions Full of Fire.
FORAKER SAYS TIME HAS CONE TO ACT
Rawlins Wants War Dcclared-Ha-
son Makes an Appeal to the Ma
tton to- AvenEe Disaster to
Maine nnd Cuba's WRONGS.

ton to- AvenEe Disaster to
Maine and Cuba's Wrongs.
Washington. March 30.-Interest in the
Cuban Stua tion-the interest might almost
be termed excitembent, so intense was it
reached a climax in the proceedings of the
senate Tuesday. AS on previous days of
discussion of the Cuban question. thou
sands of people fiocked to the capitol only
few of whom, comparatively, could gain
admission to the galleries
! Within five minutes after the senate con-
vened Senator Allen (Neb) introduced a
resolution recognizing the Independence
| of the Cuban republic This was followed
| by a resolution proposed by Senator Raw
Inns (Utah) declaring war against the
kingdom of Spain.
Foraker for intervention.
| Senator Foraker (O) then introduced a
resolution declaring for such intervention
in the Cuban war as would bring about the
+ independence of the Cubans.
Senator Foraker asked that the resolu-
ton go to the foreign relations committee
He said that his resolution had been long
delayed He had intended, he said, to pre-
sent it at the opening of the session last
| December, but he had withheld it at that
| time because of the tenor of the presidents
| message. That message, he said, gave
promise that within reasonable time def
| mite and decisive action would be taken by
| the administration so soon as autonomy
| should be given fair trial. A reasonable
/ time seems now to have elapsed The peo-
| pie of the country realize that all neces-
! sary time has been given Spain TO bring
peace to the stricken island. Autonomy,
: Senator Foraker declared, had absolutely
/ failed, but just as its failure was realized
| the country was confronted by the De
LONE incident Scarcely had the excite
| ment created by this subsidized when what
had hear StN la1 hJ.,ir bray
| the country into a hurricane of excitement
] Since that time, said the senator, we have
/ been awaiting patiently and under re-
straint for the report of the board of in
qpiry. That report is now before the com
| mittee on foreign relations. Whatever may
| be done as to the Maine incident" action
must come up on the general Cuban Ques-
| ton.
Following this came resolution by Sem
ator Frye (Me) demanding that Cuba be
made free. The resolutions were ALL eX-
/ cept Senator Aliens. referred to the COM
| mittee on foreign relations. Senator Aliens
resolution was laid the table al his own
request.
senator Mason Speaks.
The resolutions followed one another SO
| rapidly almost to stun the auditors,
both senators and spectators The CALLER
les were in commoton and the people
were prepared for anything. This was the
condition when the vice president recog
niZed Senator Mason Qll) for his an
nounced speech on the presidents message
transmitting to congress the findings of
the Maine court OF inquiry, Senator Mason
read his speech from manuscript, but it
was delivered with all The viscr and fire
OF which he is capable. The intensity of
the feeling of those in The galleries was
evidenced by the storm OF applause which
was elected by his declaration that he
was for war. Vice President Hobart had
real ulfhculty III Supp esslns tho demon
stration.
Senator Mason said he believed il was
due the country to know the general ex-
/ preston and intention Of the members of
the senate. While he would not apologize
for discussing the Cuban question a this
time he did not intend by so doing
any disrespect either TO the admin
lstration or the committee on foreign rela-
tons. when he said that he was tired of the
dilatory tactics that had been employed for
three years to prevent any assistance from
the United States to the starving Cubans
He continued: More than two years ago
the plan of the Spanish government to
' starve the women and children and nom
combatants was begun. Every Intelligent
man, woman and child was informed of it
through the ordinary channels Of informa-
: ton, the newspapers. and by the state
ments of disinterested witnesses, day after
, day. week after week, month after month";
and year after year, and received practical
ly no attention from this government, until
some of the members of this body visited
the scene of death and distress, and
4 brought back to the United States their
words of honor that no picture has been
drawn by the press that fully stated the
horrors of the situation"
Senator Mason declared there could be
B no peace SO long as a European nation
: owns and butchers its slaves on this hem
isphere. He said 1t was not necessary for
the Maine court to fix the responsibility.
. The law did that. IT II was a torpedo or a
mine 1t was Spanish torpedo OF Il Spanish
mine. Hence Spain must answer. He
would oppose any proposition looking to
indemnity as he would oppose making a
diplomatic incident of the catastrophe. He
would oppose any kind of autonomy or
> any plan to assist Spain. but his demand
was that the Spanish flag should be driven
: from the western hemisphere Neither did
he believe Cuba should be required TO pa
; an indemnity to Spain. I'VE are told," he
said. I'VE must wait on the Spanish cleo
tions. but If Spanish elections are as rot
+ ten as Spanish diplomacy we had better
not wait"
The Maine Explosion.
Senator Mason then turned his attention
/. to the destruction of the Maine, saying,
n among other things: THE night came on, a
( dark, gloomy night. natural aud proper time
i for Spanish bravery. Our men were asleep
q in a friendly harbor; they were never chal-
lenged to try their courage. They were not
burned. strangled and drowned without a
> chance to die fighting for life, without a
moment to say prayer. In the twinkling
= of an eye they stood in the presence OF
: their Maker. Suppose 80 of them had been
:. United States senator's. suppose the bal.
. ance had been members of congress or
: made up of judges and leading professional
. and business men. would 40 days have
elapsed before war began; or suppose
4 each senator had a son or father there's
Do we tell our children the truth when we
j say that the life of every American citi.
zen is of equal value before the law? They
3 were not senators. they were sailors. Thei,
widows and orphans cry aloud 10 US: the
soft appeal of 26s seamen comes to US agaiT
and again, saying, that we are flesh of YOU
flesh, bone of your bone and blood of YOU
e blood: we loved and died for the flag tina
s shields you. What is to be our answer
. Shall we answer with money? Mr.. Presi
= dent, / speak only for myself, and I an
y for war! Applause in the galleries.
/ Was Spanish Explosive.
u 1--WE can hide no longer under the ex
Il ecutve wing. He can neither declare wal
e nor refuse it. Congress alone can declare
. war. /, for one, am ready to vote now
:, You may continue to cry peace. peace
s but there can be no peace while European.
9 own and butcher their slaves on the sam,
~ continent where our flag floats. But Their