The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-06
Republican Senators Praise the
Presidents Message.
SOME OF THEM RETICENT
The Real Message IL Yet to Come-An
Endorsement OF the Gold Standard.
Vital Points Are Neglected-No
Word for Bimetallism.


opinions at length upon the message.
on the ground that they had not been
able to give careful attention to all the
details. Republican senators were,
however. willing to express themselves
in a few general words of commenda-
ton. Senator Cullom regarded it as "a
painstaking, entertaining and accurate
historical review" --sal--at-
Senator Piatt Of New York commend
ed the expression OF a determination
to increase the standing army and to
maintain order in Cuba until the Gu
bans can take care OF themselves. Sem
ator Wolcott said it was an admirable
document Senator Lodge said it was
"able and excellent"
Senator Foraker-"A good presenta-
ton OF facts generally, but a little in
definite on the question of Cuban inde-
pendence."
Senator Proctor-"A good American
paper"
Senator Perkins-"An able resume Of
the situation and facts leading up TO
the war"
The democrats were even more averse
than the republicans to discuss the pa
per Senator Jones of Arkansas was
an exception. He found in the message
a number of points which did not ac-
cord with his views. One of these was
the proposition to continue the volun-
teer army in existence until the stand
ing army can be increased.
Some of US do not favor the in
crease of the standing army" he said.
and the president has no right to as
sumo that a majority stand with him
on that proposition"
The Arkansas senator also question
ed the presidents right to hold the vol
unteers in service beyond the time of
signing the peace treaty, saying:
There is no war in existence, and
none is imminent. The law requires one
| or the other conditions, and the threat
of the president to hold the volunteers
| in service until the standing army is
| increased beyond what the consciences
| Of senator's and members dictate, looks
| to me like a menace and an effort to
dictate, which l consider an outrage
and objectionable"
Senator Jones interpreted the pres
ident's expression upon the finances as
a pronouncement for the gold stand
ard and for the retirement of the
greenbacks. and said that he did not
believe that anything like a majority
of the American people would indorse
him i'm this respect. The senator also
announced himself as opposed to a sub
sidy to the vessels connecting the Unit
ed States with Porto Rico. Cuba and
the Philippines, as opposed to leg 'sla-
tion for the construction of the Mica
raguan canal as at present contemp-
lated. and expressed the opinion that
the president was inclined to go farth-
er in the matter of the government of
Cuba than the resolution of Intervention
called for.
I'VE declared" he said. "in favor of
taking them to that point by which they
could maintain stable government
and do not see how we can go beyond
that. To go to the extent of insuring,
as the president recommends, complete
tranquility might prove a preteXt for
military government and permanent
occupation never TO be ended. 1 do not
indorse any such an undertaking"
Senator Jones also expressed surprise
at the absence of any recommendation
concerning the Philippines. THE ques-
ton OF the government OF the Philip
pines is attracting much attention." he
said. "and the fact that the president
utterly ignores 1T strikes me as very
singular"
Senator Pasco also commented upon
the absence OF any reference to points
concerning which we most desire in
formation" He said. however, that 1t
was a valuable historical paper and
would be convenient for future refer
ence.
Senator Teller said there would be
disappointment over the failure OF the
president TO outline a government for
the Philippines, saying: There will be
some disappointment in this, for think
the understanding has been that the
president would indicate what form OF
government would be adopted for these
new territories, but IL was wise for the
president not to express his views on
that subject, for that IL purely and
properly a legislative question and one
that should be left to the congress-"
On the recommendation in regard to
the currency, Senator Teller said: THE
friends of blmetallism. either national
or international, will find no encour-
agement from anything that the presi-
dent says in his message. No reference
Is made to International bimetallism,
but the president in the most emphatic
way indicates his intention to maintain
the gold standard. The so-called silver
republicans who remain in the repub-
lican party and contend that the repuo-
lican party IL friendly to silver will find
no encouragement in the presidents
message, and IL will strike all as some
what singular that IL the republican
party, as IL has been claimed. is in favor
of International bimetallism. the presi-
dent makes no reference to it,"
Following are some of the opinions
expressed by members of congress upon
the presidents message:
Representative Hit, chairman of the
house committee on foreign affairs
The president has summarized and
solved in an able and felicitous man.
ner many of the questions in mems
minds everywhere. touching the i'm
mense and rapidly succeeding events
and the situation in which the nation
finds itself. His simple proposition to
let the new possessions alone under
Just and firm governors and by the mill
itary arm which conquered them gives
us time for plenty of discussion of all
the propositions for their permanent
government. The problem of govern
ing the Cubans he deals with gently
and hopefully. and everybody will wish
that his forecast of stable government