The record-union., 1899-02-07
TREATY OF PEACE
IS RATIFIED.
Ths~Senate Upho|ds the Action Of
the Paris Peace Commission.
Was a Close vste, One Over the Neces-
saT TWo-Thirds to Adopt It.

Their Approval Of the Measure,
While Twenty-Seven Voted
Against It.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The treaty
of peace negotiated by the commission
ers of the United States and Spain at
Paris was to-day ratified by the Sen
ate, the vote being 81 ayes to ~ noes,
or one vote more than the two-thirds
majority necessary to secure Senatorial
concurrence in a treaty document.
The vote was taken in executive ses-
sion, and until the injunction of the
Secretary was removed the result was
supposed to be private; but the Vice
President had no more than announced
the figures before Senators rushed out
OF every door leading from the Senate
chamber, declaring that the treaty had
been ratified. Some made the mistake
of stating that there We're three votes
to spare.
There was, in fact, only one more
vote than was necessary; the balloting
resulted in 81 ayes to 81 noes.
No vote has been taken in the Sen
ate since that Of the repeal Of the pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman law that
has been followed with as close inter-
est as was the vote. to-day. This anx-
iety was due not only to the magnitude
of the question at issue, but to the un-
certainty which attended the matter
UP to the last moment. Only the select
few knew how Senators McEnery of
Louisiana and Jones of Nevada would
vote half an hour before their votes
We're cast, and not even these knew
when the bells rang for the executive
session at 2:15 o'clock.
Many of the vast throng which was
turned from the galleries after the
doors were closed, in response to Sen
ator Davis motion, fingered in the cor
ridors, all waiting eagerly for the first
news from inside. 1t was generally
understood that the first forty-five min
utess were to be given to speechmaking,
bet the crowd apparently was pre-
pared for this delay.
Within the chamber the interest was
even more intense. Very few Senators
left the chamber except those engaged
in the cloak rooms in trying on the one
side to gain votes for the treaty, and
the other to prevent. break in the
ranks. Senators Aldrich. Lodge and
Elkins, who have given their especial
attention to securing the necessary
votes to insure ratification. were doubt
full of the result when the secret ses-
sion began, while Senators German
and Jones, the leaders of the opposition,
considered their forces intact. Half an
hour afterward it was whispered about
TOW Mol Il
over O., condition that his declaratory
resolution should be adopted subse-
quent to the passage of the ratification
resolution. When this news was con-
firmeG it was known that ratification
was assured, for Senator McLaurin mad
already announced his intention to vote
for the treaty, in view of the condition
of affairs at Manila. Senator Jones
went over at the last moment, making
the one vote more than was necessary.
There was no applause when the re-
suit was announced, but many Senators
heaved al sigh of relief and rushed from
the chamber to give the news to the
waiting world
In advance of the voting, speeches
We're made by Senators Ross, Money
and Fairbanks.
Senator Stewart, who had just ar
rived from his successful campaign in
Nevada for reelection, announced in
formally during this period of the ses-
sion that in his entire trip across the
continent he had not encountered one
man who was opposed to the ratifica-
ton of the treaty
Senator Ross read a brief written
speech, announcing his intention to sup
port the treaty as in the interest Of
peace. He entered somewhat into the
legal question involved saying that he
saw no obstacle in the way of ratiflca-
ton from that source.
Senator Money reiterated his opposi-
ton to the treaty, and made a last plea
for a modification of the agreement He
asserted that if the friends of the
treaty had agreed to modifying reso-
luton the vote could have been secured
much sooner, and, as it would have car
ried assurance of pacific intentions on
the part of this Government, it would
have prevented the hostile conflict at
Manila.
Senator Teller here interrupted the
Mississippi Senator, and there was
quite lively exchange of words.
Teller announced his belief that the
opposition to the treaty was RESPONSE
tie for the Manila battle, and Money
declared the view to be absurd.
Fairbanks spoke at some length, his
speech being the first he had made
since the debate began. He made an
appeal for unanimity of action, in order
that the country might present har-
lnoniouS front to the outside world in
dealing with SO important a question.
IIe said that no partisan political adj
vantage could possibly be claimed by
any one in the ratification, and held
out the view that solid support of the
Administration would be of vast adj
vantage to the Administration in the
present crisis. In this connection he
referred to the opening of hostilities at
Manila, and expressed the view that
the ratification of the treaty would do
much to prevent further bloodshed and
restore quiet. Let u.s." said he. rat
ify the treaty and then settle our diff
ferences concerning the question of ex-
pansion afterward. Those questions
can wait, but the emergency is too
great for any postponement whatever
on the ratification question"
Promptly at 3 O'Clock the Vice Pres
ident interrupted Money, who was then
speaking, to announce that the hour
had arrived for vote. But one
amendment was offered-that proposed
by Vest, placing the Philippiues on the