Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-01-26
HOOS|ER AND HAWKEYE
Two Noted Republicans Lock
Horns on Expansion in
the House.
JOHNSON, FROM INDIANA STATE,

Gives His Views OF the Situation in His
weII-Known Vigorous Style - Would
Smash the Paris Treaty and Negotiate
Another That Would Not Buy the Phil
ippines-DolIiver Replies EIoquentIy-
johnson Asks Leading Question.
Washington, Jan. 26.-Not since the
stirring days before the declaration OF
war last spring has the house witnessed
such an exhibition of excitement and
such scenes of unbounded enthusiasm
as occurred yesterday when the two
epublicans-Johrson, the Indiana
member, and Dolliver of Iowa-locked
aorns on the question OF expansion. The
army bill, which was under debate. was
swallowed up in the broader question
of our future national policy and the
debate was lifted from the dead level
Of mediocrity into absolute brilliancy,
Johnson secured time from the Demo-
cratic side to attack the position of the
administration. He denounced the
proposition to annex the Philippines as
subversive of every tradition dear to
the American heart in the past, and the
Inauguration OF a policy that would end
in the downfall of the republic. He
said the ratification of the treaty by the
senate would sound the death knell of
all the efforts of those who were trying
to prevent the country from rushing on
to suicide, and declared if he were a
senator he would rot in his seat before
1t should be ratified.
johnson Denounces the Treaty.
He denounced the president as the
slavish follower of public opinion, but
warned him that the tide would recede
and the voice Of the people would in
time rebuke him. Members stood in the
aisles ten deep while he was speaking,
but he tried to stop the applause which
continually broke out from the Demo-
cratic side. For almost two hours his
words poured forth. When he had fin
ished, Dolliver came TO the defense OF
the administration. Ore OF the Sblest
debaters and perhaps the most elo-
quent member of the house, his reply
set the Republicans wild with enthus-
iasm He described how the president
had been fairly driven into the war by
those who now sought to enbarTass him
before peace was definitely obtained,
and his eulogy of the president patient
ly meeting all the perpleXing problems
which besct him as the great events Of
the year moved on aroused his side and
the galleries to cheers.
DolIiver Chccred for His Eloquencc.
These rang out again and again when
he paid an eloquent tribute to Admiral
Dewey and broke in renewed volume
when he declared that the course of
some members at both ends of the Cap
itol was almost treason" But the
highest pitch OF excitement wesre ached
when Johnson and Dolliver got to close
quarters toward the end of the latter s
speech. Johnson pressed the defender
of the administration to disclose tho
presidents ultimate purpose regarding
the Philippines, but Dolliver for some
time aGroitly evaded a direct response.
At last he contented himself with de-
claring that this was not the point at
issue. that the first thing was to end the
war by ratifying the treaty. The future
of the Philippines was a question for
the future. 1t was in every respect a
remarkable debate. The other speeches
were completely overshadowed by those
CT johnson and Doliiver.