Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-07

IL WOOLD be SECORED-1f1 TIE
CHANGE OF A VOTE MADE
RATIFICATION AN ACCOM-
PLISHED FACT.
Washington, February 6.-The treaty
OF peace negotiated between the COM
missioners Of the United States and
Spain, at Paris. was to-day ratified
by the United States Senate, the vote
being 81 ayes, 81 nays-one vote more
than the two-thirds majority necessary
to secure Senatorial concurrence in a
treaty document. The vote was taken
in executive session and until the in
junction of secrecy 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 were
three votes to spare. There was in fact
only one vote more than was necessary
the ballot resulting in 81 ayes to Il
nays.
No votes has been taken in the Sen
ate since that on the repeal of the
purchasing clause of the Sherman law
that has been followed with as close
interest as was the vote of to-day.
This anxiety was due not only to the
magnitude of the question at issue, but
to the uncertainty which attended the
matter up to the last moment. Only the
elect few knew how Senators McEnery,
of Louisiana. and Jones, of Nevada,
would vote half an hour before their
votes were cast and not even these
knew when the bells rang for the eX-
ecutive session at a quarter past 2
o'clock
Many of the vast throng which was
turned from the galleries after the
doors were closed in response to Sen
ator Davis's motion, fingered in the
corridors all waiting eagerly for the
first news from the inside. 1t was gen
orally understood that the first AZ
minutes were to be given to speech
making, but the crowd apparently was
prepared for this delay.
Within the chamber the interest was
even more intense. Very few Sena-
tors left the chamber except those en-
gagged in the cloak rooms in trying on
the one side to gain votes for the
treaty and on the other to prevent
break in the ranks. Senators Aldrich,
especial attention to securing the nee
essary votes to insure ratification, were
doubtful of the result when the secret
session began, while Senators German
and Jones, the leaders of the opposition,
considered their forces intact. Half
an hour afterwards it was whispered
about that Senator McEnery had been
won over on condition that his declar-
atory resolution should be adopted sub
seQuent to the passage of the ratifca-
ton resolution. When this news was
confirmed it was known that ratifca-
ton was assured, for Senator McLaurin
had already announced his intention
to vote for the treaty in view of the
condition of affairs at Manila. Sena
tor Jones went over at the last mo-
nent making the one vote more than
was necessary. There was no applause
when the result was az-cc---c1t, but
many Senators heaved a sigh Of relief
and rushed from the chamber to give
the news to the waiting world.
In advance of the voting speeches
were made by Senators Ross, Money
and Fairbanks. Senator Stewart who
had Just arrived from his State cam
paign in Nevada for reelection, an
rounced informally during this period
OF the session that in his entire trip
across the continent he had not encoun-
tered one man who was opposed to the
ratification CT the treaty.
Promptly at 3:O8 o'clock the Vice
President interrupted Senator Money
who then speaking, to announce that
the hour had arrived for vote But
one amendment was offered-that pre-
pared by Senator Vest placing the
Philippines on the same footing as
Cuba in the treaty. In the temporary
absence Of Mr.. Vest, it was presented
by Mr. German. This amendment was
as follows:
Article III-Strike out the words.
"cedes to the United States" and in
sert in lieu thereof the words, "relin-
quishes all claim of sovereignty over
and title to-
All at the end of Article III. the
following:
"The United States, desiring that the
people of the archipelago shall be en-
abled to establish form of free gov