The record-union., 1899-01-13
A Lively Debate in Executive Ses-
sion Of the Senate
Upon a Motion Of Berry 10 Consider the
Document In Open Session.
The Entire Question at Issue Como
Over to . Considerable Extent
During the Four Hours Debate.
the Senate Adjourning for tho
Day Without Reaching Vote
Upon the Berry Motion.

WASHINGTON Jan. 1.-THE sup
porters and opponents Of the peace
treaty in the Senate had their first
contest over that document to-day in
executive session. While the debate
technically was upon Senator Berry's
motion providing for the consideration
OF the resolution of ratification in open
session, the entire question at issue
was gone oven to a considerable extent.
The discussion continued from a few
minutes past / until 5, when the Sem
ate adjourned for the day, without
reaching a vote upon the Berry mo-
ton.
1t was a running debate, in which
Senators Berry, White, Hale, Hoar.
Vest and others in opposition to the
treaty met Senators Davis, Frye, Tel
Ter, Gray and others In advocacy of it.
Probably twenty Senators spoke. There
were many animated colloquies, and
for time an exceptional degree of
feeling was shown.
1t was argued by those favoring the
motion that no harm could come by
taking the public into the Senate's
confidence, while those opposed sta1ed
that International questions were in
volved which could be considered in a
far more judicious and calm manner
behind closed doors than with the
whole world invited to listen.
Suppose it was important that the
matter be kept private, said Senator
Vest, no one supposed for a moment
that this result could be secured. The
Senate's executive secrets, SO called.
are invariably known to the world.
70 m
count that the important points, at
least, would all go to the public.
The Senators who had acted as men,
bers of the Paris commission, Messrs.
Davis, Frye and Gray, were all pres
ent, and antagonized the motion for
open doors. They stated that, from
their experience in the negotiations Of
the treaty, many questions involving
grave controversies were liable to be
raised, and all urged the preservation
of the Senatorial custom Of closed
doors. Senator Teller sustained them
in this action.
Senator Hoar, ON the other hand, for
the first time in his life, advocated
open sessions, declaring that no fact
could be developed in connection with
the treaty too important for the Amer
lean public to know.
1t is the peoples affair, said Senator
White, and the people should be in
vited at least to listen to the discus
sion of the question, if they could not
be given any more exalted privilege in
connection with it. He then proceeded
to say that if the Commissioners who
were present in the Senate had any
great secrets they should give them to
the Senate forthwith, in order that all
the members of that body should have
equal light with these highly favored
gentlemen"
These circumstances led to the dis
cussion of the wisdom and good policy
of appointing Senators as members of
the Peace. Commission, and there was
a general passage at arms over this
question.
Naturally, too, the Senate drifted
into a discussion of the treaty itself.
and the intention of this Government
toward the Filipinos. Senators Gray,
Frye and Teller talked upon these mat
tiers.
Senator Gray announced himself as
supporter of the treaty adding, how
ever, that at the beginning he had
some misgivings as to the policy in
volved. Still there could be no two
opinions on the general question of sur
rendering the islands back to Spain,
and with this question disposed of in
the negative, it only remained for the
United States to take at least tempo
rary control of the islands. For the
future he had no doubt that the United
States would deal fairly and in accord
ance with the dictates of honesty Win
the natives of the islands.
Senator Teller's speech was more
pronounced declaration for American
sovereignty in the islands, and was
Jealous plea for the recognition OF our
right as nation to make conquest
and to hold the country taken. He.
too. would award the natives fair
treatment, but he would leave no
doubt in etheir minds or the mind or
anyone else that they were subjects
of the United States, and that they
were such by right of conquest-by d.
vine right Of nationality, which Is an
inherent and integral part of our ex-
istence as a people.
An interesting point bearing upon the
treaty, but not connected directly
with it. was brought out in connection
with the confirmation of General
wherrv Senator Hawley asked for
action upon the nomination, saying
that II was urgent because it was de-
signed that General Wherry should go
to the Philippines, and that he should
proceed there as soon as practicable.
This remark was seized upon by the
opposition Senators as a text for crit
icism of the policy Of sending troops
to these islands at present, Senator
Hale leading in this onslaught. They
had supposed, they said, that this prac-
tice would cease with the signing of
the protocol.
Some Of the Senators went so far as
to intimate that the policy, in connec-
ton with speeches made in the Senate.
was calculated, If not intended, to
;ncite the Filipinos to acts Of hostility.
Senators Hale and Hoar announced
themselves openly during the session
as determined to vote against the
treaty. and while the discussion was
IN progress a number Of Democratic
Senators held q conference for the pur-
nose OF deciding upon q course OF an
tagonism calculated to secure it, de-
feat.