The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-07

| the view that solid support of the ad-
ministration would be of vast advant-
age to the administration in the pres
! ent crisis. In this connection he re-
| ferred 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, "ratify the treaty
and then settle our differences concern
ing the question of expansion after
! ward. Those questions can wait but
! the emergency is too great for any
| postponement whatever on the ratifi-
! cation question"
Promptly at o'clock the Vice Presi-
/ dent interrupted Senator Money, who
! was then speaking, to announce that
the hour had arrived for a vote
But one amendment was offered
that proposed by Senator Vest. pIac-
ing the Philippines on the same foot
ing as Cuba in this treaty. In the tenn
porary absence of Vest it was pre-
scented by German. This amendment
was as follows:
Article III-Strike out the words
Cedes to the United States and insert
IN lieu thereof the words, ''Reiinquishes
a. al claim Oh sovereignty over and title
Add at the end of article III the follow
ing; The United States desiring that
ESCPIS VI the dTCnlpeldRO snail he n
apIeo TO establish a form of free gov
ernment suitable to their condition and
securing the, rights of life, liberty and
pa Pr3Spe acy ana the preservation of order
anu equal right therein assumes for the
tlme being and to the end aforesaid the
control OF the archipelago so far as such
e abaTe snail snail be needful for the purposes
ABOVE stated, and will provide that the
| privileges accorded to Spain by articles
~ ana OF this treaty shall be enjoyed ;"
.,G IN me 2. q article VIII, after the word
/ or,A +oo IOl,
! lippine archipelago" In line 3 of the
| same article, after the word Indies in
! sert and. In lines and of the same
article. strike out the words land in the
| Philippine archipelago"
IL In article TX strike out lines III. 172 and
I 10 N IN line of article XIII, after the
| Woro cuba, insert the words 1.-The Phil
! lppInes In line 3 of the same article
strike out the words the Philippines.
The vote defeating the amendment
stood 30-53.
The voting on this amendment pro-
| ceeded quietly and as all the Senator's
We're present 1t was soon disposed Of
| Inc votes of Senators were closely.
scanned for pointers on the approach
ing vote on the treaty itself The ONLY
| vote considered as at all significant of
a change favorable to the treaty was
that OIL McEnery, who voted against
the amendment. Senator Jones Of
Nevada, McLaurin and Kenney voted
| for it.
The vote was Immediately announced
and pages were sent scurrying through
the corridors to announce to the few
Senators who were not in their seats
mat the eliminating event had arrived.
The call proceeded quietly until the
name OF Senator McLaurin was an
nounced. He created the first stir of
the occasion by a speech in explana-
ton OF his vote for the treaty. This
was the initial break in the ranks or
| the opposition. McLaurin made brief
statement in explanation of his change
or position, giving the open hostilities
in Manila as the reason for it.
L am as have been from the first
said he, 'trrevocably opposed to the
expansion of our territory and should
have voted against ratification but for
the news that has come to us over the
cable in the past two days.
He then went on to say that the at
tack upon our troops had brought
about a new condition of affairs. and
that he should vote for the treaty.
RMS announcement created a hub
bub of excitement, for While some Sen
ators were informed that he had de-
cided upon change there were many
who were not in possession of
this information. This announcement
side with remonstrances, but he re-
piled to them that he could not any
longer see his way clear to cast his
vote against the treaty.
Continuing his remarks to the Senate
he referred TO Senator Fairbanks an
peal to support the administration as
an assurance that the critical condition
existing at Manila could be more easily
handled if the treaty should be rati-
fed He, for one, was not willing to
embarrass the Government at so criti-
cal a time. If, after the ratification.
the administration should fail to pursue
the proper course toward the islands.
the fault would be that of the Govern
ment and not his, and he would not be
justified in committing an unwise act
by any apprehension that the admins
tration would not do all that it should
do. He also referred to the agreement
to pass the McEnery resolution as a
pledge against expansion. In view OF
this promise and in the hope that rati
fication would lessen bloodshed in the
Philippines he would, therefore, he said.
cast his vote in the affirmative
He had hardly concluded when Nc
Emery approached with words of con-
graduation, saying that he had de-
cided upon the same course. The Louis
lana Senator made a speech of expla-
nation to the Senate, publicly announc-
ing himself only by means Of his vote
Jones of Nevada sdid not vote on the
first rollcall, but came from the cloak