The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-02-07


corridors to announce 10 the few senators
who were not In their seats that the cul
event had arrived. The call pro-
ceeded quietly until the name CT senator
McLaurin was announced. He ereated the
drst stir by a speech IN explanation ot
his vote for the treaty This was the ni-
tial break In the ranks Of the opposition.
Mr. McLaurin made brief statement n
explanation OF his change Of position.
Swing the open hostillties in Manila ss
the reason for il.
II am as l have been from the flrst,"
ne said. "irrevoeably opposed to the cx-
oanslon Of our territorq and should have
voted against ratification but for the news
Tat has come TO us over the cable IN tho
past two days"
lie then went on to say that the attack
1pon our roops had brought about new
condition Of affairs and that he should
vote Tor the treaty.
This announcement created hubbub of
excitement for while many senators were
informed that he had decided upon a
rhange, there were many who were not
In possession Of this Information. The an
7ouncement brought some OF the opposi.
tion senators to his side with remon-
strances, but he replied that he could not
any longer see his way clear to cast his
vote against the treaty.
, Continuing his remarks 20 the senate.
he referred TO Senator Fairbanks app Nj
% support the administration as an as-
rurance that the critical condition exis L
ing at Manila could be more easily hand-
ed II the treaty should be reained. He
or one. was not willing to emoarrass
- un
after the ratification the adminlstrat tic n
'hould fan 70 pursue the proper corise to-
wards the island the fault would
Ae that OF the government and not his,
and he would not be justified In commit.
ing an unwise act by any apprehension
that the administration would not do All
hat IL could do
He had hardly concluded when Senator
.-cEnery approached with word OF uon-
GRADUATION, saying that ne had deai led
upon the same course.
The Lluislana senator made a spaech
n explanation TO the senate. publicly ar
nounclng himself only by means OF lis
vote
Mr.. Jones, OF New. did not vote on the
FIRST roll call. bur came In from the cloak
room before the vote was announced ai.d
made brief but feeling speech He said
hat he was against expansion. and n he
thought the ratification of the peace
treaty meant expansion ne would NOT vote
for H. as he considered policy OF expan-
sion would ruin the country. The events
IN Manila during the past two or three
days In his Judgment We're likely TO do
more TO discourage expansion than any
thing that had happened but at the sams
time produced a crisis which made tne
ratification OF the treaty necessary. lie
considered It n patriotic duty to vote for
the treay and consequently cast his vote
in the affirmative.
on the motion OF Senator Davis IL as
then ordered that the aye and nay vote
he made puglic and soon afterwards the
doors were opened and the senate 'eeeed-
ed, attempting TO pass the MeEnerS deI-
laratory resolution as per the pro Mise %
that senator.
News ofthe ratification OF the treaty
reached the White house almos; imnne-
dlately. Postmaster General Smith was
with the President at the time and was
the first 10 congratulate him. Naturally.
the President was gratlhed az the vote
and so evxpressed himself, 'orotary
Gage came in soon afterward ana was fol-
lowed by Secretary Alger and Hay.
Within forty minutes after its ratification
General Cox. the secretary OF the seants,
appeared himself with the treaty which
he promptly delivered into the hands of
IN president and then retired. Tho cabinet
MEMBERS as they left the White house
we're iuhflant over the ratihvaton of the
reaty and spoke OF il as a great triumph.
Secretary Hay expressed his gratlfca-
ion that the treaty wah ratified and said
only regretted that It had been found
0ecessary to occupy so much va.i'ole
ime IN doing Il.
Secretary Long said; II am glai the
'reaty IS ratified from the standpoint Of
he antl-imperialist as We. as from any
other. The very height OF imperialism ~
o have these islands now under the con-
troll Of one man exercising absolute mill
tary authority The ratification OF the
treaty transfers the disposition Of these
Islands TO the American people. who
through their representatives can give
them selfgovernment or make any other
disposition OF them that our own rrlnci-
pies Of government and ideas OF national
welfare require"
Secretary Alger thought that the con
hrmatlon OF the victory az Manila, to-
gether with the ratification OF the peace
treaty was sufhcient to make the lay
memorable lie spoke OF the perils OF ths
position which the American troops had
been occupyirg Tor 50 many months. while
the fate Of tie treaty was at issue aGi
said he was only zoe pleased now that the