The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-14
SUGAR RATIFIED
THE TREATY

Washington, February bit was not the
battle with the Filipinos at Manila that rat
flied the treaty of peace between the United
States and Spain. The movement that Sc
cured ratification by the present senate be-
gan several hours before the fight began
and was consummated independently of the
news that told of bloodshed in the Philip
pines. Had Senators McEnery and Jones.
the latter of Nevada, voted against the
treaty. as was their original purpose, rati-
fication would have been defeated, the vote
in that event standing So to 20. 1t was af-
ter every other senator upon whom any
possible influence could be brought to bear
had been attacked by the friends of the
treaty, that, as a last resort, a move to Sc
cure the support of Senators McEnery and
Jones was inaugurated. As result these
senators and the interests they rep
represent have pledges from the adj
ministration and the dominant party
that no injury to those interests
shall result from the ratification of the
of sugar. 1t was the fear that ratification ,
and annexation would mean remission of
sugar duties and thereby the beet sugar
industry of the west and the cane sugar
interest of Louisiana would suffer that con-
tributed chiefly to array McEnery and
Jones originally in opposition to the treaty.
Friday evening February 8, the friends of
the treaty were in desperate straits. Rat
ification seemed impossible, apparently ev-
cry influence had been brought to bear to
secure additional votes. but to no purpose.
The prospects for ratification were gloomy.
No calculation could give the measure suf-
icient votes to insure favorable action. Sen
ators Aldrich, Davis and Hanna had all but
given up the fight. The senate was about
to adjourn when a prominent young man,
intimate with the senators, met Senator
Aldrich.
There is just one chance" he remarked
to the senator. 1.-THE treaty be rati-
fed If the administration will do just one
thing. 1 believe two votes for the treaty
can be secured
What do you mean? Who do you mean?'
was the response Of the Rhode Island SEM
ator.
THE votes of McEnery and Jones can ba
gotten"
This statement met with stare SUCCESS
tive of amazement and incredulity.
t"Utterly out of the question:" said the
senator; "they cannot be moved, and if
ratification depends upon change in their
attitude, the treaty is defeated for this
session.
mot if the right promises are given,''
persisted the young man who had made the
suggestion.
what can we offer them in reason that
they will accept? queried the senator,
whose interest in anything that promised at
that late hour success for the treaty was
instantaneous.
''If these senators are guaranteed that no
injury will result to the sugar interests
they will vote for the treaty. 1 am conf
dent of it,, was the response.
The interview ceased at that point after
an understanding had been reached that
consultation with other senators friendly
to the treaty and later with the president
would be secured and decision announced
the following day. When Saturday came
it was announced that the administration
stood ready to give any pledges of protec-
ton to American sugar that it's friends
might demand, provided votes for the
treaty would be given in return. The young
man in question volunteered to engineer
the movement that would reach eventually
the western and southern senators, and
that night he set about his work with de-
anu eHtHuSlaSI
A representative of the Sugar Trust was,
of course in Washington at that time, and
there always is whenever congress is likely
to consider any question that will affect it's
interests. He is a man of national reputa-
ton, and his name has figured prominently
in the press whenever the Sugar Trust has
1t was of the utmost importance that ne
should be seen first. He was found at a
well known club Saturday evening and an
audience with the ratification emissary,
whom he knew, was granted readily. They
had not talked long when the young man
got down to business.
You remember he began, that when
the fight for Hawaiian annexation was On
l did all could to beat you and came out
the winning side. You opposed annex
alton because you thought it bad for your
sugar interests. l told you then that some
day would be able, | thought, to act with
you and suggest something that would BEN
eft the sugar interests. l have now a sug-
gestion."
II remember very well all the circum-
stances connected with the fight last sum-
mer,' said the millionaire representative of
the sugar interests, land am equally inter-
ested in the present struggle and equally
opposed to annexation in the present case.
Therefore, L am curious to know the sug-
gestion you have In mind"
Give your support to the treaty." was
the terse reply, and while the effect was
awaited the man of the trust was not slug
gish. Rising abruptly, with a vigorous
swing of his arm, he exclaimed:
Good God Support the treaty? That In
my mind is about as wise as I likely to
do it. Ratification will bring irreparable
loss md upon no-theory would it secure any
aid"
NOW, hold on a minute" broke In his in
terviewer, don't commit yourself too far
to declaration that may work your injury
q