The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-06
Interviews with All the Prominent
Members of the Senate on the Effect
of Saturday Nights Battle.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb 5.-The battle of
Manila may have a decisive and favorable
effect on the treaty vote. The prevailing
opinion in Washington tonight is that it
will furnish the excuse a number of wabbly
anti-eXpansion senators want for change Of
front. They are half hearted in their fealty
to the opposition and do not enjoy the posi-
ton in which they find themselves Many
of them committed themselves to vote
against ratification because they did not at
the time suppose their votes would be vital;
others because Senators German or Jones
or White asked the promise on personal
grounds; others because they resented the
idea of Col. William Jennings Bryan in
structing the Democrats of the Senate as
to their duties; others because as an
academic proposition they were opposed to
imperialism and deemed it holy duty
to fight ratification. At best it was a
heterogeneous combination, a coalition
brought together from a variety of naturally
antagonistic factions and elements and
bound together by fragile ties. 1t was a
syndicating of a collection of cross purposes,
a singular partnership of stranger bed fell
lows who might stick together under press
ure or go to pieces on any sort of provoca-
tion or excuse, be it trivial or earth rending
Several free-silver senators who had an
nounced themselves to the opposition be-
cause they thought such a course might be
good politics have been getting restless un-
der the growing suspicion that the fight
on ratification was an attempt to sidetrack
Bryan and 16 to ] and upbuild a new issue
-anti-eXpansion-a the expense and in SUBJ
stitution of their idols. Senator Allen, of
Nebraska, will speak early tomorrow after
noon, exposing this anti-Bryan conspiracy
and giving it as a reason for jumping the
fence into the majority camp. This speech
will be one of the sensations of d day preg-
nant with great things. 1t may be the sig
nal for general break in the ranks of the
opposition. 1t may point the way to freedom
for at least a half dozen free-silverites who
have a repugnance to following the Cor
man leadership when it is shown to them
plainly that such leadership is to encom-
pass Bryan's downfall. Then again there
are others who on broad grounds of pa
triotism will refuse longer to face the re-
sponsibility of giving this government formal
title to the Philippines and of giving our
army and navy the right to pursue the re-
bellious F'ilipinos beyond the local limits of
Manila. This latter view will be powerfully
impressed on the Senate by the bloody bat
tie at Manila, a sanguinary occurrence di-
rectly traceable to the traitorous encour-
agement accorded the Aguinaldo rebels bv
the Senate obstructionists, who have kept
American troops bottled up when they
should have been given enlarged freedom of
action weeks ago. Prompt ratification
might have prevented Saturday nights
slaughter of American soldiers Defeat of
ratification may be followed by greater
sacrifice of human life.
This is a responsibility many Democratic
senator's now with the opposition shrink
from assuming. This view Of the situation
will be emphasized as the hour approaches
for a registration of the fateful vote
Manila's battle and Aliens speech may save
the treaty. 1t is the belief tonight that
such will be the case. If the front of the
opposition be broken a dozen votes now
listed as naturalization may go to swell
the majority. Such a result is among the
imminent possibilities. Defeat for the on
position may easily be turned into a rout
In administration circles tonight conf
dence in ratification has taken the place of
doubt and despair openly manifest during
the preceding two days. A complete re-
versal OF opinion has taken place. Even
Senator Hale, who has been classed as an
"irreconcilabe, has let it be known that If
the fate of the treaty depends on him he
will vote for ratification