The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-06
NOW VOTE !!
Battle Of Manila is a
Clincher.
LODGE APPLAUDS
And Proposes to Stand By
Dewey and Otis.

Washington, Feb. 6.-Whatever may
be the result of the vote which is to
be taken in the Senate tomorrow on the
ratification of the peace treaty with
Spain, the subject of the relations of
this country to the Philippine Islands
undoubtedly will be the uppermost
topic in the Senate during the week
The hostile demonstration Of the Fill
Pine forces under Aguinaldo renders
this result inevitabiS.
This occurrence has had the effect
of intensifying the feeling in the SEN
ate which has grown out of the con-
troversy over the treaty and which
was almost at fever heat On this ac-
count it will be very difficult for the
| the present all interest centres in the
! outcome of the vote on the treaty
This vote will mark the close of one
OF one of the most memorable contests
that ever occurred in the Senate, and
there is profound and widespread inter-
est in the outcome. The vote is set
for o'clock and the balloting will
/ begin promptly at that hour.
The first vote will be on amendments.
OF these the only important one yet
offered is by Mr.. Vest, placing the
philippines on the same basis as Cuba
The vote will then be taken upon the
treaty itself.
| A favorable vote on The part of two
thirds of the Senate is necessary to Sc
cure ratification. Hence with a full
membership of the Senate present go
| votes will be necessary to secure a ia
Vorable result. There are now seven
senators absent from the city. OF
these, five, namely, Messrs. Proctor.
Stewart, Cannon, Wilson and Wetmore,
are favorable to the treaty, and Messrs.
White and Turpie are opposed to it.
Senator Stewart is expected to arrive
in time to cast his vote, and if this
| expectation should be realized, there
would be only six absentees, and ii
| would be very convenient TO arrange
for pairs as two senators in the af-
! firmative will necessarily be paired
against one in the negative. On this
basis the total vote ofsthe Senate
would be 81, and 56 would be neces-
sary.
The friends of the treaty are count
ing very confidently upon securing
these votes When the Senate adjourned
| tINJ- ldChSu OILY Two VOTES
of having the necessary number, and
the general opinion among the advo-
Gates of the treaty is that the hostilities
in Manila will have the effect of bring
| ing sufficient number to their stand
ard to insure a favorable result.
They say there are half dozen sem
ators who are not so completely com
mitted against the treaty as to prevent
their coming to the affirmative side.
| The Of fxYH 40
cede their defeat, but some of them
privately confess uneasness over the
result as the effect of the Manila en-
gagement. Every ballot as it is cast will
be scrutinized with the utmost interest
and very close tab will be kept by
many senators on the progress of the
vote.
If it should become apparent that the
| treaty is to be defeated some friend
of it will cast his vote in the negative
for the purpose of moving a reconsid-
GRAFTON, and this motion for reconsId-
| GRAFTON will be made Immediately after
the negative result is known. Whether.
however. the treaty should be post
poned for an extra session, will depend
upon subsequent developments.
The proceedings in connection with
the vote will be entirely in executive
session. but if the unanimous agree
ment is observed, the first two hours
of the days session will be open to
the public. 1t is possible, however.
that there may be a motion to close
the doors Immediately after converting.
because of the feeling that the situation
is too grave to permit Of open discus
sion.
The only other important questions
that are likely to come up after the
| ratification of the treaty are the anpro-
priation bills. Several of these are ready
for consideration, and of these. the IN
dian bill will be the first to be taken
up. If other important measures are
brought under consideration it will be
only for the purpose of furnishing a
subject of debate and not of passing
them.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts. a
member Of the committee on foreign re-
lations said: "On the proposition pre-
sented ] am in favor of standing bv
Dewey and Otis as against Ag1inaldo.
Our status in the Philippines is that
under the protocol we are in possession
of the city, bay and harbor OF Manila
We are acting under truce with Spain,
These people who have attacked the
United States forces are in the eve of
international law still subjects az
Spain, and would be until the treaty. is
ratified. They have violated the truce
and are public enemies and should be
treated as such. 1t was known a week
ago that Agoncillo, the representative
of Aguinaldo in Washington, was ready
to pack up and go away, giving up ey-
erything, but the action of those who
have opposed the treaty, and the assnr-
ances he has received from some one
resulted in his remaining. and the en-
couragement which the Filipinos have
received from the United States has
no doubt led to the attack upon the
American forces