Evening star., 1899-02-04
MODIFYING RESOLUTIONS
Anti-Expansionist Senators Objected to q
Vote.
Views of the Opposition Stated by Mr..
Gorman-Claims of Both Sides Re-
Earding Treaty Ratification.


turn late yesterday afternoon. The op-
position to vote first came from the
friends Of the treaty, who held to the
theory that it could be ratified without
compromise. Those who apparently were
then willing that a vote should be taken
yesterday on the resolutions, held an op-
posite view and absolutely refused to
agree for time for taking a vote.
The contest occurred in the executive ses-
sion, which did not begin until 5:1o ociock.
The next hour and quarter was spent
In vain endeavor on the one side to get
an agreement to a date for a vote upon
the resolutions and on the other in a more
successful effort to bring the days session
to a close without allowing anything to
be accomplished in that direction.
The gallery doors had no sooner been
locked than Senator Davis, who had taken
his position at Senator Frye's seat, i'm
medfately in front of the chair, preferred
the request of the treaty supporters for
unanimous consent, naming today the
day for vote. He said that the desire
on his side of the chamber was that there
should be an opportunity to vote upon
all the resolutions of declaratory nature,
all of which had been offered by senators
who We're opposed to the treaty without a
modification.
Objection of the Opposition.
request, but it did not fail to create some
excitement Simultaneous objection was
made from three or four sources, but as
If by common consent to Senator German
was left the task Of making the principal
statement of the reasons for the opposi
ton. His main objection was based upon
the brief time that must intervene be-
tween the time of taking the vote the
resolutions and the time fixed for voting
on fhn fraa , n'o olr
An essential part of the demand of those
who desired a modification of the express
sion on the treaty was that the House as
well as the Senate must act upon the reso-
luton. ManlfeStly ii was too late to secure
vote by the House even if the action Of
the Senate should be favorable. Hence the
absurdity of the proposition. He for one
would object, and he had no doubt that
others would feel he did. So long as
there had been any possibility of securing
vote in both houses of Congress the men,
bers of the Senate who opposed the treaty
IN Its present form had made no opposition.
But to consent to vote upon the QueS-
ton until this late hour, after a DELAY of
so many days, would create the impression
that the opponents Of the treaty had been
posing for effect and had allowed them
selves to be. tricked either ignorantly or
knowingly.
Senators Cockrel and Bacon also avowed
their opposition to agreeing to fix a time
Tor vote, placing their opposition on
Mr.; German. Each was inclined to charge
bad faith. Senator CockreH gave notice
that he would resist any effort for vote
upon the resolutions up to 3 o'clock Mon
uay, "heh the vote on the treaty must be
taken.
nat FRIENDS of the Treaty Say.
Ths friends of the treaty declared that
they were acting in perfect good faith
They cited that all the time of the Senate
for the past week had been occupied Ii
performing duties under the orders or con-
sent of the Senate, and that there had not
within that period been a time wh2n the
vote could have been taken. They charged
that the opposition were afraid to allow an
opportunity to vote on the resolutions be-
cause of their apprehension that some Of
the resolutions would be agreed to and the
chances OF the ratification of the treaty
thus improved. This meant as thev re-
garded 1t, that they did not want any
treaty ratified. The objectors stood firm
however, to the last refusing to yield
These objections were, of course. eff
fective, and the treaty supporters turned
their attention to longer daily sessions of
the Senate with the hope of exhaustfng
dictate and thus forcing action on the reso-
IutionS without unanimous consent being
given. Senator Davis therefore moved that
the Senate take recess until 10 o'clock to-
day- He was met with motion by Sena-
tor German to adjourn, and on this mo-
tion the yeas and nays were ordered Mr.
DAVIS and his co-WorkerS resisted the ad-
5ournment motion, and it was defeated. but
by margin of only one vote the ballot
resulting, "A ayes and 25 nays.
Adjournment of the Senate.
vote was Immediately ordered on the
motion for a recess until 10 today. On this
motion number of the members of the
opposition refrained from voting, and the
yol] he
The hands on the Senate clock then indi-
Gated $50. None of the senators had had
their dinners. Hence Senator Davis himself
moved an adjournment, which motion car
red without d division.
Inc vote on adjournment was not conSid-
cred IN any sense a test, as many of the
senators who are supporters of the treaty
had left the chamber before the ballot was
taken.
Claims of Both Sides.
If the objection to taking a vote on the
resolutions is maintained by its opponents
they will be able to accomplish their pur-
pose of forcing the vote on the original
document. They indicate no purpose to
change their line of action and say posi-
lively that they will not.
The day was flll of conferences, and the
three or four senators who have not yet
positively decided on which side to cast
their votes were much sought by both the
supporters and the opponents of the treaty.
The opponents claim 80 votes, which, they
say, cannot be shaken; while the leaders of
the affirmative side claim to have won over
two of those thirty-three yesterday and
to have fair promise of getting others
The supporters of the treaty still count
confidently upon having the requisite num-
Der of votes when the time comes, even
though no modifying resolution be adopted
GOV. SHAW'S ADDRESS