Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-13
SENATE NOT AGREED AS TO HOW TO
CONSIDER 1T.
1T MAY BE IN OPEN SESSION
OPPONENTS ARGUE IN FAVOR OF
PUBLIC DEBATE.
Senator Hoar, for First Time in His
Life. Opposes Executive Sessions
Opponents of Treaty Pro-
fess to BE Very
Hopeful.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-The supporters
and opponents of the peace treaty in the
senate had their first contest over that
document to-day in executive session.
While the debate technically was upon
Senator Berry's motion providing for the
consideration of the resolution OF ratinca-
tion in open session, the entire question at
issue was gone over at conslderapie eA-
tent. The discussion continued from rev
| minutes past until 5. when the senate ad-
| journed for the day without reaching
vote upon the Berry motion.
There were no set speeches in the usuai
acceptance of that phrase. 1t was a run
ming debate in which Senators Berry, White.
Hale Hoar, Vest and Others in opposition
to the treaty, met Senators Davis, Frye.
Teller, Gray and others, in advocacy OF II.
Probably twenty senators spoke. but many
of them did little more than ask questions.
Still speeches of some length were made by
Messrs. Teller, and Frye. on the one hand
and by Messrs. Hale and Hoar on the oth-
er. There were many animated colloquies
| between senator's and for a time an ex-
ceptional degree of feeling was shown.
The proceedings opened with speech by
Senator Berry in support of his motion for
open sessions and he was replied to briefly
by Senators Davis and Frye, Senator Vest
coming in later in support of Mr.. Berry,
and Senator Teller joining with the FORCES
in opposition to the motion. The discus
sion over this point hinged entirely upon
the contention on the one hand that the
public was entitled to know what was TAX
ing place in the disposition of so important
question as the ratification of the peace
treaty, and, on the other hand. that the
debate was sure to develop facts and call
for the utterances which should not be CIV
en- to other nations.
Suppose it was important that the matter
be kept private, said Senator Vest, no one
| supposed for moment that this result
could be secured. The senate's executive
secrets. so-called. are invariably known to
the world, and for this reason if no other,
he could see no benefit in excluding the
public. Senator White thought it safe 20
count that the important points at least
would all go to the public.
The senators who had acted as members
of the Paris commission. Messrs. Davis,
Frye and Gray, were all present and an
tagonized the motion for open doors. They
stated that from their experience in the
negotiation of the treaty many question in
volving grave international controversies
were liable to be raised, and all, speaking
from this standpoint. urged the preserva-
tion of the senatorial custom of closed
doors. Senator Teller sustained them in
this action, urging the Importance of the
question and stating that while, as rule,
he favored open sessions of the senate on
all occasions, he considered the present
complication too grave and the present Of
all times the most inopportune for change
of the senatorial custom of open doors.
Senator Hoar, on the other hand, for the
first time in his life, advocated open se.-
"a rfagY hot fr1
veloped In connection with the treaty too
important for the American public to
know.
1t is the peoples affair, said Senator
White, and the people should be invited at
least to listen to the discussion of the
question If they could not be given any
more exalted privilege in connection with
it. He then proceeded to say that If the
commissioners who We're present in the
senate had any great secrets, they should
give them to the senate forthwith. in or
der that all the members of that BODY
should have equal light with these "hiehly
favored gentlemen"
Naturally. the senate drifted into dis
cussion of the treaty itself and the inten-
tion OF the government toward the Fill
ipinos. much being said on the lines of
Senator Foraker's open session speech or
yesterday. Senators Gray, Frye and Tel.
Ter talked upon these matters and while
the speeches were on the same general
INES as those made on the support of ex-
pansion in open session, they were more
crisp, as none of them had been prenared
In advance. Senator Gray announced him
self as supporter of the treaty. adding
however. that. at the beginning. he had
some misSivings as to the policy involved.
Still, there could be no two opinonis on
the general question Of surrendering the
Islands back to Spain, and with this oues.
ton disposed of in the negative. 1t onIv
remained for the United States to take at
least temporary control of the islands.
For the future. he had no doubt that the
United States would deal fairly and in ac-
cordance with the dictates of honesty with
the natives of the islands.
! Senator Teller's speech was a more pro-
nounced declaration for American sover.
eighty in the islands and was a zealons
plea for the recognition of our right &c !,
nation 10 make conquest and to hold the
country taken. He. too would award the
natives fair treatment. but he would leave
| no doubt In their minds or the minds of
anyone else that they were subjects of tha
United States, and that they were such
'by right of conquest-by the divine right
of nationality, which is an inherent and in
tegral part of our existence as people-''
An interesting point bearing upon the
treaty, but not connected directly with 1t.
was brought out in connection with the
confirmation of General Wherry. Senator
Hawley asked for action upon the nomina-
tion saying that 1t was urgent because it
was designed that General Wherry should
go to the Philippines and that he should
proceed there as soon as practicable. This
remark was seized upon by the opposition
senators as a text for criticism of the
policy of sending troops to these islands
at present. Senator Hale leading in this
onslaught. He had supposed. he said, that
this practice would cease with the signing
of the protocol. Some Of the senator's went
so far as to intimate that the policy in
connection with speeches made in the SEN
ate was calculated if not intended to in
cite the Filipinos to acts of hostility.
Senators Hale and Hoar announced them
selves openly during the session de-