The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-26
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Vote on the Treaty Will Be
Taken February g.
REASON FOR ACCEPTANCE
Davis Speaks in Defense OF the Treaty
and for Observation-Disclosures
of the Philippines Is the
Only Solution.

Washington, Jan. 25.-The senate held
two executive sessions to-day and at
each the peace treaty was the subject
under discussion. At the first an agree
ment was reached to vote on the treaty
next Monday week, and at the second
Senator Davis presented the American
commissioners reason for the accept
ance of the treaty in the form in which
1t was finally concluded. The agree
ment for vote was reached at an exc
cutive session held soon after converting
at noon, this agreement being in the
following language:
THAT the senate agrees to vote on the
treaty with Spain and all amendments
on Monday, the 9Th of February, at 8
o'clock p. M, and that until that time
the senate shall go into executive SEES
sion ON each day at p. M
This was an unanimous agreement,
Senator Davis in reply to yesterdays
proposition by the opposition, and as a
result of to-day's meeting of the senate
committee on foreign relations. The
agreement in the committee to accept
the proposition was unanimous and it is
understood that Senator Davis informed
his fellow committeeman that it was
the wish of the president that the propo-
sition for vote be accepted and the
result made known as soon as possible.
Those who are familiar with the views
Of the president say that he had urged
an early vote, upon the ground that
nothing is to be lost and everything to
be gained by taking the vote. The
final action, he is confident, will be fay-
BILE.
In accordance with the terms of the
agreement the senate resumed its work
in executive session at 2 o'clock and the
entire time of this session was consumed
by Senator Davis in making presenta-
ton of the history of the Paris confer
ence. This presentation consisted large
ly in the quotation of the various propo-
sitions made on each side of the con-
troversy at Paris, and while the speech
was thus rendered somewhat formal it
received the closest and most careful at
tention. A map of the Philippines on a
large scale adorned the rear wall of the
senatr chamber, and while it was often
consulted by senators, Mr.. Davis made
but one reference to it as such. Speak
Ing outside of the published record,
Senator Davis took occasion to eulogize
the Spanish commissioners in high
terms as men of exceptional shreWd-
ness and ability, saying the Americans
had found them armed at all points,
Jealous of Spains honor and interest,
and prepared at all times to defend her
cause as long as there was anything to
defend. He said the Americans of the
commission had been in constant COM
munication with the president while ne
gotiating the convention; that he was
made acquainted with all the commits
sion's movements and while he ad-
mitted that there had been apparently
some division of opinion among public
lists in the United States as to the pol
icy of including the Philippines in the
agreement there had been practically
no other honorable way out of the dif1i-
Guilty. 5-
AS for himself. Mr.. Davis was willing
from the start to extend our borders SO
as to include these islands, because he
believed their acquisition a most i'm
portant stride in the advancement of
the American nation commercially and
otherwise. He, with others, was look
ing forward to the prospective parti-
ton of the vast Chinese empire among
the European nations, and he foresaw
that if the United States did not secure
foothold such as they have an oppor-
tunity to secure through the terms OF
the treaty they would be most effect
lively forever shut out from this vast
market On this account there was
every reason in the world why the
treaty should be ratified. and he con-
tended that few men who would study
the worldwide questions presented as
the commissioners had been compelled
to study them, would doubt the expe-
diency of the movement. He also
touched upon the legal questions in
volved, contending that there were
many presidents for the acquisition,
that we, as nation, had a right to
acquire territory and that there were
no constitutional barriers.
If we should fail to make good our
own opportunity thus providentially
offered, we might, said Mr. Davis, ex-
pect no favors from Europe in regain
ing foothold in the eastern market
We need count upon no display of
friendship from Europe in this or any
ether matter. The European powers
were profoundly jealous of the United
States, and the senator declared it was
a fact that We had not had one friend
on the continent in our recent struggle
with Spain or in our efforts to secure
peace favorable to this country He
irtimated that but for Great Britain's
attitude there would have been inter-
yention by the continental powers. In
this connection, he referred to the
newspaper reports from London ac-
crediting him with an expression favor
able to an alliance of the United States
with Great Britain and Japan. He had.
he said. never advocated such an al
lance for the present, but he would not
say that the time might not come when
such an alliance would be both wise
and necessary for the preservation of
our rights and prestige. He dwelt at
some length upon the favor shown the
Spanish side of the question while the
conference was in progress, and said
there was especial effort to have the
Spanish bonds secured on the colonies
guaranteed by the Americans. He be-
lieved if the Americans held the Philip
pines, International trouble would be
avoided. but if the contrary course
should be pursued, he was most appre-
hensive of the results.
In reply to question from Senator
Hoar, Mr.. Davis said there had been no
effort to put the Filipinos on the same
footing with the Cubans in formulating
that treaty. He said that the two
countries were differently situated and