The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-06
byJPFTAE.O LETNTh WAFER
DEMOCRATS ON THE TREATY.
MANY THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE
MODIFIED.

Not Opposed to Expansion of the
Right Sort; But to Take Over the
Philippines Is Not the Right Sort.
Bacon Says Ratify, and Then Set
tie the Question in Our own Way.
Opinions of Berry, Chiffon, Money
and others.
Washington, Jan. 5.-(speciaD. Now
that the peace treaty is formally before
the Senate, the expansionists and the anti
expansionists, in that body, will proceed
to line up their respective forces for the
anxiously looked for contest. During the
holiday recess the Democratic senators
have been scattered all over the country,
enjoying the Christmas festivities al their
respective homes. Although geographical
ly wide apart, there appears 10 have been
a general concentration of Democratic
sentiment on the subject of the pending
treaty Before the holiday recess began
there was scarcely a handful of Demo
cratic senators who were prepared to de-
clare their hostility TO the treaty. Now
there appears to be a determined Demo-
cratic movement against the acquisition
of the Philippine Islands, and 20 that
end an effort will be made to combine
enough Democratic and Republican votes
to amend the treaty so as to eliminate the
possibility of the Philippines ever becom-
ing territory of the United States.
With view to ascertaining the Dem
ocratic position on this subject, / inter-
viewed a number of senators to-day, and
was surprised to find an almost unanmity
of expression among the members of the
minority relative to that position of the
treaty which is supposed to deal with the
Philippine problem. There has been no
Democratic caucus on this question, but l
am told that there are not more than
from three 10 five Democratic senators
who viii be found voting for the ratifea-
ton of the treaty as it has been present
ed TO the Senate.
Unreasonable Says Berry.
Senator Berry of Arkansas, who has
heretofore refrained from committing him
self for or against the treaty, authorized
me TO saw that he Clocks upon the propo-
sition TO annex the Philippine Islands on
the part of this government, IS one of
the most unreasonable and indefensibe
nroposals ever presented 10 the American
neople" Il will never vote for a treaty
or anything that can be regarded as APP
pr&ing such an unjustihaDle proposition,
said he. Il am not AUTHORIZED to speak
for other senator's, but + am convinced
mat many of my Democratic associates
on This side of the chamber entertain sim
liar views. and will vote accordingly"
Representative Chiffon Of Texas is also
pronounced in his opposition to that part
If the treaty which relates to the Phil
innin4s. and he expresses in general way
he prevailing Democratic sentiment when
he says:
.T am not opposed to the general policy
81 evnansion as laid down by Mr.. Bryan,
ana 7 doubt if there are many Democratic
sarators who will accept the declaration
- Mr. BRYAN on this question as their
,,,,5e in The votes they may give. OF
course there Is much that may be said
an both sides Of the question, and l am
,,n+ r,iIline to be placed in the attitude OF
saving that the Democratic party is op-
,assd to expansion. when expansion is
P'oa,ssarv and 20 the generally recogniz-
nd advantage of the United States. The
Darnocratic party has always been
- favor of expansion when we
nro,oeed to expand 10 the right
direction. have an abiding be-
Iief that al some future time we will find
a. advisable 10 expand and take IN some
additional territory Immediately 20 the
south OF US. l do not take any stock in