The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-13
Some Interesting Secrets of the
Executive Session.
OPEN DOOR DISCUSSION
TO RATIFY THE
TREATY IN OPEN SESSION.
Friends of the Treaty Were Fearful
Lest the Proceedings Leak OUT
Several Members Announced Their
Purpose to Vote Against the
Treaty-Other Topics.

Washington, Jan. 12.-The supporters
and opponents of the peace treaty in the
senate had their first contest oyer thai
document today in executive session.
While the debate technically was upon
Senator Berry's motion providing for the
consideration of the resolution of ratiii-
cation in open session, the entire question
at issue was gone over to a considerable
extent. The discussion continued from
few minutes past 1 until .. when q SEN
ate adJourned Tor the DAY without reach-
ing q vote upon the Berry MOTION
1t was running debate, IN which sen
ators Berry White. Haze. hOar, Vest
and others. in opposition TO the treaty,
met Senators Davis, frye, Teller Gray
and others in advocacy Or IL. FI>-s my
twenty senators spoke. There were many
animated colleagues and for time an
exceptional degree of feeling was SHOWN.
1t was argued by those favOrlnS Inc
motion that no harm could come by tax
ing the public into the senate S confluence,
while those opposed stated that inter-
national questions were involved winch
could be considered il Il far more Ju-
diciOus and calm manner behind closed
doors than with the whole world invited
TO listen.
Suppose it was important that the mat
ter be kept private, said Senator vest, no
one supposed for a moment that TINS re-
suit could oe secured. The senate e&-
ecutive secrets. so-called, are invariably
known to the world. Senator w mite
thought it safe to count that the import
ant points at least would all so TO the
public.
The senator's who had acted as mem
berS OF the Paris commission, Messfs.
Davis. Frye and Gray, were all present
and antagoniZed the motion Tor open
doors. Tney stated that from their eX-
perience in the negotiations OF the treaty,
many questions involving grave conJro-
VERSES Were liable TO be raised, and al
urged the preservation OF the senatorial
custom of closed doors. Senator Teller
sustained them in this action.
Senator Hoar. on the other hand, Tor
the first time in his life advocated open
sessions, declaring that no fact could be
developed in connection with the treaty
too important for the American public
to know. 1t is the peoples affair, SAID
Senator White, ana the people should be
invited at least 10 listen TO the discus
sion of the question. II they could not ne
given any more exalted privilege in con-
nectiOn with II. lie then proceeded 10
say II the commissioners who were pres
ent in the senate had any great secrets,
they should give them 10 the senate
forthwith. in order that all the members
OF that body should have equal light with
those highly favored gentlemen
These circumstances led to the discus
sion OF the wisdom and good policy OF
appointing senator's as members OF the
peace commission and there was gen
eral passage at arms over this question
Naturally, too, the senate drifted into
a discussion OF the treaty Itself ana the
intention of this government toward me
Eiipinos. Senators Gray. Frye and Tel
Ter talked upon these matters.
Senator Gray announced himself as a
supporter of the treaty. adding. however.
that at the beginning he mad some mis-
givings as 10 the policy involved.
Senator Tellers speech was moro
pronounced declaration for American SOW
ereignty in the islands and was a Jealous
plea for the recognition OF our right as
nation to make conquest and to hold
the country taken.
Senators Hale and Hoar announced
themselves openly during the session as
determined TO vote against the treaty.
and while the discussion was in progress.
a number of Democratic senators held
conference for the purpose OF deciding
upon a course of antagOnism calculated
to secure its defeat. While cOnfeSsinS
that they are not yet able TO count
enough senators TO insure this result,
they profess to be very hopeful as q re-
suit OF the work so far done.