The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-04
SENATOR DAVIS COUP
1T WAS SPRUNG IN EXECUTIVE SEES
SION AND CAUSED CONSIDER
ABLE EXCITEMENT
OPPOSITION WAS VICTORIOUS
of the Senator From
Minnesota Did Not Prevatl-Re-
suit VIII Probably Be Carrying
Out of the Original Programme
Friends and Opponents of Treaty
Seeking to Strengthen Forces.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3-The con-
troversy in the senate over the vote
upon the various resolutions interpret
Rtive of the peace treaty, took an acute
turn late today The opposition to a
vote came from the friends of the
treaty. who advanced the theory that
1t should be ratified without compro-
mise. Those who were willing that a
vote should be taken today held an
opposite view. and absolutely refused
to agree 10 time for taking vote.
The contest occurred in the executive
session. which did not convene until a
quarter past o'clock The next hour
and quarter was spent in a vain en-
deavor on the one side TO get an agree
ment TO a vote on the resolutions, and
on the other in the 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. Immediately in front of the chair,
pronounced the request of the treaty
supporters for unanimous consent
the opinion of his side of the chamber
was that there should be an oppor-
tunity to vote on all resolutions of a
declaratory nature. all of which had
been offered by senators who were op-
posed to the treaty without a modif-
cation.
The opposition was prepared for the
request. but it did not fail to create
some excitement. Simultaneous objec-
ton was made from three or four
sources to unanimous consent. and to
Senator German was left the task Of
making the principal statement of the
reasons of the opposition. His main
objection was based upon the brief time
that must intervene between the time
of taking the vote on the resolution
and the time fixed for voting on the
treaty-3 o'clock next Monday. An es-
sential part Of the demand of those
who desired a modification of the ex-
preston in the treaty was that the
house as we'll as the senate must act
upon the resolution. Msnifestly 1t 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 OBJ
ject. and he had no doubt that others
would feel as he did. So long as there
had not been any possibility of secur-
Ing vote in both houses of congress
the members of the senate who op-
posed the treaty in its present form
had made no opposition. But to con-
sent to vote on the resolutions at
this late day. after delay of so many
days. would create the impression Nht
the opponents of the treaty had been
posing for effect and had allowed
themselves to be tricked, either ignor-
antly or knowingly.
OPPOSITION ARGUMENT.
Senators Cockrell and Bacon also
avowed their opposition to agreeing to
fixing time for vote, placing their
opposition on grounds practically the
same as those Of Mr.. German. Each
was inclined to charge bad faith. SEN
ator CockrelI gave notice that he would
resist any effort for a vote upon the
resolutions up to g o'clock Monday,
when the vote on the treaty must be
taken.
The friends of the treaty declared
faith. They said that all of the time
OF the senate for the past week had
been occupied in performing duties un-
der the orders or consent of the SEN
ate, and there had not within that
period been time when the vote could
have been taken. They charged that
the opposition were afraid to allow an
opportunity to vote On the resolutions,
because of the apprehension that some
of the resolutions would be agreed to
and the chances of the ratification Of
the treaty thus improved. This meant,
as they regarded it, that they did not
want any treaty ratified.
The objectors stood firm, however. to
the last refusing to yield.
These objections were. of course, ef-
fective and the treaty supporters turn
ed their attention to longer daily ses-
sions Of the senate with the hope of