The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-10
Mr.. Lodge and Others Oppose Taking
the Matter from the Foreign
Relations Committee.
TILLMAN WANTS MEDIATION
AND OFFERS 4 SUBSTITUTE FOR
THE MASON PROPOSITION.
Depew Scores n Point by Asking the
Tears for Oppressed F~inlanders.

WASHINGTON, March 9.-In the secret
session of the Senate to-day the discussion
was mainly on the question as to whether
discussion of the Mason motion to dis
charge the committee from consideration Of
his pro-Boer resolution should be in open
or secret session. chairman Davis. of the
foreign relations committee, said that the
public discussion of the question in the
Senate might result in disturbing the ex-
listing relations between the United States
and a friendly power. He thought. there
fore, that anything of the kind would much
better be avoided.
Mr.. Mason said there was no reason why
this motion should not be discussed openly
unless some one wanted 10 conceal some
thing. The resolutions of sympathy for
the Armenians and the Cubans had been
discussed day after day in open session and
no one then feared that existing friendly
relations would be disturbed. Mr.. Mason
quoted from a speech of Senator Frye on
the Armenian resolution. in which the
Maine senator took occasion to c~riticise
Great Britain very severely. This, he said,
did not disturb relations with that coun-
try.
Senator Lodge, speaking for the commit
tee or foreign relations. said 1t was an
~unheard-of matter to take the resolution
out of the hands of the committee, some
thing that had never been done, and that
it was a discourtesy which should not be
done a committee of the Senate. AS to
open sessions, Mr.. Lodge said tina matters
might be brought out which should not be
published.
Senator Mason responded that it would
find its way into the papers any way. He
saw no reason why the simple motion to
discharge the committee should not be dis
cussed in public.
Mr.. Lodge said the debate would not be
confined to the motion, but would go into
the merits of the resolution itself and it
was the danger of having the debate in
public.
Mr.. Mason replied that there could be no
grave LANCER to this country in any such
discussion. The only people with whom
the United States was at war was the
Filipinos, and he could not see how this
race could profit by what senator's said
concerning a war in South Africa.
Senator Spooner opposed discussing the
motion in public. He was in sympathy, he
said, with the Beers, and the people might
be, but this was a governmental matter,
and Great Britain would have cause for
offense If this government shoul take any
action.
Mr.. Mason replied that this was a Sem
ate resolution, requiring neither the assent
of the House nor the executive, and would
be simply an expression of the Senate.
MIR. Spooner said at the same time 1t
would be taken as an expression of the
government. The question was one for the
executive and not for the Senate. Mr..
Mason had no right to have a vote on this
question.
Mr.. Mason restorted that he had a right
to try, and would continue to try.
MEDIATION FAVORED.
Mr.. Hoar said he was in favor of the
passing of a resolution asking the Presi-
dent to offer his good offices in an attempt
at mediation, and if the Mason resolution
of sympathy should be passed it would pre-
vent the passage of such a resolution and
estop the President from making the tender
on his own account.
Mr.. Tillman then offered a substitute for
the Mason resolution requesting the Presi-
dent to tender his friendly Offices for medi-
alton. The resolution follows: THAT the
President be requested to offer the media
ton and kindly offices of the United States
government TO put an end to the war in
South Africa and secure peace between
Great Britain and the Dutch republics on
terms honorable to both parties to the con-
fiict."
Mr.. Lodge made the point of order that
a substitute resolution could not be offered
to the resolution now in committee, and the
point was sustained.
Mr.. Hale made a speech In favor of the
Beers similar to the one he delivered in
open session some time ago. He added
that he was in favor of the Mason resolu-
ton, but that ii was useless 10 try to get
an expression Of sympathy from the Sem
ate.
The subject of an alleged secret alliance
| came up. Mr.. Mason said we were told
every day that there is no secret alliance.
If there is not, said he, let us carry out our
| usual habit in such cases. We always have
| passed resolutions of sympathy with strug-
gling republics, continued Mr.. Mason, and
we should do so now. There was nothing
| against Great Britain in the resolution.
Mr.. Spooner responded that England had
been our friend in the Spanish war and We
should do nothing to interrupt those
friendly relations.
This brought Mr.. Hoar to his feet. He
said tina a great question of right and
wrong was involved. and it hould be set
tied regardless of questions of friendship.
whether il was of Spain, England or the
Car of Russia.
Mr.. Depew said he had recently been
! waited on by a committee of ~Finlanders,
| who wanted the United States TO take &C.
ton on the outrages perpetrated upon them
by the Car. He asked why IL was that
when the jnior senator from Illinois was
bubbling over with sympathy some of il
had not been swashed over on the Finland
ers.
Mr.. Mason responded that he still had a
number of other resolutions on tap which
he would introduce, but just at present he
was anxious TO have action for the Beers,
who most needed 1t
IL Is understood the motion will be de-
bated again next week