Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-03-15
| SENATE SNUBS Mr.. mason.
Refuses to Discuss His Boer
Resolutions Publicly.
IT RESORTS TO A TRICK.
In Executive Session, However, He
Manages to Ask Some Embarrassing
Observation-Disclosures Hoar and Hale Sup.
port Him-spoonsr Leads Opposition

Washington, March 1.-THE action
Of the senate committee on foreign re.
lations in declining to report back to
the senate the resolution offered by
Mr.. Mason, expressing sympathy for
the Beers, will in all probability be
sustained The debate in secret ses-
sion on Friday gave this assur-
ance, but no definite action was taken
owing to the arrival of the hour of
o'clock before the discussion had
closed.
Meanwhile. behind closed doors and
In the freedom OF discussion granted
in a secret legislative session, some
plain talk had been INDUCED in,
amendments had been offered and
ruled out of order, and 1t was made
apparent that nothing was to be per-
mitted to pass the senate that might
be accepted by Great Britain as pos
sible affront or as indicating senti-
ment in the upper branch of congress
antagonistic to the well-defined policy
of the administration.
The action of the senate in closing
the doors was coup detat Mr.. Mason
did not anticipate. When the doors
were closed, Mr.. Lodge appeared as
the first champion OF the committee to
which the resolution had been referred.
He said the subject ought not TO go
before the country at all. But 1t will
get to the country" said Mr.. Mason.
He was insistent in asking why there
should be so much secrecy.
Why" he asked, with sneer, did
you not ask for a secret session when
you discovered the resolutions offered
in this body expressing sympathy for
the Cubans and the Armenians? You
did not lock the doors then. Perhaps.
however, it depends entirely upon who
offers the resolutions. Why should we
close these doors, anyhow? Who Is
there we have to fear? The only peo-
pie we are fighting are the Fillpinos,
and am quite sure the people OF these
islands cannot gain any particular aid
from our discussion of the South Afri-
can question. 1t is not possible that
this discussion, il it should become
public, will enable the Filipinos to re-
tain any more of Mrs. Aguinaldo's
wardrobe or make 1t possible for our
boys to capture few more OF her gar
ments."
Mr.. Spooner entered upon long ar
gument against an open session and
the consideration of questions such as
that introduced by Mr.. Mason in open
session.
Then Senator Lodge endeavored to
throw oil on the troubled waters, and
made a strong plea for secrecy.
Senator Hoar thought that when 1t
came to the consideration OF great
questions Of national right or wrong
the senate should express its opinion
honestly, regardless of any questions
of national friendship that might be
interjected. 1T ought to matter moth
ing to u.s." said he. whether we may
offend the ear, the queen. or any one
else. Has II come to this, that We must
ask foreign powers IL we as a people
may express our views on great ques-
tons that are stirring the entire
world. / am" said Mr.. Hoar. hearth
ly In favor of the resolution requesting
the president Of the United States to
tender his good Offices for mediation
to the end that this war between the
British and the Beers may be
stopped"
Mr.. Hale declared his support of the
resolution.
why Is IT," Mr.. Mason asked. I'VE
cannot get anything through the SEN
ate that is favorable to people strug-
Cling for their freedom? We are told
day after day at the state department
that there is no such thing as an al
lance. II that Is so, what have we to
fear? II there is no alliance, let us 60
back to our old-fashioned American
way Of doing things and say what we
mean and what we think"
The discussion was concluded with
another speech by Mr.. Spooner. When
2 o'clock arrived no action had been
taken, and the doors were. therefore
thrown open.