The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-24
Bacon and Other Democrats Criticised
for Making Reckless Charges
for Political Effect.
ADDRESS BY MR.. sPooNER
WHO LOCKED HORNS IN DEBATE
WITH THE ERRATIC MIR. HALE.
ColIoquy That shows the Maine sena-
tor Is Assisting the Maiigners
of the Administrations.

WASHlNJlONt
of rasping political controversy and oratory
in the Senate. With the controversy those
on the Democratic side of the chamber.
anomalous as it may seem, had little to do
What by far-seeing senator's Is regarded
as likely to be the paramount issue OF the
approaching national campaign was the
subject of two notable speeches-one by
Mr.. Plat, of Connecticut, and the other by
Mr. Spooner, of Wisconsin. The former
was an answer to the speech delivered a
few days ago by Mr.. Bacon. Of Georgia, on
his resolution demanding an investigation
of financial affairs in Cuba. Mr. Platt
favored the adoption Of the resolution, but
deprecated what he declared was cheap
effort to make political capital out OF a
shameful condition of affairs which the
Republican party needed no prodding to
induce it to probe to the bottom.
The speech Of Mr.. Spooner was a con-
tinuation of his address of yesterday on the
Philippine question. In its course he be-
came involved in a heated and sensational
colloquy with Mr.. Hale, Of Maine. over
the governments conduct of affairs In our
'insular possessions" 1t was a remark
able controversy between two of the best
equipped debaters in the Senate and was
listened to with profound attention by
senator's, many representatives ana
crowded galleries. Mr.. Spooner will con-
tinue his speech tomorrow
At the close Of routine business to-day
Mr. Morgan called up his resolution cali
ing upon the secretary of war and the sec
retary of the navy for information relative
to the cost of transportation OF troops and
supplies to the Philippines, and IL was
agreed to.
The resolution previously offered by Mr..
Bacon, directing the committee on rela-
tions with Cuba to make an investigation
regarding the receipts and expenditures OF
money in Cuba, was called up.
MR.. PLATTs SPEECH
Mr. Platt, of Connecticut. chairman OF
the committee on relations with Cuba, said
that the recent disclosures in Cuba are a
blow TO every citizen of the United States,
and that neither the administration nor the
committee on relations with Cuba need any
prodding from the Republican party 10 in
duce them to make most searching In
vestigation and to use every effort to pun
ish summarily and severely any person
guilty of wrongdoing or fraud in the island
of Cuba. He proposed to show that Pres
ident Mckinley has demonstrated his de-
termination that no guilty man in these
Cuban frauds shall escape.
About a month ago." began Mr.. Platt.
of Connecticut, who is chairman or the
committee on relations with Cuba, Gen.
Wood, as the Governor General OF Cuba,
was led TO suppose that there had been
Irregularities in that portion Of the gov
ernment of Cuba under the supervision OF
the director OF posts. He Immediately or
ganized an inspection, which has been un-
sparingly pressed. The senator from Geor-
gia (Bacon) seems to think, as do some OF
the newspapers, that all the malfeasance In
office and OF fraud have been brought 10
light, not by the United States officials.
but by outsiders. But 1t Is TO General Wood
that the credit of the discovery OF these
frauds and wrongdoings belong, and TO the
administration belongs the credit OF the
probing to the bottom OF these frauds. The
senator from Georgia has no monopoly on
the shame and humiliation with which
every patriotic man is affected oy recent
disclosures. They are shocking. They are
a direct blow TO every true citizen OF the
United States.
IF the wrongdoing had occurred In Bos-
ton, New York or Washington IL would
have been sad and shameful, but IL would
not have been so sad and shameful as IL Is
since It occurred on the island OF Cuba,
where the administration Is engaged In a
great work OF freedom and philanthropy.
But nothing has occurred In history OF de-
falcations that has made such an impress
sion on the public mind as this-and justly
So More than ever II is incumbent on the
government TO probe this matter 10 the bot
tom, unfiinchingly. unsparingly.
REPUBLICANS NEED NO PRODDING.
''The Republican party never tolerates
fraud or peculation or embezzlement-
Neither the Republican administration nor
the committee on relations with Cuba need
any prodding from the opposition party to
induce them TO make a most searching In
vestigation and 10 use every effort 10 pun
ish severely any person guilty OF wrong
doing or fraud In the island OF Cuba.
.But some things ought 20 be remem-
bered by those patriots who In this political
campaign year hold up their hands in holy
horror and seize upon what has been dis