The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-21
CIRCULATION Statement.
Was Wellington Deceived.

The Baltimore American has pecu-
liar idea OF what constitutes corner, ir
the sense of forcing an opponent into 9
close place and preventing his escape. In
its issue of Sunday the American" under
glazing, bold-faced headlines Of ''Wellirg-
ton Again Cornered" on its first page,
printed long article in which the eager
reader would naturally expect to find the
facts of the surrounding of the beleaguered
foe, his front, rear. and tanks commanded
by unassailable force. and nothing left but
inevitable surrender at discretion--a mod
ern version of Waterloo. in fact, with the
characters reversed, and Wellington act
ing in the role of Napoleon. Not only so,
but the unsuspecting reader would infer
from the caption Again Cornered' that
this was not the first time, but was at least
the second or third occasion on which the
willy enemy had been entrapped, the pre-
sumption being that he had artfully es-
capped from the meshes of his pursuers on
the former occasions. Unfortunately, how
ever, It turns out that only a DE Wet
corner has been effected. such as is SO
familiar TO the observers of the current
campaign in South Africa.
Early in August Senator Wellington, in
an interview explaining his position on the
Philippine question and reasons fer voting
to ratify the treaty with Spain whereby
those islands were acquired, said:
u was opposed 10 The Paris Peace Treaty. AMI
would never have voted Tor its ratification Of
my own volition told the President SO. and
be induced me to vote for it by solennly pleds
ing me that it was no, the Intention Of himself
the Government to forcibly hold or perins-
ncntly acquire the Philippine Islands He fur
ther said that his personal desire was to rest0:e
law and order in the Islands, and then submit;
The matter to Congress with the idea Of having
ii grant absolute freedom and self-goyernment to
tie Filipinos- With that pledge from President
William Mckinley voted for the treaty. With
out it. ] never should have done SO. The reso-
luton l offered in the Senate, and which was
the basis Of my speech the Philippine ques-
lion, provided for exactly what the President
himself told me he desired to bring about. Il
vas thus that he deceived and betrayed me-
The statements contained in this inter-
view were not astonishing nor even sur
prising. They amounted to nothing more
than that the President had repeated. in
a conversation with the Senator. statements
which he had already expressed in his
public communications TO Congress on the
line OF "forcible annexation" and "crini-
nal aggression" But 1t seems that the
American" was skepticai as to the ac-
curacy Of the Senator's statement, and,
at great pains. it discovers, in fact it
asserts on the highest authority. that
Collector Stone. of Baltimore, was present
at the only meeting of the Senator and
Mr. Mckinley at which the question was
or could have been discussed. So Mr..
Stone gave Forth an interview which pre-
sumably eonficted with the version given
by Mr.. Wellington. according to the
american" which says:
The day following the publication Of this in
;erriew, Collector Of Customs William F. Some.
after much persuasion, made a statement in ri
utstioa Of the Senator's charge, settiag forth
very explicitly what had expired at canf,r-
ence between the President and senator yelling
ton, when the PSris Peace Treaty was the subject
under discussion. Is is but just 10 Mr.. Stone TO
say that be refused to talk in reference TO this
matter until he was assured that there had been
but the one conference, and that the one at which
he was present. Upon the very highest authority
procurable. the American was positively and
definitely assured that there had been but the
one conference between the President and Sena-
tor Wellington about the laiteT's vote on the
Peace Treaty, and that the one at which Mr..
Stone was present The assurance thus received
amounting circumstsntially TO proof-Ras com
municated 70 Slr. Stone, and it broke the seal
Of silence he had set upon his lips. He told ex-
lctly what had taken place at the interview at
which he was present, and the explicitness Of
he statement stamped it as one of unusual ac-
ruracy. 1t now appears. however, that there
vas second conference between President Nc !
Ainley and Senator Wellington, at which Senator |
hccomss was present"
This was the first and only corner
prior to the event described under the !
,aptlon Of Again Co1nered," and it is
to candid. fair-minded public |
whether Mr.. Wellington did not have de- |
,idedly the best Of the situation
Senator McComas was in London, and.
IS ne says himself, saw the Baltimore pa |
3ers containing the interview with SEN |
stor Wellington. Although the cable tele- |
graphic tolls are low. no reply was made |
BY the Junior Senator. However, Senator
returned homo, arriving in New |
FORK Saturday He was pounced upsn bsfore !
he left the steamship by the correspon-
dent of the American" and answered |
several leading questions
Dropounded to him. He was reported as |
saying:
sspr,e;,l.,. ,s.t-t.,. sts -
Wellington into voting Tor the ratification Of the
Paris Peace Treaty and then betray him. No |
pledges were made. and deeply regre; to see
Lat The Senator entirely msconceiyed the intent |
nd purpor, Ct his talk with the President
II Will be noted that the Senator does
not make his denial distinctly ac-
,ording to this report. The Presi- |
lent did not deceive Senator Wei |
ington." and then betray him." is
. very guarded statement; zone which. OF
It's face. shows that there was a margin !
or difference Of opinion. Mr.. Wellington |
tnows whether he was deceived; Mr.. Nc
'omas, having perhaps the advantage Of |
IN inner light, was perhaps not deceived |
The denial tina; Wellington was betrayed |
5 also general statement which is at |
most but All opinion. But. says McComas,
no pledges wer9 made" What consti-
utes pledge" is again a matter about
shieh men may honestly differ. cerious /
itstement CT assurance may reasonably be |
pledge by one man whose ac-
iOn is influenced by such statement. which