The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-08
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
TUESDAY. MAY s. 1900.
Morgan WIN Force a Vote.

Whatever may be the fate Of the Mic
aragua Canal in the present session OF
Congress. every honest American will be
glad to know that the Administration and
its Panama syndicate partners are not 10
be allowed to sneak along until adjourn
ment without placing themselves on rec
ord in the Senate The Hepburn bill as
passed by the House viii be reported tf -
week. Although the Iuter-Oceanic Cana.
Committee. which has the measure unl'f
consideration. and Of which Senator Nor
gan is chairman, is Republican by ma
jority OF one. that majority includes Sena-
tor Mcbride OF Oregon who refuses to be
coerced into unpatriotic action. Conse-
quently Senator Hanna Will be unable to
kin the bill in committee. or to prevent a
yea and nay vote whenever Senator Nor
gan chooses to call it up.
Senator Allison, coXswain Of the steering
crew for the Administration trusts and
combinations. is outwsrdly confident that
he can dodge final action on the measure.
and his confidence may be genuine and
well-founded If so, It can only be he
cause he has some reason to know that
the friends OF the American Canal viii not
avail themselves Of their power TO put the
Hepburn bill on its passage as an alter
native to keeping the Senate in session all
summer.
II the steering committee insists upon
refusing to set a day for consideration,
and one not later than ten days hence,
then it behooves Senator Morgan and those
Of his colleagues who do not wish to see
all the canal aspirations Of the American
people pitched into the bottomless pit Of
the Panama scheme. to start in right now
and stop the clock, 1t is possible for
them to block any general legislation
whatever until the men who represent the
conspiracy against an American waterway
and the Monroe Doctrine are forced 10
surrender Probably the argument viii be
used that it would be a waste Of effort 10
pass an act which the President would feel
compelled to veto on account Of private
understandings with Great Britain and
certain campaign contributors. But it is
not so certain that when brought face to
face with the issue Mr.. Mckinley would
dare to take that course. II he did ii
would be tsntsmount to a confession that
be did not expect reelection; since he
fully realizes that in the present excited
state of public opinion on the subject, il
would be madness for any candidate 10
20 before the country with such a blot up
OF his record.
However that may be. it would be a
shame not to give him a chance to set
himself right. For all anybody has been
informed. officially, to the contrary. he
might be glad Of one. II is a diff
cult 10 tell on what side. or sides, OF any
question be may be found at any given
time Although his policy and conduct seem
10 offer indubitable evidence Of family
compact with our British cousins. Webster
Davis declares. with a vigor OF language
almost prcfane in its vehemenoe. that
william Mckinley is with the Beers in
their fight against Great Britain. and
would do unutterable things TO help them Il
It we're not for his wicked partners. -yhO
provide the dictates Of his policy and
conscience. Perhaps the same maiigu
influences have trapped the auiabls
Chief Magistrate on the Nicaragua
Canal question. and his only way
cut Of the snare is TO be brought
squarely up against the Hepburn bill in a
condition for him 10 sign OF veto. should
be do the former, IL must be admitted thst
be would regain a little OF the public con-
fldence he has forfeited through depart
ures from plain duty and SO en-. hut
that is neither here nor there. He should
not be deaieG the opportunity. merely Tor
the sake OF a little political capital at his
expense.
The American people are watching tre
Senate with anxious and critical eyes
Before the close Of the session, they NIL
know who in that body are patriots and
who are implicated in the British and Pan
ana understandings