The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-08
TUESDAY. MAY s. 1900.
Morgan VIII Force "A Vote.

Whatever may be the tate OF the NC
aragua Canal in the present session oil
Congress. every honest American will be
glad to know that the Administration and
its Panama syndicate partners are not TO
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 will be reported IT,
week. Although the Inter-oceanic Canal
Committee. which has the measure under
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
ocerced into unpatriotic action. Conse-
quenuy Senator Hanna will be unable TO
kill the bill in committee. or to prevent
yea and nay vote whenever Senator Nor
gan chooses to cali it up.
Senator Allison, coxswain of the steering
crew for the Administration trusts and
combinations, is outwardly confident that
he can dodge final action on the measure
and his confidence may be genuine and
well-founded If so, 1t can only be be-
cause he has some reason to know that
the friends of the American Canal will 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.
If the steering committee insists upon
refusing to set 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 to
surrender Probably the argument will be
used that it would be waste Of effort TO
pass an act which the President would feel
compelled to veto on account of private
understandings with Great Britain aud
certain campaign contributors. But it is
not so certain that. when brought face 10
face with the issue, M. Mckinley would
dare 10 take that course. If he did it
would be tantamount 20 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 to
go before the country with such blot up
on his record.
However that may be. il 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 enc. 1t is a diff
cult to tell on what side. or sides, OF any
question he may be found at any given
time. Although his policy and conduct seem
to offer iniubitable evidence Of q family
compact with our British cousins. Webster
Davis declares. with a vigor of language
almost profane in its vehemenee. that
william Mckinley is with the Beers in
their fight against Great Britain. and
would do unutterable things to help them if
1t we're not for his wicked partners -yto
provide the dictates of his policy and
conscience Perhaps the same malign
influences have trapped the amiabls
Chief Magistrate on the Nicaragua
Canal question, and his only way
GU. OF the snare is to be brought
sQuarely up against the Hepburn bill in a
condition for him to sign or veto. Should
be do the former, 1t must be admitted that
be would regain little Of the public con-
idenoe ne has forfeited. through depart
ures from plain duty and SO en-; hut
that is neither here nor there. He should
not be de1ieG the opportunity merely for
the sake of little political capital at his
expense.
The American people are watching the
Senate with anxious and critical eyes
Before the close of the session, they will
know who in that body are patriots and
who are implicated in the British and Pan
ana Understandings