New-York tribune., 1901-05-25
LODGE TO BE CHAIRMAN.
AND TO MOVE FOR ABROGATION OF
THE CLAYTON-BULWER TREATY
THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR SELECTED
FOR HEAD OF THE FOREIGN RELA-
TIONS COMMITTEE
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRIBuNE.I ]

fBY TELEGRAPH TIE TRIBUNE.l
washington. May 24.-It can be said on excel
lent authority that 1t has virtually been decided
20 make Henry Cabot Lodge, of Massachusetts,
chairman Of the Senate Committee Foreign
Relations. Since the death of Senator Cushman
K Davis Of Minnesota, the duties of chairman
Of this important committee have fallen on SEN
ator Frye Of Maine who was already overbur-
dened with work president pro tenn of the
Senate and chairman Of the great Committee on
Commerce. which considers all bills carrying
appropriations for rivers and harbors. and also
ship subsidy legislation. The death Of Mr.. Davis
left Mr.. Frye the ranking member of the For
egn Relations Committee. and by virtue of that
circumstance he is entitled to the Craftsmanship.
The Senate would gladly see Senator Frye go to
the head OF the committee, but if he should do
so the Commerce Committee would he deprived
of its most experienced member. and the prin-
cple of subsidies 20 American shipping would
lose IT'S most intelligent exponent from position
of commanding influence. These considerations
Il is said have induced Senator FRYE to inform
the Republican steering committee that he is
no longer to be regarded as eligible to the For
eign Relations chairmanship in their work of
recognizing the Senate committees Of the next
Congress.
With Mr. Frye thus removed from their CAL
cuations. the leading members of the steering
committee particularly Mr.. Aldrich. of Rhode
Island. have let it be known that Senator Lodge
viii succeed TO the Craftsmanship Of Foreign Re
lations. Mr.. Culom, Of Illinois, ranks next to
Mr. Frye and wants the craftsmanship, but his
election TO the place would take him from the
craftsmanship Of the Committee on Interstate
Commerce. position of equal importance with
any other in the Senate, in view OF the railroad
legislation OF comprehensive scope that probably
in which Mr. Cullon's long experience especially
fits him for the work ahead While the Illinois
Senator has not yet announced his withdrawal
from the race for the Foreign Relations chair
.nanship. II is presumed he viii do at the
proper time in order to make the election of Mr..
Lodge unanimous.
IMPORTANT BEARING ON LEGISLATION.
The practically assured selection of 1ir. Lodge
9or the post has important bearing vari-
,us subjects Of immediate international con-
sern. Foremost among these the isthmian
canal and further extension of the reciprocity
principle. 1t is no longer secret that both
OF these questions Senator Lodge welded a de-
termining influence at the last session Of Con
gress With Senator Aldrich, he helped defeat
reciprocity legislation in the LVIth Congress.
and he stood shoulder TO shoulder with the late
Senator Davis in the successful fight against the
original Hay -Pauncefote Treaty In his speech
at the Buffalo Exposition this week Senator
Lodge took advanced ground with regard to, the
isthnian canal and made a vigorous assertion
Of this countrys policy in that enterprise, which
is interpreted in well informed circles here as
indicating his intention TO early in the
next session of Congress TO vitalize the canal
project IN a way that will be somewhat startling
to those who may suspect the Massachusetts
statesman OF lacking in any Of the essentials
Of the most robust Americanism.
THE ABROGATION RESOLUTION
In point OF fact, it is said by a close friend Of
Senator Lodge that soon after he is elected
chairman OF the Committee Foreign Rela-
tons he will introduce resolution to abrogate
the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty for the purpose of
sharply defining the issue between the United
States and Great Britain on the canal question
as well as to uncover the domestic influences
that are arrayed against the canal enterprise
and that employ the old ClaytOn-Bulwer con-
vention the shield of their real motives. IT
is asserted that his resolution will recite the
matured intention and firm determination Of this
country to construct and control a ship water
in its management for the principle OF neutral
ity as enunciated in the treaty with New
Grenada (noW Colombia), made more than fifty
years ago and particularly applicable that
time 10 the proposed Panama Canal
MIGHT EXPEDITE NEGOTIATIONS.
What attitude the administration would as
sumo toward such radical action as this cannot
be foretold, and the President and his Off
cial advisers undoubtedly would be somewhat
embarrassed If at the time OF Senator Lodges
move renewed efforts were being made by the
State Department and the British Ambassador
along the lines of the amended y-Pauncefote
treaty. Mr.. Lodges relations with the Pres-
dent are very cordial, and 1t is not believed he
would willingly do anything to embarrass the
executive. For this il is intimated that
Senator Lodge knows that the President is not
wholly ayerse TO the abrogatiOn proposition, Dut
that the contrary, he tacitIy approves II
both on the ground of eXpediency and prlnclpIe.
II is thought that when Great Britain learns or
the purpose TO move for the abrogaton or the
Clayton BuIwer Treaty the Salisbury govern
ment win show a disposition TO yieid more
gracefully TO the inevitable on the canal propo-
sluon than was shown in the note on tnat sun
lect addressed by Lord Lansdowne TO TINS gov
eminent through the British Ambassador. mus
the negotiations between Secretary HAY ana l.oIu
Pauncefote might be expedited instead OF I'M
peded. and the canal question would be stripped
entirely of the international cloak under Whlch
many Of it's enemies in Congress nave peeh i4u
ing for so many years. An.
Another important point is that Senator Lodge
is known TO favor the Nicaragua route. 90 IdI
as his influence chairman OF the comm W (
on Foreign Relations could do So thereio.e, @ lne
Panama proposition an addltlonal hiiiu an :
10 canal legislation would be brushed ASIDE anu
the whole question soon would be reduced 10
concrete form-canal or no canal Ihere couIu
be no longer any lodging, and the canal pfoJect
would have the force OF law or be deteateo ou'-
right.