Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-12
10 Fight The TREATY
Railroad Interests Said to Be
Working Against the Canal
Interests.
Lobby in the Senate to Prevent
Ratification OF the New
Compact.
They Fear Construction of Canal
Would Injure This Trans.
continental Business.

Washington, Dec. 12.-From a source
close to the administration it was learn
ed last night that secret influences have
been brought to bear in the senate to
further an attempt to kill off the Hay
Pauncefote treaty. These influences, 1t
is said are being operated under cover
in the executive session of the senate,
but it is quite apparent that they have
their origin in the well understood OPP
position of the transcontinental rail-
roads.
II is said that two or three northwest
ern senators have developed sudden
spirit of criticism. and as they are re-
l nublicans the fact has created consid-
cradle anxiety.
AS is generally understood. the old
Huntington railroad interests practical
lily control the Panama railroad. Ihat
1 line has monopoly OF the transit
1 across the isthmus. both freight and
1 passenger. 1t would be the first sufferer
/ by the opening of a canal, but the
| trans-continental railroad lines them
selves also would be forced to reduce
| their freight charges from California
AS the Huntington interests own the
| Panama railroad, freight rates from
California to New York have been fixed
at high figure, both by Land and va
ter, because the trip around Cape Horn
is so long as to eat up all the profits of a
voyage.
With the opening Of a ship canal
~,
lines of steamers would run direct from
San Francisco to New York and the
transcontinental railroads in the United
States would have to meet this water
competition all the year around The
canal, of course, means the practical de-
struction of the Panama railroad, except
for purely local traffic. The interest of
the trans continental railroad compa-
nies the course is entirely adverse to
the canal.
For considerable length Of time the
Panama canal was used as a stalking
horse for this opposition. The French
men were unable. however, to prevent
the negotiation of the Hay-PauncefoteI
treaty, and the railroad interests have
therefore been compelled to go into the
senate They have been endavoring to
stir up democratic opposition. and SO the
railrod lobby has been industriously
at work poisoning the minds Of certain
republican senator's.
The senator's have been persuaded to
object to the treaty because 1t does not
give the United States the right to for
tify in so many words, and also because
1T does not specifically authorize this
country to seize the canal In time of
war
The scheme Is said to be to induce two
or three, or perhaps half Dozen repub-
lican senators to insist on an amend
ment to the treaty providing more dis
tinctly for the complete control of the
canal by the United States as much in
war as in peace Such an amendment,
it is said probably would be seized upon
by the democrats, and II supported by
few republicans might be adopted.
Any amendment at all, of course,
would lead to further negotiations be-
tween this country and Great Britain.
This would mean delay, which is what
the trans-continental railroads are
working for.
In the opinion OF well informed diplo-
mats here, II a regularly negotiated
time by the senate Great Britain would
drop the whole matter just where 1t is.
the Clayton Bulwer treaty would again
be invoked to prevent the United States
controlling the canal, and the triumph
OF the trans-continental railroad inter-
ests would be complete.
The administration forces have been
forewarned of the attempt being made
to kill off the treaty with republican
votes as a nucleus and are taking steps
to head off any possible treachery work
ed under the guise of excessive patriot |
ism. There is so much anxiety over the !
situation however. as to induce leading |
members of the foreign relations COM
mittee to admit that the treaty may not |
be ratified his week and. in fact, may be |
hung up until after the holidays.
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana and his
friends in Washington have been doing
a great deal of thinking since President I
Roosevelt announced yesterday that he
would appoint Mr.. Beveridge's candi-
date, Judge Baker, to the circuit court
of the Hoosier state, and the more theyl
think the more they are inclined to be-
lieve the president was actuated by a
desire to break down the Fairbanks po-
!itical organization in Indiana.
The Fairbanks men say there is alb
solutely no other explanation of the
matter, as Beyeridge's candidate was
opposed by almost every republican pol
itician and offlceholder. judicial and 9TH
erwise. in the state of Indiana. Senator
Fairbanks would not even indorse Baker
after he knew that he was to be APP
pointed and he feels his defeat in the
matter keenly, because he knows it will
be accepted by the republicans of Indl-
ana and other states as notification h
that the president has turned him down.
URGING NEW MExlco's CLAIM.
Delegation at the Capital
Patronage in the Territory.
Washington Dec. 1.-THE advance
guard of New Mexicans, who are to
make a campaign before congress for
statehood for the TERRITORY has arrived