The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-01-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
INTEREST IN THE TREATY AND THE
SHIPPING BILL CONTINUES.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-Publlc inter-
est still continues to center upon the
y-Pauncefote treaty and the ship
ping bill. Correspondents of the lead
Ing newspapers of the country located
in Washington are constantly being re-
minded by their editors that all the
facts and gossip on these subjects are
eagerly read by the people, and conse-
quently the attention devoted to them
occupies a considerable portion of the
daily space devoted In the press of the
country to Washington news It il
somewhat curious and not insignificant
that the general run of matter on the
shipping bill in particular should have
been so favorable. That a powerful
lobby representing the interests of for
eign steamship lines known to be OPP
posed to this bill is located in Wash
ington is well known in newspaper cir
cles, but the dlsquietlng thing is the
readiness with which responsible news
papers and their experienced CORE.
spondents here accept as true state
ments known to have emanated from
that source.
This Is all the more striking since
nothing is done by the friends of the
measure to offset this propaganda. All
talk to the contrary Notwithstanding
there Is no lobby here in the interest of
the shipping bill. and not the least pres
sure is being put upon members to IA
vor 1t. That the contrary is true with
respect TO the opponents of the bill
every member of congress knows. Not
alone are members approached and
sounded" as to their views on the
shipping bill, but they are daily in re-
ceipt of documents opposing it, which
documents, curlously enough. all come
from the same source. 1t would be diff
ferent If the opposition to the shipping
bill were at all widespread or general.
On the contrary. however, It is restrict
ed and limited, although extremely ac-
tive. For this reason people should be
very cautious how they accept as true
stories put a1oat against the bill. and
most Of all they should remember that
its defeat is desired by every interest
opposed to the best welfare of the
United States.
The fate OF the Hay-Pauncefote trea-
ty now hinges upon the disposition Of
the British government. If the latter
Is willing to accept It in its amended
form, as there is growing reason to be-
lieve 1t will. then the way will not only
be smoothed for the construction OF the
Nicaragua canal by the United States,
but the hamperlng restrictions of the
famous Clayton-Bulwer treaty will no
longer remain a nightmare to disturb
the otherwise friendly relations be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain. The tact that Great Britain
displays in its treatment of the amend
ed treaty will have a most powerful in
huence upon the negotiations, probably
soon TO he resumed, to settle the differ
ences existing between the United
States and Canada. Great Britain can
well afford to be satisfied with the
treaty If she is dis
Greet enough in her diplomacy to ac-
cept it graciously, assured Sat Aleri- |
cans will approach solu on % the |
other differences in spr.i Of II raj
ity that will 80 far to ciIcc NJ final |
settlement on all Of the questions in
dispute.
Since Senator Hanna bloSsomed out |
rs an orator he Is in rCcei-t of congrat- !
u.atory kilograms and letters from all |
sorts Of people. Many Of them OF |
ptY1pcn gps,.n rrpt,, rpIiti1oI aud ,,,v.n,,
al friends; but the large majority Of |
them come from people who are per-
feet strangers to him. They are all
anxious to procure copies OF his speech,
and in some cases considerable num-
bers are asked for by those evincing an
enthusiasm or deep interest in the sub
jcct and who are anxious to spread the
speech amcnG their friends The sena-
tor says that the most gratifying of all
of these requests Is the fact that so
many of them come from the south
and from self confessed Democrats,
some Of whom admit that they are OPP
posed to him politically, but in sympa-
thy with him in his efforts to place our
shipping in the foreign trade upon a
position that will add to the nations
military and commercial strength.
-.
II one We're to believe the statements
put out by the opposition press, he
would be convinced that Senator Han
ma had aroused the resentment of ev-
cry one Of his colleagues in the senate.
He is pictured as being DESTROYS of
bossing things in the senate and riding
roughshod over those who have come
TO be known as "old timers" in that
great deliberative chamber, whereas as
a matter of fact no man in the senate
is more careful than Senator Hanna to
observe the traditions and customs and
especially to defer TO the experienced
judgment of his colleagues upon all
matters of procedure. But in the case
of the shipping bill, which has aroused
these maliclously untrue statements
concerning him. he has been identified