The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05
The CANAL NEGOTIATIONS.
Colombia NOT to be Allowed 10
Stand in the Way.

Washington, October 29.-The status
today of the Colombian Canal negoti
ations is that both sides are awaiting
decision Of the Colombian Govern
ment as to whether Minister Concha
shall. proceed under his original in
structions to present to the State de-
partment the Colombian response to
the Departments proposal for a treaty
When the response arrived IN Wash
ington two days ago the minister
promptly notified the State department.
of the fact, but hne added to his
notice the statement that in view Of
recent Developments be had regarded
it as his duty to withhold it until he
heard further from his Government.
AS the State department had in some
way come to know that the Colombian
response would, if submitted, go far
towards meeting the desires of this
Government in the matter Of actual
treaty, this delay vas very annoying
But as the minister had his own no
tion of duty in the matter, it was
decided that an appeal should be taken
over his head to the authorities in
Bogota Accordingly cablegram
was sent to United States Minister
Hart, at the Colombian capital, notify
ing him of the action of the Colombian
minister here. The matter of objec-
tion by our own officials is the attempt
to link the negotiations for canal
treaty, pure and simple, with the
discussion of the question of the cor
rectness of the attitude of our naval
officers on the isthmus. The Colon
bian officials hold that as the projected
treaty renews or continues the pro-
visions of the existing treaty relating
to naturalization OF isthmian traffic,
which are now the subject of conten-
tion between the two Government, it
is proper that tae canal treaty be held
back until, eieher by an amendment
of the old treaty or change in the
language of the new treaty, Colombian
integrity can be safeguarded.
It is expected that the delay will not
be long, for even if the Colombian an
swer is not satisfactory the United
States Government will still be bound
by the terms of the Spooner Act to
proceed towards the construction of
an isthmian canal, and the only ques-
tion to be decided is as to the method
7 lere are two ways open even IN case
of an adverse attitude on the part Of
Colombia namely, either the United
States Government to proceed without
delay to complete the treaties With
Nicaragua and Costa Rica necessary
! for the construction of canal in these
countries, or, and this latter course
would be adopted with reluctance, the
Government might purchase outright
the franchise of the French Panama
Canal Company and go on resolutely
with the construction Of the Panama
Canal, taking no further notice OF
Colombia.
The State which has the smallest
number of Non-English-spea resi-
dents is South Carolina. with IS only
Georgia has only 200, Tennessee 200,
and Arkansas, Virginia, Mississippi
and Alabama less than LOCO each
Rhode Island has l7,C00, while Kan
sas has 5000 and Kentucky LOCO.
Florida has $500 and Minnesota, III
which Scandinavians are numerous
5000. Iowa has 26. 900 and Missouri
only Is, 900.
Guilty of manslaughter with recon-
mendation of mercy was the verdict
agreed upon Friday night at II o'clock
in Laurens court by the jury charged
with the case of the State VS.. Walker
| Edwards, accused of numbering by
shooting Mrs. Rosa Edwards, at the
Laurens cotton mills. in La1rens, on
Sunday night, May Is. last. Counsel
| for Edwards argued the motion for a
new trial.