West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-05-22
WASHING TONLE1NER.
U.
THE BRILLIANT SPEECH OF SENATOR
LODGE IN DEFENSE OF TIE
ADMINISTRATION.
Three Democratic Members OF Con.
gress Die Last Week.
The Promotion Of Henry Clay Evans
Worries Some or the Republicans.

On Monday afternoon Senator
Lodge delivered his widely heralded
speech in support of his Philippine
bill, and more brilliant array of
erudite platitudes and panegyrics
one seldom hears. II bore every
evidence of being the production of
the cultured sophist. Assuming,
what was not the case, that the
Democrats had attacked the Ameri-
can army, and totally avoiding the
Democratic proposition that the
cruelty and abuses which had been
proven to exist were inseparable
from war of conquest conducted
by superior race, he INDUCED in a
glowing tribute to the army. Re-
ferring to the cruelties and tortures
practiced, he cited similar atroci-
ties by the Filipinos supporting, by
implication, the theory that two
wrongs make right. Democratic
charges. that the privileges and
franchises of the islands were being
farmed out to the favored few as a
result of the policy of the admins
tration, he passed over with an elo-
quent testimonial to the character
OF the members of the Philippine
Commission. Reviewing Mr.. Lodges
speech, outside of the sympathetic
atmosphere created by the magnet
ism of the speaker, one is led to
deplore the fact that so able a
statesman should have been guilty
of employing his exceptional talents
in an effoit to create partisan feel
ing by gross Misrepresentation of
the real attitude of his opponents.
III
On Tuesday and Wednesday, SEN
ators Beverage and McComas, TAX
ing their cue from their leader,
made speeches alleged to be in favor
OF the Philippine bill, but appar-
emily with the purpose of creating
campaign material which would
counteract the presentation of the
Philippine situation which has here
toforc been made by the Democrats.
MIR. Lodge tells me that he believes
he Will be able to dispose of his bill
this month, and It is understood
that Cuban reciprocity will be the
next subject considered by the
next Senate. There is still q deter
mination by the Senate to take up
the question of an Is,hmian canal.
but II is impossible to say at this
date whether the determination will
be fulfilled. Several appropriation
bills remain for Senatorial action
with the prospects that they will
carry the session into the heated
term and already the members of
the lower chamber are talking of
adjournment.
TT
Three times within the past week
the House of Representatives has
learned of the loss by death of one
OF its members. Hon. Amos l.
Cummings of New York, Hon. Peter
J. Otey of Virginia, and Hon. Joshua
). Salmon of New Jersey, all passed
over within the short space of five
days. Never before in the history
OF the House has death visited three
members within so short a space of
time. All three were Democrats
AS mark of respect, the House
adjourned without the transaction
OF business on Saturday, Monday
and Tuesday, and only yesterday
did the Omnibus Territorial bill
come up for action. All of the Ter
ritorial delegates have assured me
of their faith in the success of this
measure in so far as the Lower
House is concerned, and all have
more or less hope that it will pass
the Senate. They have been indie
fatigable in their efforts to promote
the success of the measure, and
their hard work would seem to de-
serve success.
tt1
There is reason to believe that
the Naval Appropriation bill, which
will be considered in the House.
probably Immediately after the pas
sage OF the Territorial bill, will pre-.
cipitate a pretty fight. The meas
ure as reported contains a provision
that one or more of the new ships
to be constructed shall be built un-
der the supervision Of the Secretary
of the Navy in one of the govern.
Tneut navy varfc apd % 4. Ill: