The Washington times., 1902-05-06
Gernan-American Alliance
Urges Passage of SYM
pathy Resolution.
SAYS DELAY MAY BE COSTLY
Dr.. c. ]. Hexamer, of Philadelphia, De-
clares That if Matter Is Again Pigeon
holed the Administration viii Lose a
Million Votes at Next Election.


pass this resolution, if it is pigeonholed
It will cost us 1,OOO,O votes"
This statement was made yesterday by
Or. C. ]. Hexamer, of Philadelphia, the
president of the German American ALI
ance before the House Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs, having under con-
sideration Representative Busk's resolu-
tion Of sympathy for the Beers.
Not a Threat.
This statement on the part of Or. Hex
amer was not made in the nature OF
threat, but rather as n warning. 1t was
endorsed by several other speakers. who
also urged that the expression of SYM
pathy for the South African Beers be not
made party matter, but one of humanity.
A dozen or more resolutions of the same
character have been introduced in the
House since the opening OF the present
Congress. but it was rot until yesterday
that any of them were taken up for con-
sideration by the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, to which all have been referred.
Several days ago Mr.. Burk of Pennsyl
vania presented the following resolution.
which was the one upon which the hearing
was had yesterday:
Resolved. That the people CT the United
States feel strong sympathy for the peo-
pie of the South African Republic and the
Orange Free State; that they are panied
by the report CT the present sufferings of
this Christian people. and unite in the
hope that this declaration they feel their
duty to make will be favorably considered
by the government of Great Britain in
settlement of their unfortunate differ
ences
Resolved, That it shall be the duty OF
the President of the United States to
communicate this resolution TO the gov
ernment of Great Britain"
Many Cities Represented.
There were present before the commit
tee delegation of members of the Ger
man American Alliance from Philadelphia,
New York, and Chicago, as well as from
Washington, and a number OF prominent
advocates of the Boer cause in the House.
including Representatives Sulzer, Burle-
son. and other Democrats not members of
the committee. Representative Burk, who
is native of the Fatherland. acted as
spokesman for the members of the dele
CATION and presented the several speakers
Dr. Hcxamer said that heretofore the
Democrats had been the ones most ag-
gressive in the matter, and he inpiored
the majority TO do something and not
bury the pending resolution as the Others
had been buried. He declared that the
members of the Alliance expected action
from Congress and warned them that
trouble was in store for those who were
responsible for inaCtica.
Mr. Charles s. Keysor OF Pennsylvania
followed DR.. Hexamer. He said that prac-
tically every German-American IN the
country was in favor OF Congressional
action along the line Of Mr. Burks reso-
luton. Tho only exceptions we're few
bankers. In addition the irish made the
same demand.
Petitions Figeonholed-
The petitions which the delegation pre-
scented, he said, represented the senti-
ment of the whole country. yet the petit
tions asking for the maintenance OF neu-
tfality had been pigeoEholed by the COM
mittee. There was. he declared. con-
stantly increasing tide of feeling through
out the country which had come to be
almost a flood As Americans, exercising
the right of petition, they asked that the
Burk resolution be submitted TO Congress
IN order that the people might obtain the
opinions of their representatives.
I'VE want TO know who we are 10 vote
for" he exclaimed. THE Democrats have
thrown out a sort Of banner, and we can
not conceive, as Republicans, that our
representative do not sympathize with
their constituents. we ak, therefore, as
a right, that you Will return some one of
these resolutions.
Continuing, Mr. Keyser said that the
matter had become a serious question po-
litically.
Mr.. Edwasd Van Ness of New York ar
gued the legal phase OF the question OF
neutrality, contending that the treaty was
being violated by the maintenance OF the |
supply camp near New Orleans.
Animals Branded.
He described the operations OF the Brit |
fish in the purchase and shipment Of horses |
and mules, and declared that the camp was
so near the United States barracks at New
Orleans that the American flag seemed TO
be floating over the British supply camp.
As soon as the animals were purchased, he
said they were at once branded, and were
not then an article OF commerce.
Mr. Adams (Rep., Pa.), a member OF
the committee, remarked that the matter
of the camp near New Orleans was now
in the hands OF the Attorney General and
that the committee was awaiting his opin-
ion In conclusion, Mr.. Van Ness read
the declaration Of President Steyn, CT the
Free State republic, that the fight must
be continued, and said that was the de-
cision of all the Beers. He had not the
slightest impression that the pending ne
gotiations would como 20 anything. This
was the opinion, he said, of the peace en-
voys in Europe.
Mr.. Schirm CRep, Md, who was present.
asked II complete Independence was con-
templated or a British suzerainty. TO |
which Mr.. Van Ness replied that 1t must I
be absolute independence, as the Beers {
had enough OF suzerainty.
Should Protect Republics.
Mr.. z. Frank Parsons Of Philadelphia,
llso discussed the question of neutrality,
Ind declared that it was our duty as a
-epublic to maintain the independence Of J
,ther republics. Mr.. Williams, of Chicago.
secretary OF the American Transyaal
league, urged action to prevent the ship
nent OF horses and mules from this conn
ry TO South Africa. Representative Sui | q
er addressed the committee briefly, pro-
esting against the alleged system OF en- b
lgttng carried on here by the British. 4
The fact was developed before the COM I
nittee by letter presented by Represen- t
ative ". A. Smith Of Michigan from Mr.. D
lontagu White that he CWhite) had pro- o
ssted to the State Department as early | II
J April. 1900, against the British supply IL
lmps maintained in this country. and Il
Ut similar protest had been made by | d,
70 Free State consul In New York city.
r. Smith also submitted a report from Ia