Evening star., 1902-05-02
Republicans to Defend Phil
ippine Administration.
DEMOCRATS Ell ATED
THEY HAVE GOT MUCH CAM
PAIGN MATERIAL.
Lodge to Speak Next Week, Then
Spooner and others-Hint From
the White House.

The republicans of the Senate have de-
cided upon a change OF policy I'm the con-
duct of the Philippine bill. They will no
longer remain passive. allowing the demo-
Gratis to fill the Record with all kinds Of
charges. but will go into the fight along
both defensive and offensive lines. II is in
timated that this change is the result Of a
nudge from the White House.
Senator Lodge will speak next week at
length. Senator Spooner will follow with a
vigorous defense of the partys policy In
the Philippines and arraignment Of the
democratic senator's policies. ana other
senators will get ready for the fray in the
meantime.
There has been considerable restlessuess
on the republican side for the pas; week OF
two II apparent that senators dad not
relish the Roadway the democrats were
making in their partisan discussion OF the
question. Senators began TO Midget in their
chairs under the whip and lash ot the dem
ocratiC takers.
Democrats Have Done the Talking.
But in pursuance of the policy adopted At
the outset of the debate. they refrained.
far possible. from swelling the voi-
ume of debate. That policy was to let
the democrats do all the talking and get
the bill through soon possible. The
democrats have not besitated to do ali the
talking and some of il has been of a kind
that does not sound well to the country,
IL Is said.
Murmurs of remonstrance at the silence
of the republicans have been coming,
pecially from the west. Rumors that the
people were getting interested in the demo-
cratic line of talk multiplied and il is said
began to reach the President In a way to
attract his attention He has talked within
a day or two to all the republican leaders,
and is said to have expressed the opinion
that a more vigorous debate on the part
of the republicans was necessary.
There is no Disgusting the fact that the
democrats very much elated over the
progress of their campaign in the Senate
with respect to this bill. They claim that
they have forced the republicans into caus-
ing publicity of the Philippine situation;
that the republicans of the Senate have
gone grudgingly, under protest, into all the
inquiries. I'VE smoked them out VIII be
the democratic cry on the stump this fan.
The Presidents Course.
No such allegation can be made against
the Presidents course. He has anticipated
action, and has taken the Initiative in
causing investigation of charges Of mis-
conduct against -he army.
1t is said that the President thinks that
assertions made on the floor of the Senate
should not be permitted to pass unrefuted,
and that the leaders in the Senate are now
of the same mind. Some Of them have been
of that opinion for quite a while, but they
were not in charge of the mill.
1t Is evident that the democrats Will make
the Philippine situation prominent in the
campaign for Congress. Their object In
exposing the alleged mal-administration
of the military government of the Philip
pines will be to hold up the reported abuses
as a natural feature of imperialism The
aim of the republicans henceforth will be
to take the stuffng out of that straw man.