The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-06
THE PANAMA CANAL.
The Nicaraguans in the Senate May
Still Put Up Fight
Against 1t.
a Discussion of the Probable Divid-
ing Line in That Obsti-
nate Body.

DssHddrsg, Warrington.
Washington, Oct. 6.-While the assur-
ance Of William N. Cromwell. the attor-
ney Of the French company in the recent
Panama transaction, that the title to the
property which the United States purposes
to buy has been found to be tlawless, IS
most welcome. it covers the step towards
securing the Panama canal Of which there
has been the least real doubt. The danger
point to-day is not there, nor even in the
disturbed and upset conditions Of Colon
bia, but in the possibilities Of the John
T. Morgan contingent in the United States
senate. 1t should be remembered that
when Morgan and his associates yielded
to the SpoOner amendment. they did SO
proclaiming their belief that it would
mean the Nicaraguan route, in spite Of
tho preference expressed for Panama.
This what Mr. Hepburn said in the
house, and 1t was repeated all along the
Nicaraguanists' line. They yielded to the
Spooner compromise because they thought
they saw ultimate victory in 1t.
The situation will be entirely different
when Mr.. Morgan and his associates come
to vote on the ratification of a treaty with
the Colombian government which would
be the. last decisive step in securing the
Panama canal. The fight against that
treaty would then be a last ditch affair.
and hence the hostilities which were tenn
porarily quoted for the Spooner compro-
mise, may be expected to break out anew
with all the yirulence of the year. MI
Morgan. who Is chairman Of the commit
tees on the interoCeanic canal, mas never
yielded one jot Of his preference for Mic
aragua; he would not yield, 1t is thought,
II the French government were to pre-
sent us the Panama canal, or If Lake
Nicaragua should be drained dry, through
the action of earthquakes. No arguments
can be expected to have any weight with
him. Tho question then arises whether
he can hold the democrats in line with
him so as to prevent the Colombian trea-
tvs receiving the necessary tWo-thlrds
vote. There will of course, be plenty of
material within the treaty on which to
base such opposition.
Thirty votes will defeat the treaty. un-
less Delaware fills It's two vancanctes and
then thirtyOne votes would be necessary.
On the Spooner amendment MIR. Morgan
summoned thirty-four votes. he also had
five votes and five pairs making forty
seven in all, for the other side. Two SEN
ators declined to go record; there were
rather two vancancies. The question OF
the ratification Of any Colombian treaty
thus depends on holding thirty Of these
thirty nine senators in line, or rather upon
winning over nine men to the Panama
eide.
1t will be recalled that there were nine
republicans who in this contest voted
for Nicaragua, and four democrats sup
porting Spooner. This came pretty near
being party question, especially since
two and possibly three or four demo-
Gratis will retire from public life with this
session. They were Jones of Arkansas
and McLaurin Of South Carolina, whose
successors have already been named, and
Teller Of Colorado and Rawlins Of Utah,
who have a fight their hands The
republicans who could not be won over
by Spooner included Platt Of New York,
Quay and Penrose Of Pennsylvania, Haw-
ley of Connecticut, Perkins Mitchell and
Stewart Of the Pacific coast and the two
senators from Minnesota. When the rea-
sons which presumably actuated several
Of these men are taken into account, it
will be seen that the cause Is not greatly
strengthened, but their votes count just
the same.
The argument which will prove strong
est against the Morgan contingent Is the
threat that if a Panama treaty Is killed
in this way no Nicaraguan treaty can ever
be allowed to go through the senate. This
would mean canal. When that point
Is made clear, and it will be, if neces-
sary. those who profess to desire an
isthmian canal would have some trouble
in justifying a vote of opposition to a
Colombian treaty. This consideration
promises to the day.
The fear that no treaty can be had with
Colombia on account Of its disordered in
ternal condition Is not likely to prove SER
ious. The government Of Colombia Is the
government that the United States REQ
ognizes. 1t need not be in operation for
our purposes more than long enough, 20
complete the negotiation, and it woulS be
binding through all the future. If we saw
fit to make it so. This Is the great ad-
vantage Of being supreme in this hem
isphere' as was written at the time of
another South American disturbance. 1t
would be only by obstacles purposely put
in the way by interested parties here that
gould defeat an agreement with Colon
b1a. The administration does not want
this defeat; aside from its desire for a
canal for the canals own sake, it cannot
disregard the stimulation to general bust
ness which great an expenditure OF
money, raised on 2 per cent bonds will
necessarily produce.
w. w. Jermane.