The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-20

To-day from 100 until ) o'clock, but were
unable to get together on a programme
las TO canal legislation. FoU~ distinct
propositions were submitted in the form
LOT resolutions, and many other sug-
lgestionS were made informally, but no
agreement could be reached and the
caucus adjourned to meet again on call
of Senator German, chairman. Several
Senators in leaving the caUcI bitterly
complained of the lack of harmony
which prevailed and compared the
Democratic position with the attitude
of the Republicans, who they said with
twice as many Republicans had not a
|straggler. while hardly two Democrats
were of the same opinion. Senator
German said of the caucus:
1T was our first pOwwOw of which
We all talked and we will do our think
ling afterwards"
The resolution which was discussed at
greatest length was offered by Senator
lCarmack, of Tennessee. 1t declared the
sentiment of the Democrats 10 be hat
the present canal law should be put
into operation by the President. The
resolution declared the Spooner Act to
be the present law" governing author-
I|itative course of the United States in
regard to the building of 2 canal and
held hat under that act the President
should proceed to the building of the
lcanal on the Nicaragua and Costa
IRica route. 1t asserted that the "reaS-
lsonable time for acquiring the Panama
route lapsed at the death of The Hay
IHerren treaty and hat the President
consequently was left with ma alternd-
tive but build the canal Cl the more
Inortherly isthmian route.
| In suppor of his resolution, speeches
Iwere made by Senators C2Tmack. Tel
Her, Blackburn, Patterson and others.
The speeches were INTERRUPTED by Sem
IatOrs differing with the pre- position the
principal arguments being made by Sen
latOrs Bacon. Clay and Cockrell. 1t was
apparent at the outset that q motion of
such radical character could not ar
monize the minority.
Censure for the President -Dr his al
Ileged assistance of the IGnama revolt,
but Dledging support if a canal treaty
Iwere negotiated with the new republic
was the purport of a resolution Offered
Iby Senator Bacon as u destitute for
1.-The Carmack plan. This opposite c.
treme met immediate rejection. 1t was
lat this point that some of the Senators
Withdrew from the caucus.
Two compromise plans were .uugested
THE first was offered by Serator New
Hands, who proposed ina the Steering
COMMITTEE be authorized to held q
conference with a committee of Demo-
lcratic members of the HCuSe II be ap-
pointed by Representative Villa ms for
1.-THE purpose of preparing come patty
Ipolicy in small parties, which will come
Iby the Senate in the extraordinary SeS-
lsiOn. This resolution was a~Itagonized
Ion the ground that the DemCcI Is of
1.-The House already have adopted their
programme in relation to the Cuban
reciprocity reaty act and that any
IopiniOn the HOuSe may have on the ca
Inal treaty could not affect TIE position
lof the Senate.
A proposal to authorize Senator Cor
imam to appoint a committee of five. to
ldevise a programme on which there
would be at least a fighting chance of
united action. was made and for a time
lit appeared that a solution of the diff-r-
lences had been reached. Several Sem
lators left the caucus under the impress
lsion that this course would be adopted,
objection was raised by those Dem
ocrats who had supported Senator Car
imack's resolution and the caucus then
adjourned.
1t was said tonight by a leading men,
her of the Senate Democratic Steering
COMMITTEE that the minority party in
Ial probability will meet the question of
icanal legislation without organization
lof any kline and will act according to
Individual opinions.