Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-12-28
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2S, 1908
GORMAN'S PLAN MAY FAIL.

0OHWAN PLAN WAY FAIL.
The action of the legislature of Lou
isiana in passing resolution instruct
ing the senators from that state tC
vote for the ratification of the Panama
treaty is admitted to be a serious
lc leaders in congress. If other south
ern legislatures should follow the same
course, and it is not improba5 5le that
they will. Mr.. Gormans plans TO de-
feat the treaty Will be as impotent as
they We're before he secured a binding
caucus agreement. One of the pro
visions of that agreement was that a
senator could not be held by the de
cisiOn of two-thirds of MS party col
leagues if instructed to vote contrary
to the desire of the caucus by the leg
islature of his state.
1t is believed that plans are under
way to call the legislature of Georgia
into special session to enable it to
lSSuS Iloti uCllOIS W oSudtOlS Aldy
and Bacon to vote for the treaty
Florida Will follow suit just as soon
as the news of what happened at
Batca Rouge is understood there.
AS matters stand now. presuming
that all of the Republican members
will vote for the treaty, it will lack
one vote of sufficient number to
give it two-thirds majority The re-
lease of Senators Foster and McEn-
cry of Louisiana from their caucus OBJ.
litigation assures fifty-nine votes FIR
ratification II there are no defectiOns
on the Republican side. Sixty are
needed to make the two.thirds vote.
Some persons profess to believe
that Senator Hoar will vote for the
treaty, but the senator's friends are
very confident he will net Senator
Hale of Maine is much disposed to
range himself with Senator Hoar. He,
too, believes that the president COM
mitted an act of war in aiding the Pan
anna revolutionists and that it is the
duty OF the senate to reject the trea-
ty, and therefore the solemn duty of
the president to restore Panama t..
Colombia. There are other Republican
senators who have strong convictions
on the subject. but they are not as
Outspoken as Senators Hoar and Hale
Nevertheless. with the prospect of a
solid Democratic opposition to the
treaty, they were prepared to extend
secret aid and sympathy to its oppon-
ents. If the opposition disintegrates
fuence. however, they will quickly
fall into line with the majority of their
party
Senator German is hopeful that there
will be no other resolutions of instruc
ton from southern legislatures. but he
fears there will be In any event he
will fight against ratification until all
the facts appertaining TO the treaty
and the revolution have been dis
closed.
One Ct the sensational charges Sen
ator German is prepared to make here
after is that coterie of t,ew York men
subscribed war fund to the Panama
revoutionists amounting To $500 600
with the understanding that they
would be repaid tenfold from the $40
10000 Panama expected to receive
and the $40,000,000 which, cstensibly,
will be appropriated for the French
company. Senator German is said to
know the names of the men who ad.
Vanced this money
He VIII charge in connection with
TINS disclosure that the fund was sub
scribed only after definite and positive
assurances We're conveyed to the sub
scrlbers ny responsible persons ca.
nected with the administration that
substantial aid would be extended to
the revolutionists and the republic of
Panama would not only be recognize(.
by this government. but that its indie
pendence would be guaranteed as we'll.
Several Democratic senators will
charge in addition that the lcbbyists
and promoters who are expected to re-
ceive large share of the $4,000 600
have agreed TO make substantial
contribution to the next Republican