The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-18
Historic Speeches Resound in Senate Chamber and Demo-
 CracV is Put on Record,
WILL NOT SUPPORT PANAMA
 TREATY AS II NOW STANDS
Foraker Replies to Massachusetts Sen. ator and Severely Arraians Mr.
 Hoar for His Attack on the President-CoIIoquie

Washington, December 1.-The senate today was the scene of a most important i. debate on the isthmian canal question effected by the Presidents recognition of the independence of the republic of Pan anna. The discussion began with speech by Mir Hoar on his resolution of inquiry and lasted several hours. In addition to MT. Hoar's address, there were speeches by MT. German and MT. Foraker. All three were notable utterances and of his torical interest.
 MT. Hoar confined his remarks to his resolution and they were carefully writ ten out and read from manuscript. He held that this country has not yet re- ceived full official information concern ing the isthmian revolution, and criticised in sharp terms the conduct of this coun- try. as shown by what has been given out. He compared the conduct of the United Staces on the isthmus to police man who would manacle and hold per- son about to be attacked for robbery and would then insist on having the spells of the theft delivered to himself.
 There was no reservation in MT. Cor mans utterances. He practically said that the situation in Panama had been created to make campaign issue and charged Assistant Secretary of State I.oomis with a violation of the proprie- ties in discussing the question at ban quet in New York He also said that un- less further light was thrown on the sub ject, he would oppose the Panama treaty. He also referred 10 the impetuous action of the executive, ard declared that the senate should prevent the jeopardizing of tie business interest of the country.
 Took MT. Hoar to Task.
 Mir Foraker took MT. Hoar to task se- yerely for his remarks rehecting on the administration, and his ndiscretion in speaking in open session concerning exec utive matters. He defended the adminis- tration for it's attitude toward the Pan anna revolt.
 At the beginning of the session, MT. McComas of Maryland reported bill from the committee on privileges provid- ing for the protection of foreign exhib- itors of artistic, musical and literary works at the St. Louis worlds fair. It was al once passed.
 MT Hear then addressed the senate on his resolution calling on the President for such information as may be m his possession relative to the status of the republic of Panama when the treaty with that country was negotiated. MT. Hoar began by saying that no man in the coun- try desired more eagerly than himself to support the administration and act with his associates. He also was favorable to the isthmian canal, and moreover. he was anxious that the construction of the canal should be accomplished in his life- time, and by the republican party. He also was desirous tfat the present Presi- dent of the United States should build the great waterway. But, anxious as he was for the accomplishment of ali these ends he was even more anxious that the canal should be built without the sus- picion of national dishonor.'
 What we want to know is' he said, "did this government, knowing that revolution was about to take place, so ar range matters that the revolution, wheth- CT peaceable or otherwise, should be per mitted to go on without interruption, and whether our national authorities took measures to prevent Colombia from stop ping it?"
 Why This Great Anxiety?
 Mir Hoar quoted the correspondence bearing upon the revolution. and asked "Why this great anxiety before any dis turbance had occurred?
 II was he said clear that if the corre- spondence so far printed included all the infcrmation possible to give on the sub feet. that from "A to 4S hours before tho revolution broke out, this government had instructed a man-of-war to prevent Co., lombia from doing anything to prevent it.
 "I want to know and the American
 people want to know. and have a right
 to know whether this mighty police
 man on the isthmus, seeing man
 about to attack another, is justified
 before the blow is struck, in manac-
 ling the assailed party, and whether
 after the assault has been made, the
 policeman is justified in claiming the
 pocketbook which has been taken
 from the victim by the assailant,
 should be turned over to him (the po-
 lceman) on the ground that he was
 the rightful owner"
 MT Hoar said that 1t was impossible 10 believe it, and he did not believe the President was capable of such intrigue as thus indicated, and declared that it was for the purpose of saving him from such imputation that he desired all the information possible to secure on the question. He was sure that all the in- formation on the subject would entirely relieve the chief executive. but still as the matter stands, he said the informa- ton before the country Is incomplete.
 No Justification.
 Continuing. Mir Hoar said that it was no justification of our course to say Co., lombia had failed to ratify the treaty for inc construction of the Panama canal. Had not the United States itself failed to ratify many treaties?
 In conclusion, he pleaded for all the facts. and asked that they be sent to the senate through the usual official chan nes.
 We are entitled to know the whole story" he said, before taking action on the canal treaty, and we are entitled to know officially not through some individ- ual senator who may color it with his own views or through the unofficial ut terances of the representatives of some other government"
 German Takes Floor.
 Mx. German took the floor soon as Nr. Hoar had concluded. and there was from fhe start evident interest in what