Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-11-28
SENATOR MORGAN
ATTACKS PRESIDENT
Charges Roosevelt With ForeknGwl-
edge of Panama Revolution.
VIOLATED THE sPooNER LAW


Washington, Nov. 24.-Panama and
Cuba engaged the attention of the SEN
ate to the exclusion OF all other ques-
tons. Mr.. Hale moved to reconsider
the vote by which the Newlands joint
resolution for the annexation of Cuba
was referred to a committee, and sew
eral speeches were II ade on the motion
without disposing of it.
Before adjournment the senate unan-
imously agreed to vote on the Cuban
bill December 16.
The Panama question came up in
connection with the announcement of
the reorganization OF senate commit
tees, Mr.. Morgan (Dem., Ala) being
relieved from the craftsmanship Of the
committee on inter oceanic canals, Mr..
Hanna succeeding him. Before the Or
der went into effect Mr.. Morgan took
the floor and his speech proved to be a
discussion of the entire canal question,
with liberal criticisms Of the president
for his course.
Mr.. Morgan said he did not regret
his retirement as chairman of the in
ter-oceanic canal committee and declar-
ed he would not reverse his position
on the canal question at the instance
OF any party caucus.
Mr.. Morgan charged that the presi-
dent has made the canal question a
party question and added: 81 think Tat
the presidents appeal to party disci-
pine to force his opinions on the eoun-
try and his measure of aggression on
foreign countries, in addition to his
power as commander-in-chief OF the
army and navy, which he uses with a
dreadful latitude of construction, is so
strong proof OF heart failure In the
present wild moments, that 1 am en-
couraged to hope that there are still
some barriers that we may rely upon
to protect the peace and save the COM
merce of the country. l regret that
party discipline is to be used as a do
nestle police force to protect the
transit in Panama. and to guard the
interests of the new canal company
That we wilt get canal if one can be
built in Panama L have no doubt for
the president has said So Yet this, re-
suit is not nearly so certain or so safe
as If he should obey the Spooner law
Mr.. Morgan said he had only con-
scented to the enactment of the Spoon
er bill because of his confidence in the
good faith of the president in enfora-
ing the law, and now that the presi-
dent had not seem fit 30 keep that faith
il remained to be seen whether the.
senate would support him in that posi-
ton. The president, he said, had, COM
pleted his campaign against the Spoon
er act by having Mr.. Hay sign a treaty
with somebody from Panama" who
had no authority except that conveyed
In cablegram from a junta at Pana-
ma.
He read the correspondence bearing
upon the revolutions to show. as he SAID
that 'the president had known of the
uprising in the isthmus before it began
and had stood ready with armedi ships
to protect those engaged in it," The
pretense in Assistant Secretary Loem-
is despatch that it was our desire for
peace, Mr.. Morgan declared, was the
grimnest piece of irony that had, ever
graced diplomatic channels.
Mr. Morgan expressed the hope that
Mr.. Hay had been asleep when some of
the messages Of his subordinates had
DSCh hylllS ONCi Wht. AS Luz luc'
president" he said. "he never sleeps
on his post of d>itY or desire, although
he sometimes closes his eyes to what
is going on about him."
He contended that Colombia had
perfect right to suppress an uprising
on the isthmus. and declared that
the United States had failed utterly
to observe its treaty obligations in pur-
suing the course it nd taken. Indeed,
he said. our course there had been such
that it would bring down the censure
of future generations upon us, and he
predicted that the Immediate result
would be disastrous and cause the loss
of both men and treasure. The conse-
quences would be such, said he, that
the president would have no time for
dreams OF diplomatic triumphs.