Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-02-03
ANXIOUS OVER TREATY.
Important Conference Between Pres
Ment Roosevelt, Secretary Hay
and Senator Cullom.
D,sevss OUTLOOK FOR CANAL TREATY.
rae Opposition in the senate, Il IL
Feared, VIII Delay Seriously II Not
6 Finally Defeat Its Ratincation-
senator Morgan ID Prepared to
0ight Il.

Washington, Feb. Am important
conference was held at the white
house Saturday, the participants be-
Ing the president, Secretary Hay and
Senator Cullom, chairman of the for
eign relations committee of the SEN
ate. The subject under discussion was
the status of the Panama canal treaty.
The situation with regard to the
treaty Us it has developed in the SEN
ate Is giving the administration and its
supporters grave concern. The pres
ident is exceedingly anxious that the
treaty should be ratified at the ear
Hest possible moment; yet the indica-
lions now are that serious obstruc-
lions may be placed in the way of
ratification.
The conference held Saturday was
with = view of ascertaining, if pos
sible, what could be done to hasten
of the treaty by the SEN
ate. It is quite certain that the adj
vices received by the president are not
reassuring. An effort is to be made
TO get the treaty out of committee
with q favorable report. That the
effort will be successful is reasonably
certoin, but then its troubles, in the
present view of the matter, will only
have begun.
Senator Morgan Ready to Fight.
Senator Morgan, chairman of the
committee on inter-oceanic canals,
takes the ground that the negotiations
conducted by the state department
with Mr.. Herran, representing Colon
bia, are not valid, as he holds that Mr..
Herran did not possess the necessary
authority to make treaty binding
upon his country, and it is understood
that he will use his utmost efforts to
defeat the treaty in it's present form.
Indeed, the intimation has reached
the president that when the treaty is
called up for consideration in the sen
ate amendments will be offered to al
most every section of it. Such action
It is well understood, will seriously
delay Anal action upon it, even if ii
should not result in the defeat of its
ratification. 1t is stated definitely
that any amendment to the treaty
would imperil the entire canal project,
as the government of Colombia might
hesitate to accept amendments made
TO 1t, particularly if they involved es-
sential details or principles.
/ To Work Hard for Ratification.
During the conference Saturday the
situation was considered carefully
but what decision, if any, was reache,
could not be ascertained. It is know
only that an earnest effort is to b.
made in the senate to secure ratifica
tion Of the treaty at the present ses
lsion, but the method OF procedure i.
mot disclosed. While the treaty will
mot fail, even il it should not be rati
Aed al this session, the officials fea,
that the delay which would result
from failure of the senate to take fina
action might involve serious conse
quences.
i Treaty Discussed In Committee.
Washington, Feb. 2.-The seant.
committee on foreign relations agai,
Saturday discussed the Panama cana
treaty between the United States an,
Colombia, but did not reach a conclu
sion. The discussion was based entire
II upon the amendments to the treat,
which were offered Friday by Senate
Morgan, but action was not take1
upon any of them and the committe
adjourned until Monday, when tn
subject will be further discussed.
Senator Morgan's resolution direct
sng an inquiry into the credentials o
Senior Herran. who negotiated tn,
treaty on the part of Colombia, wa!
voted down.