The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-20


journing at o'clock tonight, the SEN
ate entered into a unanimous agree
ment to vote on the Cuban reciprocity
treaty at o'clock tomorrow. The hope
of securing a vote today was dissipated
by the discovery that there were more
speeches to be made in opposition to
the treaty than had been counted upon.
Indeed, it was difficult to secure an
agreement to vote even tomorrow and
it was evident that this result could
not have been accomplished but for
the anxiety of Senators to secure a final
adjournment of the session.
The executive session covered six
hours and was devoted largely to ad
verse criticisms of the treaty. During
the day, Senator Newlands made plea
for the annexation of Cuba and pre-
scented an amendment to the treaty
rendering an invitation to that island
to become a state Of the American
union. The debate was participated in
by Senators McEnery, Newlands, Spoon
er, Teller Nelson, Cullom, Bailey and
Carmack.
The senate spent the first half hour
Of the executive session in discussing
the propriety Of printing all the speech
es made upon the Panama canal since
the official reporters were admitted to
| the chamber last Monday. The unan-
imous agreement to print included only
Senator Germans speech and Senator
Cullom's closing remarks, but none Of
the others. The discussing of the ques-
ton made it quite clear that compara-
lively little if any of the running de-
bate will be printed.
When the Cuban treaty was laid be-
fore the senate, Mr.. McEnery took the
floor and made a speech of something
more than two hours length, in opposi-
ton to it. He cOntended that the trea-
ty is in the interest of the sugar trust
and said that it's ratification would be
a direct blow at the sugar interests of
the United States. The present tariff,
had Mr.. McEnery said greatly Stimu-
lated the sugar industry of this coun-
try and he predicted that if it should
be permitted to continue in force, the
time would come when the United
| sugar to supply it's own wants. but that
| it would export the American product.
Speaking of the effect upon his own
| state Of louisiana Mr.. McEnery said
practically the entire population would
be affected by the approval of the
! treaty.
| When Senator McEnery concluded,
Senator Newlands took the floor. His
speech was notable not only because it
| was his maiden speech in the senate,
| but because he appeared as an open
| advocate of the annexation of Cuba to
| the United States and also as an oppo-
| nent Of the treaty. AS part of his
address On the point of annexation. he
presented the following amendment:
THE republic of the United States
| recognizing the intimate relationship
| between the republic of Cuba and itself
and being desirous of Still further pro-
| noting freedom of trade and CONNER
| cial union, of strengthening the bonds
Of amity and friendship between the
people of two countries, cordially in
| vites the republic of Cuba to become &
state of the Union under the constitu-
| ton and laws of the United States"
In support of this amendment, Mr.
Newlands said that the democratic par
| ty should stand for traditional expan
sion of the republic, by promoting the
voluntary annexation of Cuba through
the free expression of her people and j
should emphasize this position at thi:
| time by resolutions to that effect. w,
should, he declared, give Cuba clearl.
and uneQuivocally to understand that i
/ she wishes commercial union with thi
country and conditions of the commerce
with US not enjoyed by other indepen
dent nations. she must seek politica
union with US in the form Of annexation
as a part of the republic. He contend
ed that the theory of reciprocity i
wrong in principle. because it leads t.
favoritism. both in our dealings will
foreign nations and among our owl
people.
Senator Spooner replied briefly t