The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-29
WILL He VOTE AYE2
Senator Overman Dis
cusses Canal Treaty.
Writes the Wilmington Chamber OF
Commerce That He Will Vote for
the Convention if He Consci-
entiousIy Can.
Especial to News and observer.)


Washington, D. c., Dec. 28.-Sena
tor Overman has not yet taken
any position on the Panama treaty, and
is waiting to get the information desired
before determining how he Will vote. Verv
few North Carolnians or North Carolina
commercial bodies have made known their
views upon the matter and the North
Carolina senators have free hand in the
absence of any instructions from home.
The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
has written expressing its approval OF
the treaty and requesting our senators
to vote for it. In answer to the vii
mington Chamber of Commerce, Mr.. Over
man has made this reply.
81 beg to acknowledge receipt of your
telegram urging me, on behalf of the VIII
mington chamber of Commerce, to sup
port the Panama treaty, and to thank
you for the same.
Il am always glad and anxious :"
known the wishes of my people in regard
to any and all great public questions
pending before the Congress, and it is
Al
near as 1 can by my vote. l would be
untrue to my people and to the people
OF the South, as well as untrue to my
self, did l not heartily favor the building
OF the canal and do all in my power to
secure it, benevlng as 1 do with them
that it is for the best commercial interest
OF the whole nation that the canal should
be built shall most cheerfully vote
hn Io6
do so and at the same time not sacrifice
the national honor and not violate my
own serse of morals and of what is right
and wrong. With me the question rises
above politics and dollars and cents.
why the Republicans will not consent
to the passage of the Hoar resolution
Is very suspicious. 1t only asks for the
facts, and I think you will agree with
me that ] ought not to determine definite
ly what my action will be until I know
the facts. 1 do not wish to be a party
to the building OF a canal in wrong, dis
honor and blood. Did those in authority
i'll this country encourage and connive
at the revolution in Panama with sim
ister design? In this country party
to the revolution, propose to get by
force that which it could not get by
little republic? Is this nation to exhib;-
itself to the world as guilty Of sharp
practice? These are some OF the ques-
tons l must answer and to do so must
have all the facts, which as yet we have
not been able to obtain, and for these
reasons have not made mp my mind de-
fnitely to support the treaty
''If the Panama treaty should tail of
ratification the law is already written
uLon the statute books and the money
appropriated to build the Nicaraguan
canal. Except for delay, in my juds
ment, there is no trouble about getting
canal in any event, and heretofore
large majority of the people ct tie South,
as shown by the votes of their senators
and representatives in Congress, has been
for that route. So far as our immediate
sc ection is concerned 1t is believed 10 bG
the best route. SO it is not a question
OF canal, but is the country's conscience
to be debauched and shall we have the
Panama canal at a sacrifice of honor
and war or shall we have the Nicaraguaa
canal with peace and honor? If ali that
is alleged be true, to ratlfy the treaty
would be compromising with an outrage
and we would be temporizing with unfair
dealings. To me it is a very serious
question. I want all the light l can get
upon the subject. I want to know the
truth. And after getting the facts trust
that 1 may be able to carry out your
wishes, and what seems to be the wishes
generally OF my people. I shall get the
facts, give the matter due consideration
and do what is best for all the people.
| do not wish to be considered IN any
manner an obstructionist, neither do
wish to set myself up as 'holer than
thou, but I am sure that you and the
people of the State will appreciate my
position
Thanking you again for telling me
what are the wishes OF the good peo-
pie OF Wilmington, and sincerely hoping
may see my way clear to vote for the
treaty, I am
Yours truly.
LEE S. OVERMAN.'
Such is Mr.. Overman's letter.