Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-28
PANAMA CANAL
Democrats to Desert Senator
Germans Position.
A Fire Of Protest Coming from Their
Constituents at Home.
Probable Vote on Ratification Will Be
65 and May Be More.


senators are getting ready to desert the
sinking ship.
The next move in the Panama canal
treaty situation will be a motion in the
Democratic caucus declaring the sense
of the caucus to be that the canal
treaty snail be supported by Democrats
in the Senate. Instead of following
Senator German in his raid against the
canal, Democratic senators are now dis
cussing the wisdom of aligning their
party in favor of the canal. The carry
ing out of this proposition would be
serious stab at Senator Germans lead
ershfp but some Democrats in the Sen
ate are becoming alarmed at the over
whelming reputation Of Senator Cor
mans course, as evidenced by express
sions from all parts of the country, and
are now becoming more concerned in
saving their own bacon than conserv-
ing their leaders prestige
The motion will probably originate
with the Southern faction of the party.
1t will be opposed by Senator German
and those who have been most closely
associated with him in his inexplicable
course of opposition to the treaty.
There is no doubt the next DemOcra tic
caucus will be one of the warmest held
in many years in the committee room
c. the minority
Democratic senators have been SUBJ
jectcd within the past week, it is said,
to a heavy fire of protest from their
colleagues in the House and from their
constituents at home. The Democrats
of the House were first to realize the
danger to the party involved in the
course of the Senate, probably from the
fact that they were in somewhat close
touch with the rank and file of the
people. They have been journeying
back and forth between the two wings
of the Capitol for days urging their
senators against the folly of trailing in
Germans lead.
When the Southern senators began to
swing into line in favor of ratification
the movement gathered strength among
the Eastern and Western Democrats.
Influential men in the House from New
York, Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana
talked ratification and the mistake of
beating the treaty. 1t was found two
or three days ago that Senator i1oar
and Senator Hale would not vote
against ratification, Senator Hale COM
ing out in an interview recently in
Eastern papers making his position
clear on that point.
So events have been steadily trend
ing toward the inevitable failure of the
German campaign of opposition and
Democratic senators are beginning to
ask why they should immediate them
selves upon their altar of a mistaken
leadership and fall in the last ditch
when by a little side-stepping they can
get into the vanguard of the procession
This consideration will be urged in the
next caucus of Democratic senators
and is expected to have weight.
AS near as can be figured ont now, the
vote on ratification of the Panama canal
treaty will not fall below this: Entire re-
publican strength, including Hale and
Hear, s.. Overman and Simmons dem J.
2; Mallory and Taliaferro (dem), .:
Bacon and Clay (dem.). ,; McEnery and
Foster fdem.). .. Total, 65. Necessary to
ratification, co.
The probabilities are that this margin
Will be further increased by accessions
from Missouri. Mississippi Kentucky
Montana. Texas and Arkansas
This democratic program does not pre-
cludc criticism of the administration $
haste In recognizing Panama. Indeed.
there are republicans who are not alto
gether early in their minds on that score.
But the argument of these men. with
occasional exception, is that the recOg-
milton of Panama is a closed incident
events HAYES marched way beyond the
point of caviling with that international
episode. and the Congress and the country
are facing more important questions in
the construction of the canal and the pres
ervation of peace on the Sthmus. These
phlosophic views are represented in an
expression by Representative Richardson
of Tennessee.
Representative Richardson, who was
the leader of the Democratic party in the
House of Representatives in the last Con-
gress, said to Il Star reporter, today, that
indications seemed to point to the ratili-
cation of the canal treaty
ut is curious he said. 'to see how ut
terly friendless Colombia is shown to be.
Even among the South American repub-
lies there is no sympathy with Colombia.
The great nations of the world approve
what the United States has done. Only
England is holding off, and do not doubt
that when she satisfies herself as to the
loans in which she is interested in connec-
ton with Colombia she will also very
readily approve what this country has
done.
However high-handed some of us may
look upon the course that has been pur-
sued by the administration at Panama it
seems that there will be nothing to do ex-
cept to ratfy the treaty. and l suppose
that is what will be done