The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-18
PRESIDENT WAS
FULLY JUSTIFIED
Senator Foraker Defends the Admin
istration from Democratic
Ca1umny.
Senator Hoar Aids the Opposition
by Airing His Peculiar Ideas
About Foreign Affairs.

aker eQl1Vened IEe pTOCeeulhSe VI .AA0
senate yesterday when the fahalile'
canal treaty was discussed. The de-
bate was opened by Senator Hoar'
who spoke for several hours on MS
resolution of inquiry, calling upon the
president for such information as may
be in his possession relative TO the
status of the republic Of Panama
when the treaty with that country was
negotiated.
The ef4MSt of Senator Hoar's carplng
criticising will be neutral1zed In thls
country by the knowledge that repup-
lican, as he is, he has never been able
to agree with his party upon any tor
eign question since the Phlllpplhes
policy of Mckinley was adopted.
What the effect of his intemperate
and untimely utterances may nave
upon South American countries, ana
especiallv upon Colombia at this crit
ical juncture can only be estimated.
Every Central and South American le-
cation in Washington will use the
cable to apDrise their governments
that a distinguished senator of the re-
publican party has likened his govern
1nent to policeman who holds the
arms of a victim while he is being
robbed of his Docketbook.
Mr.. Hoar confined his remarks to
his resolution and they were carefully
written out and delivered from manu-
script He held that this country mas
not yet received full official 1ntorma-
ton concerning the isthm1an reVolu-
ton, and criticised the conduct OF THIS
country as shown by what has been
given out He characterized the con-
duct Of the United States as that Of a
policeman who would manacle a man
who was about to be attacked Tor
robbery and who would then insist on
having the spoils of the theft delivered
to himself.
German Critical.
Mr.. German took the floor as soon
as Mr.. HOar had concluded and there
was from the start evident interest in
what he might say. He SAID that
democratic senators generally are as
favorable to the construction of the
canal as are republicans. Taking up
the question al issue, Mr. German said
the facts were all that were desired,
and he proceeded to refer to the eX-
tension of the executive influence, say
ing that this influence had been eX-
tended until "the senate had become
practically the agent of the eXecu-
tive" He criticized the selection by
the president of commissioners from
the senate to negotiate treaties as a
reprehensble practice, and declared
that the Associated Press secured its
events from the administration. He
also criticized executive interference
in state politics, saying:
The president, with doubtful pro-
priety, telegraphs his instructions to
state conventions as to their actions.
But none of these transgresslOns could
be compared, he declared, to the &C
ton Of the executive in connection
with the affair in Panama
''It is" he said, 1.-The most fragrant
act of transgressiOn that has ever
taken place in the history of the coun-
try, and it should be resisted without
regard to party
Admits Canal Must Be Built.
Mr.. Aldrich interrupted Mr.. Cor
man with a question as to whether Il
was the purpose Of the reconcen'
trated democracy to defeat the treaty.
He added that he had not been able
to gather the exact intent from Mr.
Germans remarks. The Maryland
senator retorted that he had seldom
been able to make MI. Aldr1ch under
stand "but," he added, Il will state
the matter SO plainly that even thu
senator from Rhode Island will com
prehend." He said that it was not hi
practice to treat questions OF lnterna
tiOnal scope as party man, ana n
believed that by the union of all tn
forces inclined to protect the best IN
terests of the country, its honor coul'
be saved. He agreed, he said, ina
the canal must be built, but in tn
light of all the facts at present known
it was even more important that tn
integrity of the American peopl
should be preserved.
''Won't the senator go a step far
thar," asked Mr.. Aldrich, land stat
whether it is the purpose to reject tn
treaty."
Mr.. Gorman-I say to the senate
from Rhode Island that If the cas-
stands as it is now, with only the in
formation the administration has fur
nished us to this hour, then we con
slider it a most Objectionable transac
ton. And let me say to the senator
when you talk about responsibility, w
can take the responsibility, and say e
the administration, without regard t.
marty. congress has directed you t
do one of two things-tO construct tn
canal and do it without delay; whel
YOU cannot get it at Panama, go t.
Nicaragua and construct 1t there, an
do it at once.
Would Not Be Unjust.
II do not desire to do the pres1den
of the United States any injustice
respect the office. I believe that who
ever occupies it ought to have fai
consideration. But the executive mus
nave a respect for congress, and !
special consideration for the senate o
the United States when it comes t
the consideration of treaties, for h
cannot make one without it's consen
When the attempt to deprive us of a.
the facts is made, I resent it. And
is not the first instance of such actio
and of debating to congress. I resen
it, and I have resented it at the cos
of estranging some of my political as
sociates in the past when we had
democratic president of the Unite
States. I accord President Roosevel
the same treatment.
Foraker's Reply.
When Mr.. German had concluded
Mr.. Foraker began a severe arraigr
ment of Mr.. Hoar's position, sayin
that when he read the newspaper &C
count of the democratic caucus whic
agreed that caucus action should b
binding, he knew that there would b
trouble; that the democrats woul
vote as a unit on every matter exceI
when the vote interfered with ind
vidual conscience.
Mr.. Foraker said he had felt Il
great surprise when the attack on th
president had been made on the den
ocratic side of the chamber, but ha
been shocked when the senator frol
Massachusetts had made the charg<