Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-12-18
WASHINGTON LETTER
tFrom our Regular Corr espond ent.,

Gratis in tho House take advantage OF
every opportunity to expose the atti.
tude of the party in power on the great
national questions which confront the
During a discussion OF the
pension appropriation, the debate sud-
denly turned on the Panama affair and
the democratic members Immediately |
the attitude of the President
the revolution in Panama.
Mr.. Williams speech was especially |
able. He said in part, Zone of these
facts is that the SO called republic OF
Panama is an abortion upon the sur
face of the earth, misbegotten. bag.
horn, to use the words of William
Shakespeare, ditch delivered. Not all
the history or all the talk in the world
can do away with that one simple,
plain, obvious fact"
Another fact remains, and that Is
this, that this is the first time In the
history of the United States that we
have ever interfered in the internecine
affairs of Central or South America.
All the gentleman's (Mr. Hit, repub
lican) subtlety and all of bis diplomacy
cannot make that fact vanish into thin
air. The gentleman has virtually con-
fessed that we have served notice upon
the confederacy OF Colombia that If
sbe dares land a colder outside Of the
strip of trans isthmian commerce, any
where within the confines OF the new
born republic of Panama, the United
States will treat 1t as an act OF war"
THAT confession involves a comics
sion of the tact that We have. for the
first time, taken the hitherto UMPIRE
cedented step OF interfering In the
domestic broils Of Central and South
American countries. The gentleman
cannot change these facts"
The gentleman says we have not
been greedy and then refers to the
manner in which we treated Cuba. II
the democratic party and few repub-
licans had not hedged up and bound
this government IN the two clauses
which compel us to give Cuba her free
dom and independence, you would have
treated Cuba just as you treated the
Philippines and you know it. Nothing
else can restrain YOU"
The republican national committee
was in session here deciding upon the
time and place to hold the coming par
ty convention. Some time in June is
the most favored date, and Chicago
the most likely place, although st.
Louis is making strong bid for the
Iconyentlon. Conspicuous members OF
1.-The committee are Perry s. Heath.
who is involved in the postal scandals
land saved by the Statute OF Llmlta-
tions and James Edward Addicks. who
represents Delaware, in the committed
hut not in the Senate. Heath refuses
to resign bis position and has not been
} asked to do so. In fact he bad
1.-TWO votes, as Senator Hanna named
him proxy for Mr.. Shevlin OF Min
nesota, who is absent.
II The committee was received by the
! President and there was much COM
ment over the fact that Mr.. Heath dld
. not attend this reception. For the
good Of the party, the President wish
ed him to resign, but Senator Hanns
insisted that he should stay.
Senator Hanna declared in his open
, ling address that all that was necessary
for the success of the republican party
was ITO stand pat upon the principles
. and policies of that party" From tht
, applause with which this statement
WAS received by the committee, 1t il
safe to conclude that ''stand pat" will
be the main plank in the next repub-
lican platform.
Criticism Of the Presidents Panams
policy is not confined to the democrat
ic party. Senator Hoar, senior repub-
Iican Senator from Massach usetts, hai
introduced a resolution In the upper
branch of Congress. asking for all the
information in the Presidents posses
sion regarding the establishment Of
the republic Of Panama,
The resolution requests the President
unless in his judgment it is incompati'
BILE with the public interest. TO send to
the Senate all facts in his possession
which will show, whether at the time
of the ratification Of the treaty the
province of Panama had successfully
established its independence, had law
fully adopted constitution, and had
given authority to the persons with
who treaty purports to have made, to
negotiate and ratify the same; whether
the officials ratifying the treaty had
any personal or private interests In the
reconstruction of the canal; whether the
lconstitution of Colombia authorized
the secession of Panama; whether Col
|ombia was prevented by the United
Estates from attempting to assert its
authority over the Isthmus; at what
thine news of the revolution in Panama
was received by the United States gov
ernment and lastly whether any In
formation was received of an expected
or intended revolution before it occur
red and the date of such information.
The republican senators will no doubt
prevent the passage Of the resolution,
"a it is believed here that the Senator'S
embarrassing questions are severe
arrangement of the course OF the Ad-
ADMINISTRATION in Panama.
Senator Reed Shoots case Is now
being acted: upon by the Senate Com
mittee on Privileges and Election,
Chairman Burrows having Called
meeting for that purpose. Interest In
the case is intense and rivals that OF .
1 II -