The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-12
CREAM OF THE SPECIALS.

Canal treaty was begun in the Senate today behind closed doors. The present indications are that the treaty will be ratified within a comparatively short space of time,
 The understanding Is that, although Senator German does not favor the treaty personally, he realizes none the less that there is no possible political advantage in the delaying of action. It is believed that he already has decided that vote may be taken as soon as reasonable | time for debate has been afforded. A large percentage of the Democrats, including most of the southern men, arc favorable to the canal.
 The treaty was reported out of the com mittee this morning, with only one Sena- tor, dissenting, and that was, or course, Senator Morgan himself
 An understanding has been reached be- tween the Republican and Democratic Senators that MT. Morgan, who is one of the most beloved men in the senate,
 shall he treated with the utmost consid. eration. He will not be expected to speak too long in any one day, ana the only requirement will be that he shall speak more or less continuously. On his part, Senator Morgan has inti- ma ted that 8 week or so will satisfy him.
 It is believed, therefore, that some time next week at the latest vote can be reached and the treaty ratified.
 There is a great protection against de- lay in the fact that the treaty is being
  speeches made there can be printed In the Record, anr there is no incentive for filibustering, because the RepubilcanS have the whole summer on their handS practically and the Democrats will put themselves in a bad position by posing before the country as delaying the ratifi- cation of the treaty. They would have , no opportunity of justifying any such ac- ton, and MT. German is much too shrewd a politician to put his party in so awk- ward a position.
 There is much more doubt being ex- pressed as regards the Cuban reciprocity treaty The Republicans nominally have would seem as If they ought to be able to get three Democratic votes without
 much difficulty.
 The Republican managers in the Sen ate think they have secure working | pledges from all the members of their | own party, including even such pronounc- | ed beet sugar Senators as Burrows oi | Michigan, Dietrich of Nebraska, and Stewart of Nevada. Whether these pledges will hold good for an indefinite l length of time remains to be seen. There are three or four Democratic Senators who would vote for the treat
 beyond all doubt on its merits. but Il would not be an extraordinary thing Il l it were made a party measure and these Democrats were compelled to abide by | the decision of a caucus which undoubt' | edly would be adverse to the treaty. | It has been represented to MT. Gormar | by some Republicans, who are secretly l fomenting opposition, that If the Demo crats bodily assume the credit for killing
 reciprocity with Cuba they might thereby | secure the votes of certain critical bee l sugar States like Michigan, Nebraska | Colorado, Idaho. Nevada and California | in the next national election
 The Democrats, 1t has been represented | to the party managers, have nothing t' gain from ratifying the treaty. because | the Republicans, with their ffty-seVer | votes would claim all the credit. Political arguments of this characte
 are having a good deal of weight amont
 the Democrats, and the prospects for thu | Cuban treaty are so uncertain as to give
 a great deal of anxiety to the Republican
 | managers, more especially in view of thu
 | fact that the Democratic opposition is s'
 | strong as almost to insure an extensive
 | and possibly successful fllibuster.