Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-03
CLARKE'S PREDICTION
DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO ASSURE
SUCCESS OF CANAL TREATY.
Announcement by Junior Senator From
Arkansas-Says the President
Will Be Nominated.

Senator Clarke of Arkansas closed his
speech in the Senate yesterday afteroon
on the Panama situation and received the
CONGRATULATIONS of senators on both sides
of the chamber.
After The Stars report of the proceedings
was closed Mr.. Clarke declared that instead
of meeting our advances favorably. Co
lombia had repudiated all contracts with
us, and becoming aware of the character of
the people with whom they had to DEAL
the authorities of the United States had
ceased it's efforts to reach an agreement
with that country, leaving it to paddle it's
own canoe
1t was rot to be denied that the United
States knew what was going on in Pan
anna, and II 1t was necessary to show that
the President was unaware of the state of
affairs in order to esta blish his integrity
that must be done at the expense of his
intelligence and even of his performance
of official duty. Possibly in some matters
of detail the President had been rash, but
with such Mr.. Clarke said he had nothing
ID do; he was concerned only with the
general principle involved and with that
he had no fault to find.
Mr.. Clarke contended that President Mar
roquin had not discouraged the revolution
in Panama, and Mr.. Simmons inquired
whether there would not have been a seri-
GUS struggle even if the United States had
view of the fact that on a former occasion
Panama had come very near achieving her
Independence without the aid of the canal
company, no one could doubt that with the
aid of the company and with the aid prom
1Sed by other provinces Panama would have
been able to maintain herself for an indefi-
mite time.
Disagrees With Fellow Democrats.
Mr.. Clarke also announced his disagree
ment with the senators who contended that
the President should have turned to the
Nicaragua route after failing to secure
Colombia's ratification of the canal treaty
His principal reason for this position was
announced to be his belief that we should
have only sea-level canal, which was
possible on the Panama route and not pos
slble on the Nicaragua route. He did not
believe that any but a sea-level canal would
pay expenses
He declared his satisfaction over the fact
that the public expression given in favor of
the canal had come from democratic states
and he added that democratic votes would
make the ratification of the treaty certain.
The republican party could make no such
claim, and the President had received no
assurances of support from the republican
party at large.
Predicts Presidents Nomination.
Continuing his discussion of the political
feature of the canal controversy and ex-
| tending his contention that the President
was without support in his own party Mr.
Clarke declared that ''the President is now
the central figure in a Belshazzar.s feast
waiting for some friendly DANIEL to inter-
pref the handwriting on the wall and
prophesy for him whether the chairman Of
the republican national committee will fish
or cut bait" He also declared that popular
support of the Presidents course IN his own
party was so lukewarm to cause great
| rejoicing over the announcement that the
| three principal federal office holders in Bos-
ton were for the nomination of Mr.. Roose-
welt and to cause the announcement that
Alaska was for him to be blazOned forth
in box car letters. But Notwithstanding
| this lethargy." the Senator predicted the
nomination OF the President. sayirg that
while the democrats were in doubt as to
whom to instruct for the republicans ;snew
for whom they must instruct.
He made a vigorous appeal for the con-