The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-05
SENATE ON PANAMA
DISCUSSION PROMPTED BY THE
CANAL TREATY.
ATTITUDE OF ROOSEVELT
BOTH SUPPORTED AND ATTACKED
BY SENATOR'S.

| McCOmnS Backed Up the EFestucht
ActiOn-Said IL Would BE Sup
ported by the COurts-Said the
Executive Had Authority to Rec
Ognize the RepubIic-TiIIman Did
Not Think He Could Bring the
Army and Navy In.
Washington, Jan. 4.-The Senate's
first session, following the holiday re-
J cess was devoted entirely to the Pan
anna situation President Roosevelt's
message on this subject was received
and read with great interest. Dis
cussion continued throughout the day,
speeches being made both in defense
of and against the policy which had
been pursued.
Rev. Edward Everett Hale, the
newly elected chaplain of the Senate,
clad in flowing black silk robes, of
fered a stirring invocation. His pray
err was a plea for the wisdom of heav-
en- in the affairs of the government.
He referred briefly to the Chicago dis
aster. His invocation was preceded by
a short scriptural lesson and conclud-
ed with the Lords Prayer.
Mr.. McComas strongly defended the
Presidents action in the Panama mat
ter. He maintained the President
recognition of Panama would be up
held by the courts.
Mr.. Culberson questioned the right
of the executive to make such recog-
milton, but Mr.. McComas maintained
positively that the executive had such
authority and he could bring to the
attention of the Senate two instances
in which the same power had been
exercised.
TilIman Breaks In.
Mr.. Tillman wanted the instances
cited and Mr.. McComas promised later
to present them.
But l want to know" broke in Mr.
Tillman. whether the Senator con-
tends that the executive. without in
struction of the Congress, can employ
the army and navy to defend his
executive action by warning away and
preventing Colombia from asserting
her supremacy anywhere except on the
Panama Railroad"
In answer Mr.. McComas referred Mr.
the Presidents message.
Mr.. Bacon asked several questions
in an effort to bring out how long the
new republic would last should the
sustaining power of the United States
be withdrawn.
For many years." replied Mr.. Nc
Comas. He added that but for the
restraining power of the United States
the independence of Panama would
have been established long ago.
will the Senator state the respec-
tive populations of Panama and Co
lombia?' asked Mr.. Bacon.
Panama has about 100000 and Co
lombia 4,5O0, 000,' was the reply
And yet the Senator thinks the
100000 could maintain themselves
against the four and half million?''
again injected Mr.. Bacon.
Such things We're frequent events
in history" was the reply Pressed by
Mr.. Bacon for instances, Mr.. McCo-
mas mentioned the successful contest
of Japan, with 100000 population,
against China with 40O000,000; also
Montenegro's successful contest OF two
centuries.
Senator Stewart Endorsed the course
of the administration and severely
castigated the Bogota government for
it's selfish action in preventing the
construction of the canal, referring to
it as a band of robbers
Trying to Force Democrats.
Mr.. Morgan said that his colleagues
from the South could not fail to see
that the Presidents attitude was in
tended to force them to vote for the
Panama route. AS for himself he was
not opposing the President on slight
ground, not because he believed the
course of the President to be such
I.
United States. He argued that accord
ing to precedents. the de facto gov
eminent of Panama has no right to
transfer territory, but he declared that
the President knew that by his rec
ognition of Panama alone could he
acquire a concession there. Indeed
he asserted that in the prospect of Sc
curing this acquisition was found the
only motive for the Presidents recog-
milton. He declared that President
Roosevelt's interference in Colombia s
affairs on the isthmus was unjustified
by the constitution.
For one, he would not vote to .ratify
the wrong done by the President. The
President. he said, desires this rati-
fication to justify what he and the
Panama junta have done. "And for
that purpose" said Mr.. Morgan, che
wants the assistance of three Demo-
cratic senators to do what he and his
PARTY cannot do" He assured the
Democrats that they need not feel
bound to follow the course desired by
the President. The only question at
issue was whether there should be
any canal at ALL for he did not be-
lieve that canal would ever be built
across the isthmus at Panama. He
predicted that canal would be ulti-
mately built along the Nicaraguan
route because of its eminent feasibility.
For ROOseveIt's Aggrnndisement.
"If there are Democrats who think
that the best way to defeat the Re
publicans is to follow thei. lead" he
said, 81 must still remain an obsti-
nate man of one idea, as 1 have been
charged, and stand by that rather than
be led or driven into commercial prac-
tees in politics or into political gam
bling with the laws. as pawns on the
chess board, to be moved back and
forth at the will of the player with the
use of the army and navy in unlawful
war. to give spectacular effect to the
leader of campaign for the presi-
dency."
The Senate adjourned until to-mor-