The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-13
WITH VOTES TO SPARE
PANAMA TREATY WILL BE
 RATIFIED.
Senators Realize That the Public De mand . Canal and Think the End Justifies the Means
 Employed.
Advertiser Bureau, Colorodo u-,fI1sx.w

~-o~- Advertiser Bureau,
 Colorado Building.
 It Is now strongly probable that the Panama canal treaty will pass the Sen ate with much less than a third of the senators opposing it. It is going to pass only because public opinion demands it and not because 1t is the choice or the individual judgment of the majority even of the Senate. Most senators. realizing that 1t is one of those occasions in which public opinion considers the end regardless of the means, hope to find ample excuse and vindication for their vote.
 They know better than anybody that the public is very imperfectly informed as to the facts and the law of the case, and they know too. that the public doesn't care a shovel-full of Panama dirt about the moral aspects of 8 transaction which so brilliantly promises incalcula- ble commercial advancement. There is no more exercise of public conscience in the affair than there Is when 1t approves the act of mob or sees fit to accord a gen. erous toIeration to any other lawless per- formance. It is indeed striking condi- ton of affairs when universally admit ting that the Panama transaction Is just
 
 of law. to say nothing of being without sanction of precedent, those in control of the situation are willing to incur without further question whatever con- sequences may eneue; and that they are ready to laugh at charge of receiving stolen goods with the same robust op- timism as of an army of Rob Roys.
 The conclusion that the canal treaty is going to pass Is based not so much upon what individual senators have revealed ss to their purposes; it is derived from both the powerful persuasion of public opinion and the fact that already in de- bate senators have made declarations which if not essays to appease their own are at least significant of in tention not to be bound by party ties and, therefore disclosing readiness to vote for the canal treaty. It could not pass by party vote; 1t must come to pass as a surrender to public opinion.
 The most significant indication that the Senate is preparing as soon as 1t can get a chance to vote for the treaty de- veloped in debate last Wednesday fin a subject of discussion in which the canal was not mentioned. A formidable sub ject in the minds of both sides of the chamber was the proposition pending before the Democratic caucus to bind the minority members when two-thirds of them were of the same mind on any issue. The Republicans knew if that sort of thing should ue brought to apply to the treaty, it would be defeated for lack of a two-thirds vote of the Senate. their party being short of the required number by three votes. On the Democratic side there were senators who were anxious to be relieved of obligation to the caucus on the canal question because their con- stituents had gone headlong for it. So If happened, as frequently occurs when the shadows of great questions are on the minds of senators, that while discussing the postal affairs investigation they showed what might be expected ot them on the canal issue. It was then and tnere made a foregone conclusion that 1t was not expected nor to be desired that parti- | san politics should control senators in l their vote upon the treaty. The rum ming debate on the postal frauds inqui- | ries already had and proposed led to questions as whether non-parhsan tn- was possible, in view or the nearly approaching presidential. election. l
 With characteristic narrowness of conn l prehension and all his posstbie brazen 'ansolence of oflce'' incident to his inu" macy with the Roosevelt administration and his position with the majority party | Lodge or MaGSdCuHSetLSS poANAPaSNSNN ~.'N Issue But he carried 1t too far. He was not only by Democrat put Dy the ablest Republican debater.
 The debate in which Messrs. Carmack' Teller, Clay, Spooner, German and Fem rose had joined reached point which the always latent arrogance or Lodge. He proceeded with painful harsh ness of voice to .ridicule any sort Of con- gressional investigation.
 He talked of how thorough had been Inc investigation by the Postofiice De- partment itself and held up the snariing scorn the Democrats proposition that the by the Postofice Committee of the Senate should be reported In May Then, with what was intended to be over whelrning sarcasm, Lodge went on:
 "Of course 1t is not to be supposed that that had any reference to the coming eiec- lion. because we know that this is pro- posed by the Senator from Maryland sim nlv in the interests of the public service and for the protection of the honor or the country and the honor generally or the administration"