New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-22
TREATY NOT CALLED Up
ROPE FOR DEMOCRATS.
essotor O. II. PLatt Closes HIS
Ctrong Defence Of the President.
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,rosAington Jan 2l-Republican members Of
-. Senate have determines TO give their oppo-
..a "a wide a latitude they may desire in
-. Panama debate. at least for the present, and
:. osrl for consideration Of the treaty in execu-
-. session will be made this week and proba-
Nv not until the middle Of next This change
:, ,roprar,me is the result of the recent debate,
.,,icb has daily strengthened the Republican
.-.,,on and placed those Democrats who OPP
-. ratification IN increasingly unenviabe
,,gh. before the country Refuted on argu-
-.sn. after another confronted with positive evil
N.no. which has stuitifed their snsinuations. and
,n1nsIled 70 shift their positions each succeed
,nr oay, the Democrats are rapidly becoming
encouraged, and. save for & few malcontents
,ay. sepator TiIlrnan. who is content to throw
,oc,s at the treaty as IL passes by" there are
s,ovtnc Indications that the opposition will
Wv. ewsndIed TO a corporal's guard before an
ofher week has passed
TEN DEMOCRATS FOR THE TREATY.
So sar-reachtng has been the disintegration OF
the Democratic opposition that they not only
concede their defeat, but are confronted with
.he determination OF Senator Clay TO speak in
support Of the convention. while Senators
Clarke. OF Arkansas and Mallory. of Florida. are
threatening TO follow suit. There not less
thsn ten Democrats who will vote for ratifca-
ton. Senator Spooner desires to speak once
more in open debate, and IT is not unlikely that
Senator Lodge will be heard again.
In addition to the advantage of having the
Democratic arguments advanced in open ses-
sion refuted in public, it is believed that the
present debate viii serve materially to curtail
the discussion behind closed doors. When the
treaty is taken UP IN executive session those
points which involve contracts with Panama
.ta Var al nd HEh oh
could not well be discussed in public. viii re-
oeive attention. Ii has been finally determined
20 abandon the committee amendments, Minister
Burau-Varilla having assured the State De-
paTtment that any extension Of the provisions
for sanitation, control of the harbors and the
deunlitatien of the cities of Panama and Colon
Will be cheerfully accorded by his government
81 the form OF protocol. if need be. This will
facilitate consideration of the treaty, and it is
not believed that the debate in executive session
will be extended. although it is too early TO pre-
dict any definite limit.
SENATOR PLATT's ABLE ARGUMENT.
Senator PIatt. Of Connecticut. took the floor
to-day at the close Of the morning hour. finish
.ng his speech begun yesterday. Mr. Platt's
position Of the position OF the administration
was mastery and he received close attention
from Senators on both sides Of the chamber.
The high respect and edectionate regard IN
which the Senator from Connecticut is held by
his colleagues added, net TO the strength Of his
argument, which needed no reinforcement from
the Senator's personality. but to its infiuencon
the opposition. Years Of experience have demon
strated that when the Senator from Connect
cut espouses a cause It is a just one, and his
hearty support OF the administration to-day
made a deep impression on those who for par
tsan reasons would like to oppose the treaty.
Senator Platt quoted Franklin Pierce as say