The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-28
First Democr Yet to Urge
Treaty Ratih cation sill II. tlle . j.
Senate.
cRlTIcIsEs THE / /. / RocEEDlNe' J e ! 6
But Accepts What Has 81 Been E cen
Done as 1rrevocable and Pro
cc,eeds on That Theory.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2T.-The proceed,
,nrs of the Senate to-day included 2
speech by Mr.. Simmons, OF North caro-
lima, on the Panama canal treaty ana5 at eel5
the passage Of q number OF pllls ana ana
resolutions. Mr.. Simmons spoke IN sup p
port OF the treaty, being the first Demo-
cratic senator to take that position on
the measure on tho floor Of he Senate i.t y
He announced his conviction that both
under tho Spooner act and under his
general treaty-making power the Presi-s
dent had authority to enter into q treaty
with Panama, after it became an inde-5
pendent state 4 for the construction OF -
canal, via the Panama route. He said :9
what has been done In Panama has
been dono and cannot be- Sund lone II was
not done by the Democrats & party
neither could that party have prevented
its doing, ana therefore It 4 Isl In no way
responsible for It's doing, II r. h what has !;
been done in Panama can be undone at
ull by this government. 1t can only be 5un-
done by doing a greater wrong to Pan
ana than has already been done to Coz
lombia. Surely the defeat Of this treaty
will not either undo or remedy that
wrong. II 5s , % s3ss
II am not here to defend the actions OF
the President, either In connection with,
tho revolution In or recognition Of the
Independence of Panama" RI H
CONDEMNS COURSE. 33ii55
There is much In his conduct IN thesn
connections of which I dlsapproye, which I
regard rs improvident and unsyise az
rash and dangerous to the peace ana
welfare OF this country; as contrary to
the traditional policy OF this government
In It's dealing With other nations, espe-
cial.y those on this hemisphere, and as
not calculated to advance US IN the az
fections and esteem Of other nations.
do not think, however. that everything
the President did In this connection was
wrong, From the bottom Of my heaFs
would be glad for the honor OF ny
country. ! would be glad, u couA
reconcile all OF his acts In this connso-5
tlon with my notions OF risht and lava
but cannot and be honest with myself.
I am bound to say, and ] have no pleas-S
ure in saying 1t, that the course Of the
President both In connection with tho 4
revolution In Panama and the recoSr,l-lI
tlon of It's independence, was, to say tho (
,east, hasty, rash. improyident and dan
gerous to the peace and welfare OF this
country, and justifes the feeling OF many
OF his political friends as well as his
political opponents that he lacks that
conservatism which considerations OF
national stability and safety makes neces-
sary and desirable in tho chief executive
of the nation" =
Mr.. Simmons said he believed that the
President and the Secretary OF state
should be relieved Of az charge OF coIs.5
| nlicitv In the Panama revolt, @
BELIEVES STAT TEMEHr, s X IS
He said he did not believe that the poy-
session Of information concerning an aps
proaching revolution should be accepted
as discreditlng the statement of the Pres-
ident and added: I'm entire Difference
to the views OF others on this side Ok the
chambes. who may differ With me y,
this opinion, think that the sta tennsnk
81 the President " this Fsspscs snsS10 = I