Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-21
MR.. PATTERSON CLOSES
MIR. PLATT COMM SUPPORTS THE
ADMINISTRATIONS COURSE.
Debate in the Senate on the Policy
Adopted Regarding the Isthmus
-, Of Panama.

Senator Patterson yesterday concluded his
speech in the Senate in criticism Of the
course of the administration at Panama.
He was followed by Senator Platt Of Con-
necticut. who defended the President In a
speech which he did not finish.
/ In continuing his remarks after The Star
txeport of the proceedings closed, Mr.. Pat
terson referred to the portion Of the Pres
tident's message of January in which he
stated that 1t had been his intention, If
Colombia did not accept our terms, to
submit to Congress 1.-The propriety Of di-
rrect arrangement with Panama or take
what other steps might be needful in order
to begin the canal enterprise"
The President Assailed.
| Such a proposition. Mr.. Patterson de-
clared, would have been an insult to the
dignity 'and honesty of Congress-" He re-
peated the charge that the President
mind was known in Panama, and asserted
that his course was pure d-blooded par
| ticipation with the rebels"
| Mr.. Patterson quoted certain newspaper
reports concerning the participation of the
United States in the Panama revolution.
This caused Mr. Aldrich to call attention
ITO the fact that the statements were unau-
thorized newspaper reports.
! Mr.. Patterson replied that he had OBJ
served that Incorrect newspaper reports
concerning the affairs Of the administration
are promptly contradicted. AS an instance.
he cited the denial of the report that the
President had said. concerning a certain
senator's attitude toward the presidential
nomination, that he would either have to
fish or cut bait"
Mr. Patterson said that Mr.. Bunau-Va-
Silla was the minister to the United States,
not from Panama but from the Panama
Canal Company. and that he had come to
washington to lobby the canal measure
through. He declared that Mr.. Bunau-
Vanilla had not even been in Panama since
He charged that the effort to displace
| the Nicaragua canal with the Panama canal
was in the interest of those who wanted
INC canal at all, and Who If they were to
have any canal, wanted the one which
would give the least competition 10 the
: transcontinental railroads. He believed the
Nicaragua canal could be completed IN
/ fifteen years less time than the Panama
canal He would therefore, vote against
the ratification Of the treaty.
.Mr. Plat Supports the Administration.
| Mr.. Patterson closed at s:45, and was
followed by Mr. Plat Connecticut. who
said the assaults upon the President had
been a mystery to him. Often these at
tacks had been In decent English. but some
Of them had been brutal. Mr.. Patterson's
speech had, however, relieved the attacks
J of their mystery for he had shown that
| the purpose was to force the construction
| of the canal via the Nicaragua rather than
the Panama route. Mr.. Carmack had de-
clared the Nicaragua route to be the route
of the democratic party. For himself, ne
was glad that the mystery of the demo-
cratic opposition had been cleared away.
Mr. Platt then entered upon an argu-
| ment in support of the course of the ad-
fnnistrstion in Panama. He declared that
| the democrats lost sight Of the fact that
Panamas independence was an established
| fact, recognized not only by the United
States, but by all the great nations of the
earth. II, then, we have violated inter-
national law, we have done no more than
Great Britain. Germany and France have
done In view or this fact he was sur
Iprised that in their zeal to attack the Pres
EIdent of the United States, senators had
mot seen that they were attacking the other
great powers
| He invited Mr.. Patterson to introduce
resolution directing the President to with
tdraw our ships from isthmian waters. He
did not believe that the Colorado senator
or any other senator would invite such a
test of the question. Going further, did
Mr.. Patterson think that we should assist
fColomHa in again securing control of
Panama? He spoke of the United States
fas the trustee of the commercial nations