The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-06
NELSON And HALE
CLASH ON THE WAR
Minnesota Senator Thinks ia.
pan Would Maintain the
s'Open Door,"

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 5.-There
was an interesting exchange of views in
the senate today between Mr.. Nelson and
MIR. Hale. The Minnesota senator in a
colloquy with Mr.. Patterson concerning
features of the naval appropriation bill
expressed the opinion that there is such
commonalty Of interests on the part of
the United States, Great Britain and ia
pan as to protect China against dismem-
berment. To this statement Mr.. Hale in
charge of the bill, objected sharply, say
ing that the position of the United States
in the present war is that of neutrality.
and that he could not allow to go I'M
challenged any statement in the senate
indicating a national interest in either
Russia Or Japan. Mr. Nelson responded
by saying Mr.. Hale had indicated as great
partially for Russia as he had expressed
for Japan.
The naval bill again occupied practically
all of the time Of the senate, but while
the amendment concerning naval train
ing station on the great lakes was tech
nically the pending question, it was
scarcely mentioned. The discussion to-
day was entirely ON political lines and
was participated in by Messrs. Hale, De-
pew and Nelson, on the Republican side,
and by Messrs. German, Clay, Martin,
Patterson and Bacon on the Democratic
side. Mr.. Martin supported the bill and
Mr.. Morgan, while criticising the too
rapid growth of the navy, said that If he
could do SO he would not at this time
on the eve Of presidential campaign,
change the situation because of the bad
effect of taking the navy into politics.
Senator Nelson's Words.
Mr. Nelson replied to questions by Mr..
Patterson concerning our naval influence
in the East saying that with this coun-
try, Great Britain and Japan all united
in support Of an open door in China, there
was no danger of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
China. All, too were hostile to the alb
sorption of Manchuria. He did not be-
lieve there was any formal alliance. only
mutually of interest.
|, Mr.. Hale protested that this debate was
eXtraneous.
81 don't want the statement of the SEN
ator from Minnesota to go unchallenged."
he said. Il do not agree that there is
today any such common interest between
the United States, Great Britain and
japan on the one side, against Russia.
France and other powers, as his state
ment implies. Our attitude is one of mu-
tuality and so declared by our state de-
partment. We are not against Japan nor
must 1t be said that all our interests are
with her and against Russia and other
continental European powers"
He said that If Japan should be sue
cessful In her present war the United
States would find herself in more danger
in commercial matters from that am
bilious power than any other He (Hale)
considered the Oriental trade as of com
paratively little Importance He was not
in favor of any policy that involved us
In the expense. in the enormous wicked
ness of these wars SO far away from our
own shores
Should Protect Our Commerce
Mr.. Nelson took the floor to reply to
Mr.. Hale, who, he said, had taken him
to task for violating the principles of
neutrality because he had said that our
commercial interests were common to
those of Japan.
And" he went on, Gin the same
breath in which he criticised me, he
called attention to the danger in which
our commerce was from ambitious Japan.
L submit that If there was any violation
of the principles of neutrality on my part
there was an equally marked violation
by him; he violated them as strongly as
I did"
Mr.. Nelson said he had not wanted to
be considered other than neutral In the
far Eastern war. He said, however. that
we should take precautions to protect our
commerce in the Orient and he thought
the navy should be adequate to that
service. Mr.. Nelson declared that there
never had been in the history of japan
anything inimical to the United States
and that country could be depended upon
to maintain the open door,
The house today passed the Indian an
preparation bill after some controversy
relative to provisions affecting tribes in
the Indian territory. An unsuccessful ef-
fort was made by Mr.. Stephens (Texas)
to eliminate the provision for continuing
the Dawes commission another year.
Among the important amendments adopt
ed were those removing restrictions on
the disposition of lands of allottees in the
Indian territory who are not of full In
dian blood and vesting authority In the
secretary of the interior heretofore rest
ing with the Dawes commission in the
matter of the sale of lands belonging to
the Creek Indians.
There was a spirited contest over the
question of TIE maintenance of a ware
house at Omaha. The members of the
Nebraska delegation were opposed by
Mr.. Mann Gllinois), and Mf Sherman
New York;, but the former won their
fight on behalf of Omaha