The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-31
DEMOCRATS
HOLD CAUCUS
Esi --------- : . NJ
Devote Three Hours to DISCUS
sion 81 the Panama Canal
85.3 Matter.
NO AGREEMENT G R {: :: REACHED
Majority Favor Notice to Vote
85 Against Treaty Unless It Is
Agreed to Pay Colombia.

fTrrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, u. c., Jan. Ex-senator
Baco1l's resolution providing for aroltra,
Z ton OF the differences beween the United
stntes AMI Colombia In tho Panama Canal
4 controversy was the subject discussed LOT
4 three hours IN the caucus Of Democratic
senators this afternoon Inc caucus ~
y nally adjourned without reaching an
agreement as to the party attitude on INC
resolution, although It was evident from
thu first that majority of tho sena'
tors were in favor of putting the RePup-
,f1lcans on notice that unless such meas
ira was adopted by the Senate the Dem
ocrats would vote against ratification OIL
the treaty with the Republic of Panama
rho resolution aims to have COLOMBIA
satisfied by payment IN cash.
Tho Republican attitude on the guess
ton OF paying Colombia for a quit clhim
deed to her interests In the cana! zone
h Was made known to tho senators IN the
ca,,c,,s. The Republicans, it'll UNDER
stood, have already agreed to satisfy
4 Colombia in this manner, but they pro.
mise to have the canal treaty rat1tied
before they make the deal public. Ihcy
do not propose, it IS said. to let the DEM
ocrats have any credit whatever IN the
canal project.
Ia with the treaty ratified, the Republican
administration can proceed to pay Co
Blombia and then claim 1t was not done
under pressure from the Democrats. me
Democrats, however, were the first 70
+ propose payment for Colombia, Senator
Bacons resolution being the first pubic
y attempt made towards an amtcable ad-
a iustment Of the differences between the
two nations. Senator Hale introduced
Y substitute for Senator Bacon's resoiu-
tion and 1t is believed the Hale resoiu-
ton will be used as the vehicle BY "hlch
the ten millions will be transferred TO
Colombia But Senator Bacon GOT ms
~. LIVELY TILT.
~; During the caucus this afternoon there
was lively passage OF arms between
senators Tillman and Clarke, of Arkan-
Z sac rrillman made q hot speech against
4 The treaty declaring that the whole canal
deal was saturated with fraud from the
u beginning to the end His speech was
q bitter in the extreme. Clarke made
sneech. which was equally raw on the
onnosite side Of the question, and 1t was
q during his argument that the heated col
louuy took place. The controversy was
ended without blows, however. al!housn
Tillman looked daggers at the Arkansas
statesman when the latter said Roose ,,s
& was justified in his actions IN connect'o e y
h VIII, the revolution in Panama.
ii The Bacon resolution came before the
n caucus in the shape Of q resolution pre-
Il scented by Senator German, the caucus
chairman. This resolution seems TO al,
wise the President that 1t IS the duty o.
X our government to seek by every possible
IL effort to reconcile the difference between
4 Panama and Colombia. and to bring ABOUT
Ne the ratification of this treaty with the
IS good will Of both Panama and Colombia.
Senator German asked the Democrats 70
nut the Republicans on notice that TINS
must he done before the treaty would re-
ceiye the votes of the Democrats IN the
Senate. While a clear majority OF tne
senators present favored this move, many
wanted it adopted by the caucus and
presented to the Senate without the ultl-
matum concerning the Democratic vote
During the three hours talk IT was
again clearly developed that thlrty-one
senators could not be secured under
any circumstances to vote against the
treaty. This is the number required to
beat it. All of the Democrats agreed In
the caucus that il they could get the
German resolution adopted In the Senate
they would vote for the ratification OF the
treaty.