The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-16
DANGEROUS
DOCTRINE.
Mr~Teller Says the Presidents
Argument Is Simply That
Might Makes Right.
cHApp cOIInnllY& IN SENATE.
SHARP CoLLoQUY IN SENATE.
Mr.. Spooner Interrupts Colorado
Senator, But Gets as Good a
Shot as He Sends.
,(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press.) u
WASHINGTON d. c.. Jan. Tito
days session OF the Senate began with
the passage OF a number OF bills on
the calendar and closed in like manner.
The intervening time was given over to
speech by Mr.. Teller on the Panama
Canal question, which was devoted to
the contention that the course Of the
President, In connection with the, recent
revolt OF Panama. had been contrary TO
precedent, and, IN contraventlon Of In.
ternational law. % s
In the course Of his remarks. Mr..
Teller referred to Mr.. Humans char
acterization OF the situation on the 18TH
mus, and the latter interrupted to cay
that he had been misunderstood. and de-
sired to explain He said he had meant
to say that 1t would have been prefer
able for the United States to tell Co
lomblal to get off the Isthinus entirely
than for us to pursue there the meth
DDS oftthe sneak thief and maintain the
attitude OF bully"
III response to a suggestion made BY
Mr.. Teller. Mr.. spooner interrupted to
say that BY the treaty OF 1916 Colombia
was bound to maintain the perpetual
right OF the United States to passage
across the 1sthmus, and he argued that
that right remains even though Colon
bia does not stand behind It..
81 is UNDECIDED.
Mr.. Teller asked for an opinion from
the Wisconsin senator concerning the
new theory OF International eminent do
main" and the latter replied that he
had not yet been able to give his assent
to that doctrine" That doctrine, as he
understood it, meant that when weak
nation had what Il strong nation needed,
the latter might cake It by means OF
arms. II necessary. Yet 1t must be re-
mernpered that right OF way OF one land
owner over land owned BY another per-
son, is a right recognized by the world.
''If," he said, there Is doctrine OF
the private way Of necessity. are we TO
say that there is not an international
way of necessity where the Interest OF
the world is concerned?"
There we're other interruptions. to
which Mr.. spooner referred and this
brought out the remark by Mr.. Tillman
that 1T requires great many doctors
70 bring about the birth of this baby.
''I'll try to take care OF my own
babies" responded Mr. Spooner, ''and
when can't do that, will ask some
memb Der OF my own family to do So.
The colloquy caused general outouIst
OF laughter. After it had subsidized, Mr..
Spooner continued his statement saying,
that he was willing to confess that he,
had not reached a conclusion In his own
mind. II am not willing to concede the
right OF international eminent domain,
but I can't find 1t in my heart to deny
it,
SHARP TILT, FL
Mr., Teller took issue with tho Presi-
dents declaration that the course pur-
sued In panama had been In the Interest
OF ."collectiye civlization."rh That, he said,
was dangerous doctrine, and was just
such a doctrine ns Russia might appeal
to IL she should attempt to crush japan.
The doctrine was not American; It was
contrary to all the best traditions OF
this country. It was the doctrine that
might makes right. He discussed the
government OF Panama, declaring It to
be unrepublican in form. and was In
terrupted by Mr. spooner, who said that
1t lad been a "mooted question rs TO
whether there Is a Republican form OF
government In Colorado"
"If," responded Mr.. Teller, there IS
rot a Republican form OF government In
Colorado there is a Republican admin
1stration there"
The Senate adjourned until Monday.