Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-24
PreIiminaries in Way of
Canal Are Dis
posed of.
WORK TO BE RUSHED
Dispatching of Troops
to Isthmus Sig
nificant.

Washington, Feb. 24.-The ratifica-
tion Of the Panama canal treaty by
the senate yesterday was a foregone
conclusion, the chief interest center
ing in the manner in which the demo-
cratic members would divide on the
subject. On the vote it was found
that II democrats were for and II
against. Two democrats were paired
for it and three against it.
Democrats Who Voted Aye.
The Democrats who were present
and voted for the treaty were: Bacon.
Berry, Clarke of Arkansas. Clay, Cock
rell, Foster of Louisiana, Gibson, Lati-
mer. McCreary, McEnery, Mallory,
Money, Simmons and Taliaferro. The
only other vote was on the amendment
offered by Bacon providing for an ar
rangement to compensate Colombia for
loss of the territory of Panama. This
was rejected by vote of 81 to 10.
1t was Il party vote on the affirmative
side and also Oh the negative side, with
the exception of Gibson and McEnery,
Democrats, who voted with the Re
publicans.
CuIbertson Heads IA Roosevelt Letter.
During the final debate CulbersOn
made comments on the secret CORE
spOndence. and asserted that il showed
that the 'reasonable time referred to
in the SpOoner act was known to have
expired, both for negotiating the Hay
HeTran treaty and its ratification. Cul-
b1son read from letter addressed TO
DR.. Albert Shaw by the president,
dated Oct. 10, 1903, in which the presi-
dent said he saw no hope for any nego-
tiation with Colombia. and that he
would be delighted should Il revolution
occur on the isthmus.
VIII Begin to Scratch Dirt"
Everything = ready fOr TIE speedy
cInsumma ton of the treaty. and both
G'e war and state departments have
made preparations for the TeXt step,
the former by the dispatch OF troops
To the iSthmus and the latter by the
complstiOn or arrangements for the ex-
change of TatiticatiOns of the treaty,
which must take place in Washington.
There is no reason why this ceremony
should not occur Immediately.
The administration intends To press
the canal project by all proper meth
Ods. As a cabinet officer expressed il
the next step after the appointment
of the commission will be Ito scratch
dirt" and already such members of
the commission as are assured of their
places. like Admiral Walker and Major
General Davis, have been giving some
attention To the provision of the cleri-
cal force and the engagement of en-
Eineering talent to conduct the actual
work of canal digging.
Troops Are Ords red.
United States troops have been or
dered To the isthmus. Orders have
been issued by the war department Ill
Vpctine the Third United States in
santry. stationed at Fort Thomas. Ky:
Fort Sheridan. H., and Columbus, o..
barracks. to prepare immediately for
such duty. The soldiers will sail from
New York within Il few days. The
war department has in the past Strenu-
ouSly denied reports that il intended
to send troops 10 the iSthmus. but il
Is now explained that the statement
only applied to conditions as they eX-
listed before the United States acquired
vested rights there.
The thousand marines now on the
iSthmus will he taken to- GulrataTamo
as rapidly as their places can he filled
10y the troops 1t is intcnted that an
adequate force OF marines shall lee
kept mt Guantanamo in case of prob
able emergencies. Especially is il de
sired that there shall he a sufficient
force there for the government to call
upon if it should undertake TO execute
a drastic programme in San Domingo.