The Washington times., 1904-01-05
While Republicans Praise,
Democrats Condemn 18TH
milan Policy in Most Bit
ter Terms.
Mr.. G0RMAN ASSAlLS
THE MAIN PROPOSITION
Declares Mr.. Roosevelt
Could Have Turned to
Nicaragua Route Under
Existing Legislation.

Existing Legislation.
The message OF the PrRsident on the
Panama situation, like 81 other mes
sages % the Executive. is praised by his
party friends ana denounced by the op-
position.
Convincing in argument ard calculated
10 silence criticism. is the verdict Of
the Republicans But the Democrats
r.dicUle its reasoning and hold that Co
lombia should have been permitted to
land her troops and attempt TO sup
press the insurrectiou through force.
even II IL did involve bloodshed
President Roosevelt was congratu-
lated from many sources this morning.
Senator Hopkins of Illinois. who was
among the callers. said on leaving the
White House:
1T was a remarkable document 1t
leaves nothing To be said on the subject
IT puts ut rest forever the Insinuution
that this Government connived at the
revolution on the isthmus. II also set
ties the other propositions chat have
been raised.
Senator Hopkins said ne thought the
President was correct IN the assertion
that If the Panama treaty should not be
A1tiAANN- IL MUhlA lAON G- lDSSADle To SO
10 the Nicaragua route He interpreted
this 10 mean that IL would be impossible
TO build the canal over the Nicaraguan
route without furthe. legislation. He
said the message put the Democrats IL
a position where opposition 20 the treaty
meant opposition TO the canal
Representative Grosvenor of Ohio said
the message left nothing further 10 b.
said.
Senator Lodge Approves.
Senator Lodge. who was one Of the
frst callers. also approved it i'm the
heartiest terms.
Representative Lacey of Iowa told tn,
President the message cleared up the
only point on which there was danger
OF criticism This related 70 the quick
ness -with which recognition was ac-
corded Panama.
Senator German. as the leader OF the
Democrats. takes another ground, how
ever. for declining to abandon his fight
against the Administration s policy he
sticks TO the original proposition that
the President, when he found he could
not treat with Colombia. should have
turned at once 10 the Mica rag guam route.
The Presidents Statement in mis- mes
sage thas but three days elapsed be-
tween the failure Of the last hope for
the ratification Of the Hay Herran treaty
by the Colombian congress and the ac-
oomplishment of the revolution on the
isthmus does not satisfy him He
wants TO know why the President saws
that IL IS no longer possible to go TO the
Nicaraguan route as an alternative
Il don't propose. said he. In an in
terview. that the President of the
United States shall. in a dogrnatic way.
decide for hfrrreaff rr~hr h. mill
viii not obey the provisions Of law
which the Congress Of the United States
enacted after many years OF discussion
and after months Of debate
The SpOoner law provided that If the
President is unable TO obtain a salts
factory title TO the New Panama CanaI
Company and the control OF the neces-
sary territory of the republic of Co
lombia. then. after reasonable time. the
President should endeavor TO provide
for a canal by the Nicaragua route
am quoting the law as the President
states IL in his message today, But a
moment later. the President says: 1t
is no longer possible under existing leg
islation. TO go to the Nicaragua route
as an alternative.
German Raises Issue.
THAT is the very point on which I
lihe ISSUE Win the president lie says
IL is no longer possible 10 go To the
Nicaragua route why? Why Is # no
longer possible to go to the Nicaragua
route That Is what we want to know.
Has he ever tried to 60 to the Nicaragua
route as the law directed him 10 dc =
After he failed 20 get the Panama route
from Colombia. did he ever make any
effort TO take ZIP negotiations with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica2 The law
made IL mandatory upon him that hC
should do this Has he done so. or II
he has not, why has he neglected to
obey the law
SO the fight viii go on through many
days Of debate. The Panama Canal
treaty Will be taken up by the Foreign
Relations Committee at its meeting on
"Wednesday. and an effort viii be made
o. have il reported favOrably by the
end OF the week II that is done, much
OF the time Of the Senate for the mex
few weeks viii be spent behind CLOSED
doors debating the treaty IA executive
session.
II is stul the intention o. many Of Tn,
Democrat Is. after criticising the Presi
dent for his methods 20 recognize tha
what has been dOne cannot be undone
and 20 vote with their Republican col