The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-28
PRESIDENT LACKS
CALM JUDGMENT
Senator Simmons Scores
Roosevelt For Methods.
STANDS FOR CANAL TREATY
CITIZENS OF PORTO RICO AND
PHILIPPINES WANT TO VOTE.

tkIASHINGTON. Jan. 27.-The senate
w proceedings today included a
speech by Mr.. Simmogs ~. ca.
N supported the Panama canal treaty.
and the passage Of number Of bills
and resolutions Mr.. simmons was the
first Democrats senator 10 favor The
measure OF the floor OF the senate.
In the course Of his remarks OH the
Panama canal treaty, Mr. Simmons
said, in referring 10 the president:
There is much i'm his conduct in
these connections of which 1 disap-
prove, which I regard as improvident
and unwise; as rash and dangerous 10
the peace and welfare Of this country.
as contrary To the traditional policy Of
this government IN its dealings with
other nations, especially those on this
hemisphere ana not calculated To ad-
vance us in the affections and esteem
or other nations [ 40 rot think. how
ever. that everything the president did.
- tins connection was wrong From tho
notion of my heart I would be glad
Tor the honor Of my country if / cOuli
reconcile all Of his acts i'm this come
ton with my notions of right and law
self 1 am bound to say. ard 1 have
no pleasure in saying it, that the course
or the president both III connection with
the revolution in Panama and the rec
ognition of its independence was, TO say
the least, hasty, rash and dangerous TO
the peace Of many Of his political
friends, as we'll as his political OppO-
nents that he lacks that conservatism
which considerations of national sta
bility and safety make necessary ana
desirable in the chief executive of the
nation
Mr.. Simmons Said he believed that the
president and the secretary Of state
should be relieved of OH charge or com
piiCfty in the Panama revolt
He declared that he did not believe
that the possession of information con-
Cernlng an approaching revolution
should be accepted as discrediting the
statement Of the PRESIDENT and added.
IN entire Difference 10 the views of
others on this SIDE IF the chamber who
may differ with me in this opinion. I
think that the statement Of the presi-
dent in this case should be accepted
Undoubtedly the president knew OF
forthcoming revolution iH Panama. 1t
was his duty. in view of imminent in
surrection. 10 have on the ground a
Fuff1cieut force 10 protect he lives and
property of American citizens. This
he did, and if he had core no more than
this he would have done no more than
his duty under the law"
Honest Change of Heart
Mr.. simmons announced his belief
that the change Of recommendation By
the isthmian canal cC mmission from
the Nicaraguan TO the Panama route
had been the result Of honest convic-
ton. He also accepted the SpoOuer act
as deliberate pronoUncement By con-
gress in favor Of Panama and a direc-
ti0n TO the president TO construct the
canal by that route "if possible 10 ac-
Quire the title in a reasonable time.
Interpreting the phTa &c reasonable
time on broad principles he did not
believe that there was any lapse of
reasonable time which would have made
Il the presidents duty 10 turn TO the
alternative route designated in the
statutes. He continued: 1T is Vehe-
mently asserted by some of the oppo-
nents Of this treaty that Q vote FOR its
ratification. under the circumstance.
is -tantamouut to condoniug the action
of the administration both as TO the
revolution and TO the recognition. IF 7
thought that, as favorably AS I regard
this treaty, q s deeply important TO US
as is the immediate construction of
the canal, I do not think / could vote
for II. join my colleagues on this side
of the chamber i'm c0ndemning what
ever wrong the president and the ad-
iuiEistration may have done in cOnnec-
ton with bringing about the indepen-
dcnce Of Panama. but in my vote on the
treaty / purpCse 10 recognize and act
Oh the fact that Panama is an indie
pendent state. possessed of equal rights
and powers 10 make this treaty as we
ours elves possess not only with our
consent but the practically unanimous
n1l Of
world"
Mr.. Simmons also announced his in
teuti0n 10 vote for the various resolu-
tiOns Of inquiry, and closed with the ex-
precision OF a desire that Colombia
might he compensated for her loss.
Citizenship For Islanders.
Considerable discussion followed Of a
bin providing means for citizens Of
Porto Rico and the Philippines TO be-
come citizens Of the United States The
fact WAS developed that citizens OF Por-
20 Rico. the Philippines and other
countries similarly situated with refer
ence to the United STATES have no
means of becoming naturalzed as Cit-
i7ens of the Unitedf States. and are
therefore in that respect worse off than
the people OF other countries. Mr.. Pet
tus during the debate, suggested that
the island Of Porto Rico should be made
a territory. and Mr. Foraker said he
had not ar much objection 20 a meas
ure with that end in view as some OF
his collea CUES. The bill was passed,
but Ar. Spooner entered d motion 10 re-
consider. which went over
The following bills were passed:
Authorizing the secretary of the in
terror to- restore 10 public entry lands
embraced ir segregati0ns for reservoirs
Authorizing the recorder of the general
land office TO issue certified copies of
patents records. etc.
Extending 20 the minis at Denver,
san Francisco and New orleans the
privilege Of coming minor coins
Establishing a life-saVing station 1t
Nome Alaska.
Granting 1000 acres of public land
each in the states Of Idaho ana Wyo-
ming for the maintenance OF soldiers