The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-13
TREATY FIGHT IS
SEWAIE'S PLOT TO
BLOCK RATE BILL
DRASTIC REBUKE
FOR ROOSEVELT
Elder Statesmen on High Horses
Situation as to Arbitration
Intense.
New York Sun Special Service.

Ne" xork Sun Special Service
Washington, Feb. 13.-Other presi-
dents have had pet projects squelched
by the senate, but no president in this
generation, the wise men of the upper
house say, has ever been rebuked as
President Roosevelt was Saturday, in
the amendment of the arbitration trea-
ties. That rebuke was drastic, historic,
caloric.
Many features are now manifest that
serve to emphasize the firm determina-
ton Of the senate to teach the presi-
preceding the final vote are described as
the most dramatic in the memory of
those who have been senators for TWEEN
ty years. The intensity Of feeling, the
earnestness of speech, the unanimity of
sentiment have not prevailed on any
similar proposition since the war.
The criticism and censure of the presi
dent was absolutely non--partizan. While
all the democrats voted to amend the
treaties, all the republicans, but nine,
did the same thing. There were no
apparent differences in the manner of
expression of convictions that the presi-
| dent was taking away the constitutional
rights Of the senate.
Presidents Friends Against Him.
The action of Senators Lodge, Spoon
L
president, and his spokesman in the
senate, attracted unusual attention.
| These men stand higher today in the
| estimation Of their associates than at
any previous time. All three recited
| the friendship they feel for the presi-
dent. They told Of their kindly rela-
tions. All expressed keen regret that
their oaths and consciences would not
permit them to sustain the president In
| inn rooffnr
especially dramatic when he declared
that under his oath he could not vote in
accordance with the president 8 wishes,
at the same time speaking with sincere
regret of the affection which under Or
binary circumstances would dictate that
he act otherwise.
santo Domingo Not Involved.
It is said today by those in close
touch with all public events that the
agreement for the protection Of Santo
Domingo and the supervision Of that re-
public IS finances had no effect on the
amending of the arbitration treaties.
The question of Santo Domingo was
I eliminated from the situation and left
for future discussion when the promised
treaty reaches the senate. THE issue
was based squarely on the prerogatlves
of the senate and nothing else.
The letter Of the president to Senator
Cullom finally decided many wavering
senators to vote for the proposed amend,
ment changing the word "agreement - =
to "treaty.' The tone and nature OF
the letter was distasteful to senator's
There was much criticism on the fact
that it was addressed to Mr.. Cullom
and not to the senate as body. Ii the
letter had been sent to the senate as
regular formal communication there
would have been no criticism Of the act
| All senators recognize the right OF the
president to address letter or message
to the senate. He has the privilege OF
entering the senate and addressing that
body if he sees flt., Washington, Wn 11sn
president, pursued that course, al'ho
The View of Senators.
It was the Judgment of senators that
the president insisted on the wore
AGREEMENT because, under the trea'
ties he proposed to make such com
pacts with forei gn powers powers, as ne con- on
sidered proper or beneficial: IN each
instance he would say that he had the
! authority Of the senate to make agree
ments. it having been conferred by
The ratification Of the arbitration con
ventions. He would then declare that
he could make such treaties as he de-
sired. calling them agreements. Sen
ators believed that treaty is con
tract between one government and an
other, and that each should be submit
ted to the. senate before 1t becomes CT
fective.
Effect of the Rebuke.
There is division Of sentiment as
to the future effect Of the rebuke ad
ministered to the president. Lodge
Foraker and Spooner should easily be
able to make their peace with the pres
ident, simply saying that they actee
entirely on their convictions. The pres
ident, in the opinion Of most senators
is bound to accept this statement.
There are some who think 1t possible
the president may learn the lesson SET
before him. These hope he will mo-
: again seek to make compaots without
consulting the senate.
It is the general opinion Of senators
that the i'll feeling existing between
themselves and the president will either
grow or diminish according to the flu
!: ture policy Of the chief executive. Il
he should give out another letter, the
: situation will become acute and seri
|: GUS. He can modify the bitterness pre-
vailing by desisting from further in
: reference and by smoothing out thu
!: unpleasantness resulting from the com
munication already written.
: Situation Is Critical.
!: The action in the senate means mucl
: and it's effects will not pass away in {
!: day. The present situation is charac
: terized by all as critical and intense.
The senate having amended the ar
filtration treaties, they will tomorrow
: be forwarded to the state department
!: in the usual course of time. It is no
within the power of the president t.
! withdraw them. He could have don,
: so before the final vote in the senate
: but it is now too late.
!: He can refuse to submit them to thu
various interested nations for concur
: renee in the senate amendment, ant
: this probably will be his course. HI
:: indicates in his letter that he will per
5 nit them to die.
The vote of rebuke would have beer
|: materially increased had not many sen
: ators insisted on respecting their gen
!: eral pairs. At least five senators re
!: Trained from voting to amend the ar
: bitration treaties, altho it was wei
!: known that the senators with whom
!: they were paired entertained exactly
the same views on the question.
!: The criticism Of the presidents let
ter to Mr.. Cullom, which cost tn,