The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-16
Republican Leaders Break News
10 The President
ALTERNATIVE IS SUGGESTED
Resolution May Be Adopted Calling for
More Information on San Do
mIngo Affairs, After Which
Senate VIII Adjourn.

Washington, March 5.-(speciaL)-The
republican senatorial leaders called at the
White House this morning and gently
told the President that his dreams of
peaceful conquest in Santo Domingo had
to be postponed. They said that there
were not enough republican votes to
ratify the treaty and the subject would
have to go over.
President Roosevelt is so used to hear
Ing from the Senate these days that his
recommendation are ito go over" that
the bad news did not effect him as it has
heretofore. The utter disregard with
which his recommendations were treated
In the last Congress, the postponement of
the railroad question and the refusal of
the Senate to ratify the arbitration tre-
aties in the form desired by him have
had the effect of hardening the President.
Expresses His Disappointment.
He expressed his disappointment at his
latest congressional defeat and then one
of the republicans, in order to make the
President feel little better. blamed the
whole failure of the treaty on the wicked
democrats 1t is well understood here
that probably not more tl-an a half dozen
republican senators weer sincerely for the
ratification of the Santo Domingo treaty
and there was really little effort to In
fiuence democratic votes. The repubh-
cans lacked but one or two votes of hav-
ling enough to ratify the treaty without
democratic assistance, but several OF
their men thought 1t more important not
to be in Washington. While the DEM
|. ocrats of the Senate are perfectly willing
to take the blame for the defeat OF the
treaty it is nevertheless true that the re-
publicans have not been In sympathy with
the President and have made little effort
to secure ratification.
German Worked Against It.
Senator German of Maryland, the DEM
ocrat,c leader, has worked hard to bring
about tb3 defeat of the treaty and his
efforts seem to have been crowned with
success.
President Roosevelt may be able to
derive some consolation over his defeat
III the thought that another great war;
rior, failed to rally his side OF the SEN
ate to the treaty providing for the an
rexation of Santo Domingo. President
Grant did not go . the extent that
President I,osevelt has, and send In
special messages on the subject, but he
nevertheless forcibly brought the atten-
tion of the Senate to the matter in sew
eral of his messages and made strong
1 pleas for annexation.
Thinks President Should Withdraw.
| Recognizing that the democrats control
mere than one-third of the votes, and
that two-thirds are required to ratify the
convention, the sentiment of the repub-
Alican leaders is that the treaty should
be withdrawn by the President. On this
)subject the Senate and the President do
not agree, and the idea prevails that af-
ter one or two more days of inconse-
quential discussion the special session
of the Senate will be allowed to adjourn
without date, and the treaty lapse.
But this plan is not popular in the
Senate and way to avoid it is being
sought
One alternative which in the discussion
concerning it, was eermed merely an
excuse for inaction. is that Senator Cul-
lon, as chairman of the committee on
foreign relations, should offer a resolu-
tion directing the President to appoint
a commission to make an investigation
OF the Santo Domingo debt. and other
questions involved in the protocol. This
plan was agreed on tentatively as the
programme most desirable under existing
conditions, especially as it is believed
that such a resolution could be adopted
without debate. No decision was reached
which may not be changed tomorrow,
However and other plans have been sug
gested or are brewing
NewIand3 Offers Resolution.
Senator Newlands offered a resolution
calling on the President to forward to
them certain information believed to be in
possession of the state department in re-
llation to Dominican affairs. The resolu-
Ation was not seriously considered at the
4 time, and Mr.. Newlands' speech advocat-
ing adoption received scant attention.
Later in the day 1t was whispered that
II the resolution was adopted and the
democrats felt that all of the informa-
tion obtainable would be given to them, a
detection of three four democratic
votes might result. This would ratify
the treaty Leaders of the minor party
on the other hand took the position that
no information could be forthcoming
which would change the principle in
volved in the treaty, and that 1t is idle
for the republicans TO hope for aid from
their side of the chamber.
The resolution nevertheless remains un-
disposed of. and there was talk among
republican leaders late in the day Of
adopting 1t. and putting 1t to test
as a vote getter. The debate today was
uniformly interesting. in spite of the fact
that It was broken up by questions from
both sides of the chamber AS in the
preceding discussions. party lines were
drawn The republicans supported the
treaty and the democrats opposed Among
those VINO ldlkeu lot tHe treaty were
Senator's Spooner. Hepburn. Platt Of Con-
recticut. and Fulton, while those who
spoke in oppo. Zion were Senators Nc
Creary, Morgan Culberson, Newlands,
Mallory Clay and Bailey.
spooner Advocates Ratification.
Senator Spooner advocated ratification
mainly on the ground that Santo Domingo
is in the pathway between the United
States and Porto Rico; that the Domini-
can government had asked the United
states to take charge, and that by so
doing this government and insure
peace on an island that is close nelghbor
10 American territory He put 1t on the
grounds of humanity. Opposition was ex-
PRESSED by Senator Newlands. who. how
ever said that he was an expansionist,
but wac not wholly satisfied with condi-
n tons in Santo Domingo, and thought
VI there should be an inquiry before they
il were adjourned. He said that the plan
Il tbr accumulation might include also an
" hquiry with a view Of the annexation OF
the island.