The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-01
MORGAN
 ON SANTO DOMINGO Thinks United States Should
 Change Its Attitude TREATY NEEDS RECASTING Distinguished Alabsmian Says One of Chief Props for Roosevelt's Ar
 eument has Been Knocked
 Out by Morales.
TREATY NEEDS RECASTING

Special to the New Orleans Times Demo-
 erat.
 New York-A special to the Herald from Washington says:
 Senator John T. Morgan of Alabama was asked today to express an opinion on the latest phase of the Santo Do mingo question. He took an advanced po- sition In favor of changing our attitude with reference to the island in favor of a declaration by the United States that the collection of debts by foreign gov ernments in the Western Hemisphere by armed force must cease.
 As senator, feel it my highest duty to contribute in any way in my power toward removing from the government the odium placed upon 1t by the action of the executive department In involving us in unwarranted and indefensible com | plieatons with reference to Santo Do- mingo. replied Senator Morgan. But | confess I can not yet see my way clear to the right method to pursue to bring about that end. Looking to future re- suits, we are brought face to face with serious problems, whichever way we turn"
 What" Senator Morgan was asked, Twill be the fate of the treaty in the 1 light of the present revoluion?" Tn my opinion. the treaty will first be entirely recast to meet the changed con ditions in the black republic. The treaty was amended by the Senate until prac- tically nothing of the original document remained. It has now been sent back to the committee on foreign relations, and it is certain to be practically remade be- fore it is reported to the Senate. l took the liberty of suggesting to MT. Root that the wise policy for the administration to pursue would be to wipe out all that has been done and begin anew, and while MT. Root did not express himself with reference to any suggestion I am sure, there will be many changes in the docu- ment before the Senate Is asked to pass judgment upon it again. What will then be it's fate l do not care to attempt to prophecy.
 Props Knocked Out.
 "It seems as if one of the chief props upon which the President built his argu- ment for ratification of the treaty has been knocked from under it by the ac- tion of President Morales himself in up- setting the status which we are told was so altogether desirable and were so elo- quently urged to preserve. There would be considerable difficulty involved in any attempt to obtain support for the treaty by argument based upon the desirability of maintaining the present status.
 "The first great mistake" continued Senator Morgan, Twas made when the eX- ecutive branch of the government under took to inject this government into the affairs of Santo Domingo without so much as consulting Congress. Once in that mess, 1t will be exceedingly difficult to get out of 1t. As I have said, l can not now say what, in my judgment would be the best way to accomplish the de- sired result. What this government should have done in regard to the claims of it's citizens against Santo Domingo was to have stuck to the traditional American policy, which is that the government shall not permit itself to be used as a collec- ton agency.
 How Government Should Stand. "The United States should stand square ly for the principle that no government shall use it's governmental machinery for the purpose of collecting claims of it's citizens growing out of contracts with other governments.
 "I can think of no more important duty for the United States government to per form than to use its influence to put a stop te the practice of turning govern ments into collection agencies to further the interests of individuals. We are strong enough to take an advanced position on this question. If the Monroe doctrine is to be supplemented in any way it should be by declaring in uncertain terms that collection of debts by armed force upon this hemisphere must cease And we should lead the way toward the recognl- ton of that principle the world over.'