The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-04
Roosevelt Might Purchase
Treaty Ratification by
Yielding Elsewhere. 49,
Executive Will Not Give in,
but May Hold Congress
All Summer.
BY w. w. Jernane.

Nv = ASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-Sena-
NV tor German, one of the SEN
ate's leading opponents of
rate legislation, feels particularly hap
py tonight, for the senate democrats
today, by vote of 20 to 4, decided to
adopt the two-thirds rule and to read
out Of the party any democrat who
violates that rule by voting to ratify
the Santo Domingo treaty
Patterson of Colorado will be thus
read out; but this is not important, as
it is understood he will not be can
didate for another term. II ss.sgsa
McEnery of Louisiana announced re-
Gently that he would vote for the treaty,
but the caucus action today may bring
him into camp. Similarly, Clark OF
Arkansas may also feel unwilling to;
barter his party standing for a vote
for republican policy. l., -
The action Of the democratic sena
tors makes things look somewhat less
! bright for the treaty than they have
4 looked heretofore. There are still pub
] lie men who think the treaty will be
] ratified, but they are unable to name
3 the four democrats whose votes will be
needed for ratification; ys,~as=-, p.
Senator Bailey ef~Fexas,- who man
aged the caucus today, in the absence
4 of German, who: stayed away on the
s plea of illness, openly predicts that the
s treaty cannot now be ratified, and it
4 begins to look as if he might prove a
true prophet.
Il Fate of the Treaty.
The fate of the treaty will be known
s. very soon now, for, if there are any
democrats who propose to stand with
s. Patterson, they will be quickly smoked
out, owing to today's caucus action.
The president, it should be noted
has not abandoned hope, but it is sale
a that he is tonight speaking somewhat
more softly about ratification than he
81 did at earlier stages of the proceed
81 ings.
"a At the bottom of the trouble is the
81 irreconcilable difference over rate legis
Z lation. The senatorial opposition l!
i willing to pass measure, but as con
1 dition precedent, insists that it shall
81 be regulation measure that will no
4 regulate If the president would &C
cept these terms he could soon have
bill sent to the White House; digni
fed and solemn-looking act, of man.
pages of technical phrase and legal Gil
I cumlocution, that would be absolute ell
worthless.
4 The senate is willing to give tn
+ president the form, but it insists o
& Withholding the substance. To this tn
| president will not consent. 49,
To Pry President Loose.
rs rSanto Domingo, statehood, even Phi
So ippine tariff, are secondary; they al
|H being used as fulcra from which
81 operate the levers Of unanimous COZ
s sent and unlimited debate, In the etfo
ia 10 pry the president from his position
+ The president has made plain tn;
ae, too, recognizes the rate question
# paramount. He has threatened,
|# legislation seems likely to fail, to kee
IL congress- in session all summer, and tt
/ house leaders have said they wou]
Is stand by him in that matter. FL
rs house would, in fact, suffer far mo-
|H from prolonged session than the Sc
nj ate. because house members want to s
81 home and look after their fences, viii
only few senator's have serious il
mediate concern about doings at HON
It is hard on the house, which has be-
good, to suffer for the sins of the Sc
ate: but it is no harder on the hou
II than on the country, which wants leg
81 lation that is being opposed.
This contest, if it shall go to t
lengths which now seems possible, m
bring the great test of the senate
responsibilities to public opinion.
lH Back of the president is public op
ion. He stands as it's representa-
and agent. Public opiuion has ha
Il m, OIL Pa0p fth Column