Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-19
A PLAIN PROPOSITION
Which Confronts Republican
Senate Managers.
BLACKBURN AMENDMENT
To the Foraker Brownsville Resolu-
ton to Be Laid on Table.
INDIFFERENCE TO ITS FATE
President Roosevelt's Feeling Toward
the Amendment, Which He Will
Probably State.

The republican managers in the Senate,
while admitting embarrassment over the
Blackburn amendment to the Foraker
Brownsville resolution, do not propose to be
bushwhacked by the democrats into a posi-
ton which, by agreement among them
selves, they have but recently abandoned as
undesirable The majority Of the republic
cans will vote to lay on the table the Black
burn resolution. If a minority of republic
can senators choose to train with the demo-
Gratis upon this raiding political expedition,
merely to crafty President Roosevelt, 1T is
contended that it will be the minority who
are splitting the party, and not the major
ity.
The republican managers who are deal
ing with the difficult problem now presented
by skilful democratic maneuvering are
keeping before them this one plain propo-
sition, upon which they propose to act con-
sistently, namely:
A Plain Proposition.
That the republicans had agreed among
themselves upon the inadvisability of af
firming the question of the constitutionality
of the Presidents action in the Browns
vile affair. Senator Lodge had endeavored
to PREJUDICE the proposed Foraker investi-
cation with an affirmation of the Presi-
dents constitutional right to do what he
did. Senator Lodge was informed that he
could not secure the Endorsement of the
majority of his party to that proposition,
framed as it was. Senator Lodge finally
acquiesced, and perfect understanding had
been reached to proceed with the invstiga-
ton without touching for the present the
question of constitutionality- Of the Presi-
dents act.
In this situation, the republican managers
hey n limo fJ,n
Blackburn amendment a bit of political
buncombe pure and simple, designed not to
pass upon any great constitutional ques-
ton involved, but to embarraSS the repub-
lican majority In the Senate. The mana gers
contend that all republicans will be justified
in voting to lay on the able the Blackburn
amendment, without thereby rejecting upon
the President or Stultifying themselves. They
insist that the parliamentary situation re-
lieves the Blackburn amendment of the
character of being the vehicle of a test of
sentiment on the constitutional point in
volved.
The republican managers point out that
in voting to table the amendment the charge
of qualification cannot be raised against
those senators who believe with Senator
Lodge, because there had been harmonious
agreement among all the republicans that
it was not expedient to press the constitu-
tional issue at this time. They say that as
it was not qualification for Senator Lodge
and IS followers to yield their contention
in that agreement, neither would 1t be If
they should refuse to indorse the demo-
cratic affirmation at this time. The whole
question is one of orderly parliamentary
procedure, they say, and of the mainte-
nance of party accord in fulfilling the re-
sponsiblites of the dominant party in the
Senate.
Indifference to Its Fate.
The party managers believe that Pres-
dent Roosevelt will communicate to the re-
publicans who have intimated they would
vote for the Blackburn amendment his in
difference to the fate of that amendment.
He has expressed the opinion that this dis
missa of the troops is none of the business
of Congress. and declared his intention to
ignore the action of Congress in the event
of restoration.
1t is suggested by some republicans in the
Senate that now would be a good time for
the President to tell those senators who
have intimated their favor for the Black
burn amendment that he does not require
them to leave their party utilization and join
in questionable democratic raid, in order