The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-17
HOT DEBATE IN SENATE.
Lodge and Smith Lock Horns aud
Tiilman Refers to His Fight With
McLaurin.

Washington, Feb. 9.-The Cana
dian boundary waterways treaty had
anything but smooth sailing when it
was taken up in executive session of
the senate today.
Senator William Alden Smith, of
Michigan, locked horns with Senator
Lodge, of Massachusetts,, who had in
tlmated that the Michigan senator did
not understand the provisions of the
treaty.
Soon after the doors were closed.
and 1T became so apparent that the
nomination of w. d. Crum, colored.
to be collector of customs at Charles
ton, S. c., could not be confirmed that
Senator Frye withdrew it, the Cana
dian treaty was taken up.
Senator Smith asserted that the
treaty had not been prepared by
former Secretary. Root but that it
was the work of Chanler Anderson. a
New York lawyer, who had been en-
gagged by the state department on va
rious occasions in connection with the
treaties affecting the relations of this
country and Canada Mr.. Smith inti-
mated that Mr.. Anderson was too
close to the interests which control
power rights at Niagara Falls, and
declared that the whole treaty was
prepared for the purpose of quieting
the titles of New York corporations
to those rights.
The references by Mr.. Smith to Mr..
Anderson and former Secretary Root
displeased Mr.. Lodge, and he de-
manded Of Mr.. Smith to know where
he had obtained the information con-
corning the authorship Of the treaty
Mr.. Smith said that he had been told
by Anderson himself that he had
drafted the convention. Mr.. Lodge
took Mr.. Smith to task for quoting
private conversation with a gentle
man in his absence.
Very WELL" responded Mr.. Smith,
then I will attribute the statement
to the senator from Massachusetts,
who told me the same thing"
Mr.. Lodge asserted that Mr.. Smith
had misunderstood utterly what he
had said to him. and when Mr.. Smith
insisted that he had not, the two sem
ators exchanged some sharp COM
ments upon each others understand
ing of a recent conversation. Mr.
Smith declared that he would not
handy epithets" with the senator
from Massachusetts,, but that as long
as he lived he would consider that
Mr.. Lodge had acted unfairly in the
matter. Turning directly to Mr..
Lodge and declaring in a way that
amused his colleagues, Mr. Smith told
the Massachusetts, senator that he did
not like his looks. his scowl, nor his
irritating manner. Other members
present enjoyed the debate hugely.
Senator Tillman interrupted to re-
mark that he hoped Massachusetts
and Michigan would clinch, but that
he supposed there were "too many
centuries of culture in the Massachu-
setts member to permit Of anything
so commonplace"
IF they would only get together"
said Mr.. Tillman, referring to his en-
counter in the senate a few years ago
with his then colleague, Mr.. McLaur-
in, ut would detract from one chap
ter Of my history, which 1 should like
to put behind me-"
After long debate members of the
foreign relations committee suggested
that they be permitted to again take
up the consideration Of the treaty and
to hear such persons, including Sem
ator Smith, as desired to make state
ments in regard to the objections
raised against it. The treaty was not
recommitted. but consideration was
postponed until next Monday, and in
the meantime a hearing will probably