The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-12-20
BOTH PARTIES STAND FOR ABRo-
CATION OF AGREEMENT, BUT
TAKE DIFFERENT VIEWS,
Hepburn Plans to Criticise Senate for
"Hasty Action"-President Will Be
Supported in His Action - Senator
Rayner Makes Speech.

Washington, Dec. 19.-The senate
was in session late today paving the
way toward ratification of President
Taft's action in abrogating the Rus
sian treaty of 1882. Many senators
were prepared with speeches and it
became evident after two hours of the
sitting that a vote might not be
reached until late hour tonight.
Senator Rayner inaugurated the de-
bate with speech he had prepared
yesterday and which sharply criticised
Russia. He was interrupted many
times. Senator Lodge followed in sup
port OF the resolution of ratification,
which he reported yesterday from the
foreign relations committee.
Mr. Rayner said he knew of no in
stance in which an American Jew,
whether Russian born, or not, had
been given official permission to visit
Russia. Il do not say, however, -
he said, that enough influence might
not be brought to bear to obtain ad-
mission to the Russian realm" He
said it was not Russian consul's
business what a mans religion was,
and added amid laughter that he knew
of mo reason why anyone should want
to visit Russia nayhow."
Senator Lodge urged avoidance of
any words that would inflame and ad-
vocated action that would make the
United States position impregnable
and forever stop "the determinations
against any of our citizens"
Senator Smith, of Maryland, then
spoke urging immediate action.
The senate today apparently was
disposed to accept gracefully the
action of the president in forestalling
it in abrogating the Russian treaty
of 1882. At least, that was the atti-
tude of majority of the members
of The committee on foreign relations
Others, however, advanced the argu-
lment that the president in taking the
matter out of the hands of congress,
encroached upon the prerogatives of
the senate. AS a result of this it
was expected that today's session of
the upper house of congress not only
would be lengthy one, but that there
would be much bitter exchange in de-
bate.
Politics is playing large part in
the senate deliberations. Leaders of
both parties are striving to reap from
the situation as much political advan-
tage as they can and rivalry is keen.
The democrats are charging that the
republicans are seeking "to steal
democratic thunder while the repub-
licans are maintaining that a repub-
lican president and senate pulled the
democratic house out of an interna-
tional muddle that might have caused
serious complications.
Both parties, however, are awake to
to the probable effect the abrogation
of the treaty may have on American
commerce. While they are battling
for political advantage they are to-
gether on the campaign to devise
some means of protecting the impor-
tant trade relations existing between
Russia and the United States.
Agreement between the VITO houses
is expected. Representative Sulzer,
author of the house resolution, has
expressed his willingness to accept
the senate resolution, and with this
spirit of concession the matter will
be definitely settled after certain SEN
ators have had opportunity to air
hAs,