The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-13
SENATOR RAYNER OF MARYLAND
FIRES FIRST GUN IN SENATE
TODAY-NO WAR.
FEELING TOUCHES JAPANESE
And SatiricaIly Alludes to the Island
Of Guam Used as a Gable Base,
Which Would Not Bring $3.50 on
Any Market in the Wide World.

Washington, April 13.-The first ex-
preston in congress concerning the
situation on the Mexican border was
heard today when Senator Rayner Of
Maryland addressed the senate on
that subject. Although a democrat,
Mr.. Rayner spoke in confidence of the
attitude of President Taft and eX-
pressed the opinion that there would
be no war with either Mexico or ia
pan.
While he did not so express himself
in exact terms, it was evident that
Mr.. Rayner had in mind the reports
that Japan Is exerting herself to pro-
cure a coaling station on the Pacific
coast of Mexico. He said:
81 am willing to admit that If ia
pan is entering into negotiations for
coaling stations and bases for naval
supplies for military purposes with
Mexico, We are entitled to know what
these negotiations are. Congress, is
however, without any information or
evidence on the subject. This coun-
try would not ordinarily be entitled to
know the secret treaties or alliances
that other countries lake, but on the
part of Mexico we would unquestion-
ably be entitled to an explanation"
He added that he had no fear that
history may repeat itself or that any
government would attempt to initiate
the example Of Napoleon Ill, who
through false pretenses, and subter-
fuges sent an Austrian archduke to
Mexican throne simply to abandon
him afterwards to despair and death"
He was confident that Japan does not
seek war with the United States and
declared there could be no cause for
hostitlities between the two coun-
tries.
Discrediting the report that Japan
might desire to take surreptitioous
possession of the island Of Guam,
cable station, he declared that if such
was the purpose it could not be 5usti-
fed by international law. He found
in Guam usefulness only as a cable
base and, speaking sarcastically Of
the island, said:
Guam is a charming spot and one
of the most lustrious and brilliant
jewels in our oriental galaxy. Its
principal products are vipers, snakes,
lizards, wild wine, rats, and castor oil,
and if the islands were put up at auc-
ton today, with all of the inhabitants
in it. beyond its value as a military
post, it would not bring a dollar and
a half in any of the markets Of the
world"
Much of the Maryland senator's
speech was devoted to the contention
that the Monroe doctrine is not in
volved in the Mexican situation.
Quoting authorities to show that the
original Monroeism looked only to the
prevention of the establishment OF
new monarchial institutions in the
western hemisphere, he sought to dis
credit the position in relation to the
collection OF claims against western
nations taken during the Roosevelt
odr,ipi G tration in tho Santo Domingo
controversy. This he characterized as
the Roosevelt doctrine" rather than
the Monroe doctrine. He said in part:
Let us look for a moment at what
sort of wars We would have If the
Roosevelt construction OF the Monroe
doctrine was to prevail and was to be
incorporated into our diplomatic code.
We would have one interminable sue