Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-16
NO CLOSED DOORS.
CONTINUED from Page One.>

We're public things might be said of
character likely to embarrass the
relations of the government with the
European powers party to the treat
les.
Senator Smith of Michigan took the
lead in demanding that the debate be
open to the public. He wanted to know
why il was that if foreign relations
of the United States were of such
delicate moment officials of the state
department should show less restraint
than senators, and why President
Taft felt free to go from one end of
the country TO the other discussing
as he saw fit the treaties and the at
titude of the Senate concerning them.
II was argued by Senator Smith that
the Senate might have very good rea-
sons for insisting that the form of the
treaties be changed and that the pub
lie should be given the reasons. lie
said that if it had not been for the
opposition in the Senate the power of
confirming the personnel of commits
sions to determine what disputes were
arbitrable, would have been sacrificed
by that body. Senator Smith urged
that senators from states bordering
upon Canada should consider carefully
whether they desired future eontro-
versies which might arise between
such states and this English depend
ency referred to commission that
might be composed entirely of aliens.
He recited the language of the treaty
with Great Britain to the effect that
if the two countries could not agree
as to whether a dispute was arbitrable
that question should be decided by a
commission composed of three citi-
Zens from each country or otherwise
He said that under this language
President Taft and King George could
submit any controversy of whatever
character TO the King of Belgium TO
arbitrate and a member of the Senate
could not stand up against it.
Senator Lodge called attention to
his resolution enumerating some of the
questions that We're to be regarded as
within the scope Of the treaty
Everybody wants peace" replied
Senator Smith, but if matters of Wit
al interest and national honor are not
to be subjects of arbitration under
this agreement not a soldier will be
discharged or a battleship dismantled.
Senator Smith said the limitation
made The treaties hyprocricy, and
necessarily limited the force of the
treaties to questions of smaller con-
Germ over which no country would go
to war. He said that such questions
could be settled as easily by special
treaties or arbitration as by d general
declaration which does not mean as
much as its language would seem to
indicate in the way of promoting
peace and concord He condemned
Article 8, which invokes the aid of an
international commission whose only
function, he said. would be to embar-
rass the parties to a treaty in the eyes
of the world if they failed to give eff
feet to special finding.
After the debate had gone on for
some time, chiefly between Senators
Lodge and McCumber on one hand
and Senator Smith, Cummins and
viding for open sessions was offered
by Senator Gallinger, and it was
adopted by vote Of So to s. When the
doors We're re-opened Lodge wanted
TO proceed with the treaties, but the
Senate would not consent The Massa-
chasetts senator announced that he
would press them again, tomorrow.
and Rayner said that he would be
ready to speak.