Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-18
COLOMBIAN TREATY
HAS SNAIL CHANGE
NOT LIKELY TO RECEIVE AP-
PRovAL BY TWo-THlRDs
OF SENATE.
WILSON AND BRYAN INSIST
ON PRESSING FOR ACTION
Secret Lobby in New York Alton ptins
to Create Sentiment in United States
in Favor Of Ratifeatien-Psrsenal
Attack on Roosevelt Sent Out by
Columbian Emissary.

lombian lobby in New York continues
to put forth its efforts to influence the
American press and congress, Secre-
tary of State Bryan will lay before the
senate foreign relations committee to-
day the moribund Colombian treaty.
thirds of the present membership OF
the senate, will not approve the pro-
posed apology and payment of s25.0o0.-
900 by the United States to Colombia
because Panama seeded and per-
mitted this nation to build the canal.
The Wilson administration will do all
it can to obtain ratification of the
treaty, and it is expected that the dem
ocratic majority of the foreign rela-
tons committee will cause the pro-
posed agreement to be fayorably re-
ported to the senate. There it will meet
its defeat. for it will be opposed by
nearly all of the republicans and pro-
gressives and by some democrats.
Some Ansersd by Lobby.
The failure of the treaty will be due
not only to the extraordinary apology
and payment of hush money proposed,
but to the notorious lobbying methods
employed by the Colombian govern
ment's agents in this country to fur
Their its schemes.
The operations of the lobby will be
aired in the senate during the debate
on the treaty and it is not unlikely that
there will be an investigation and an
effort made TO expel from this country
the Colombian officials who are direct
ing the work.
The attempted lobbying is quite as
"insidious' as the conspiracy to defeat
the administration tariff legislation
which was denounced by President
Wilson. In that case there ensued an
investigation which put a crimp in the
lobbying operations of which the pres
ident complained.
In the case of the Colombian treaty
the lobby is working not against but
in support of an administration pro-
gram. So far there has been no exec
utive denunciation Of this lobby, but
II was said at the White House Tues
day that no complaints had been
lodged there against the operations Of
the Colombian agents.
Will Force an Inquiry.
The effort TO obtain the inquiry will
bS h1dhS oGAOIS thC SSIldtE oG6 AiS SOA
sideration OF the treaty. Senators
Borah and Smith of Michigan, both
members of the foreign relations COM
mittee, have been supplied with copies
Of the literature being sent out to in
f1uence the press and with evidence Of
other lobbying work by the Colombian
representatives. They will submit the
documents to the senate and ask an
investigation.
This anonymous campaign to in
fluence the press of this country to
support this inexcusable treaty is one
Of the most reprehensible schemes that
ever came TO my notice. Senator
Smith said.
Il have received some of this anon
vmous literature" said Senator Lewis.
but the only effect it has had on me,
il any, is to arouse my doubts Of the
desirability Of ratifying this treaty.
The effort to influence the press indi-
Gates the gigantic scope Of the cam
paign to win the approval of the Amer
lean people. Whatever the motive a
stop should be put to such under
ground methods by whomsoever en-
ployed."
inquiry on Eseobar Action.
If the democratic majority OF the
senate should permit an Investigation,
I the first step taken will be an in
quiry into the activities of Francisco
| Escobar. consul general in New York
City. who today admitted he was re-
| sponsihle for much of the publicity
campaign. For several months he has
| been recognized as the directing genius
| of. the Colombian campaign in behalf
Of the treaty in this country.
| Escobar mas sent ont much liter
ature praising the provisions Of the
| proposed agreement and denouncing
| frequently in savage terms, American
| citizens who have opposed the apology
and the money payment to his coun-
try. 2
4. Every senator and every representa-
/ tive in congress recently received from
Escobar a copy of a letter addressed
| to Col. Roosevelt in reply to the former
/ presidents interview characterizine
! the proposed s25.000,000 gift as black
mail Escobar in this communication
fused abusive language concerning MI
Roosevelt, and wound up with plea
| for a return to the golden" traditions
Il