Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-04-16
TEDDY LIKELY TO
BE DRAGGED INTO
TREATY SQUABBLE

Washington, April 13.-There is a
movement on foot among democrats in
washington to start an investigation of
the part played by the United States
and President Roosevelt in the Panama
revolution, it is declared. The proposed
inquiry would seek to show thai Colom-
bia was the victim of grave injustice
and throw the onus of the affair on the
colonel. If they could make out a case
against the colonel the political effect
would be far reaching.
1t is aid that Colonel Roosevelt may
even be called to appeal at a congress
sional inquiry. 1t is said, however, this
proposal to drag the colonel into the af-
fair at this late date is not looked upon
with ~equanimity by some administra-
ton democrats.
Affects Tolls Fight.
There Is no question that The Colon
bia affair is going to cut considerable
OF a figure in the debate on the Panama
canal tolls repeal measure now pend
ing the Senate. Senator O'Gorman, of
New York, leader of the anti-adminis-
tration forces in the upper house, a
q conference last night with Secretary
Bryan and went back to the capitol with
new ammunition for the fight. He
would not discuss the subject, but it is
known he obtained information he will
use against the administration.
The text of the new treaty will be
made public next Wednesday. 1t has
been reported that the measure con-
tanned an apology to Colombia, but this
has been denied by President Wilson.
Powder For the Foe.
One measure which 1t does contain
has created much discussion. That
measure provides hat Colombian war
ships shall have free use of the canal
at all times, including international war.
Opponents of exemption repeal point
cd To the fact that Great Britain In
1909 had agreed to preferential treat
ment for Colombian vessels because of
Colombia's peculiar relation to the
canal as evidence that Great Britain
and President Wilson now are putting
n new construction on the words "all
nations" in the claus of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty guaranteeing equal
treatment to the vessels of the nations
of the world using the canal. Their
claim is that these words were not in
tended to apply to the United States,
their owner of the canal, and they will
urge the admission of Great Britain in
the Colombian matter as proof.
r. r. Called it Biackmail.
international blackmail' was the
term applied by Colonel Roosevelt to
the proposal to pay Colombia an in
demnity for it's loss of the territory now
composing the republic of Panama.
Colonel Roosevelt was president at
the JlIlG OIL the revolution lIdI COSt
Colombia the canal strip. His denuncia-
ton of the treaty that was negotiated
under the Taft administration is of Pc
culiar interest at this time.
The indemnity proposal is not new.
The Taft administration first offered
$40, 100000 to Colombia, and later raised
the offer to $25,0 600, 200, but nothing
came of the treaty. Secretary of State
Bryan promptly took up the matter at
ter the Wilson administration came in
to power.
That the proposed new treaty with
Colombia, under the terms of which the
government would practically assume
responsibility for the Panama revolu-
ton, will never be ratified, was the
opinion of leading senators today.
Not alone was this SO, but there was
a general belief that the administration
would have trouble carrying any of the
provisions of the Wilson-Bryan elab-
crate plan for a general settlement Of
all troubles with sister nations.