The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-01-29
TREATY mot LIKED.
PROPOSAL TO PAY COLOMBIA
sa5,ooo,o 900 FOR PANAMA MAY no
BE REJEcTEp.
APOLOGY CLAUSE OBNOXIOUS
Democrats in Senate Not Willing to
Ask Pardon for an Act Which
They Have Accepted
as Proper.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

Washington. Day by day the be-
lief is growing stronger in Washing
ton that the United States senate will
refuse to ratify the treaty with the
Colombian government that the state
department has prepared containing
provision for the payment to the
Colombians Of S25,000,000 for their
loss of Panama and also containing a
paragraph of apology from this gov.
eminent for having recognized the in
dependence of Panama over night"
1t will be remembered by most peo-
pie that during the Roosevelt admin
istration, when we were trying to Sc
for the great interoceanic canal, the
people of the state OF Panama. which
was part of the country of Colon
bia, declared their independence
which was instantly recognized by the
United States. Some people nave held
that the revolt of the Panamanians
from Colombian rule and our instant
recognition of their status as an in
dependent government were part Of a
put up job and that consequently we
owed the Colombian government not
only money, but an apology because
we made the Panamanians' independ-
ence certain by our act of recognition.
Hannis Taylor, who is acting as
counsel for the Colombian govern.
ment, is urging that the United
nlxJa ha RI, an IN
the treasury of the South American
country the sum of $40 100000 for the
Panama strip, but shall further soothe
Its wounded feelings by humble apol-
Ogy for an act of the Roosevelt ad
ministration. Endorsed later by the
Taft administration and which many
senators and representatives seem
fully to believe has been indorsed by
majority of red-bloOded citizens of
the United States.
Balk Especially at Apology.
There are Republicans aud Demo-
Gratis in the senate whose personal
and political relations with Theodore
Roosevelt are not warmed by the fires
OF affection. II will take a lot of
pleading, however, to get these men
to vote a gift of S25,000,000 to the
Colombian people as payment for
something which many Americans
think did not belong to them. 1t can
be said that from all appearances the
suggestion of an apology is more re-
pugnant to the majority of men in con-
gress, irrespective of party afiilia.
lions than is the thought Of the pay
ment of money. '.t-
Men here who have known William
Jennings Bryan personally always
have maintained that his standards of
morality were untouched by hipoc-
risy. Mr. Bryan, however, may have
had his own angle OF vision when he
contemplated this Colombian indem-
nifty matter. Men who have made a
study Of the whole matter, and some
OF them are Democrats and senator's
think that IL the United States com
mitted an immoral act In recognizing
the independence of Panama, the act
was morality itself when set by the
side OF the actions of the Colombians
when Uncle Sam was trying to get
them to grant canal concessions.
Why is the senate of the United
States likely to refuse to apologize
In the name OF this country to the
Colombians? There are plenty OF
Democrats In the senate who would
like to join with Mr.. Bryan and Mr.
Hannis Taylor in making an apology,
were 1t not for the fact that ever
since this government recognized the
independence of Panama and thereby
offended the Colombians," Democrats
in congress have been voting for leg
islation based on the very act of rec
ignition. The majority in congress
seemingly would make scores OF its
members ridiculous n it should vote
to give the Colombians a cent and
they might stultify themselves If they
should vote to tender an apology.
Accepted by the Democrats.
Today the Democratic administra-
ton Is formulating legislation 10 put
the Panama canal In operation and to
provide for the zones government.
There rarely has been a voice raised
in congress against the continuance
OF appropriations for canal building
II is true that Henry T Ra.ney of
Illinois wanted an investigation OF the
taking Of Panama" during the Roose-
welt administration. Little came of it.
The Democrats in the main have ac.
cepted the Panama incident as being
one falling within the lines OF proper
procedure.
Now II may be that Mr. Bryan and
his colleagues of the state department
will put into form a treaty with Co
lombia In which provision will be
made for the payment Of $4,000. 900
and for a bended knee apology from
Uncle Sam Some Democrats say the
state department Will have - trouble
for It's pains. Members Of congress
say they are finding out through let.
tiers from home that the people do not
like this apologize idea and that
moreover they do not like the idea OF
paying a huge sum OF money to q
government which once refused to ac-
q. a..