Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-01-26
Senator Newland's Speech
On The ''War Spirit

sion in the Senate of a resolution by
Senator Lippitt (Rep.), of Rhode Is
land. directing the President to inter.
vene in Mexico, Senator Newlands
said:
Mr.. President. we are on the eve
OF presidential campaign. 1t has
been the custom of each party TO pre-.
sent its indictment against the party
in power during the session imme-
diately preceding such a campaign.
During such session it has been the
custom to engage in elimination and
recrimination, and to exhaust the time
In partisan attacks rather than to
spend II usefully in correctional or
constructive legislation.
This has been the custom of both
parties. / do not present a charge
against the Republican party today
that could not have been made with
equal correctness against my own par.
~ in past times.
Against "Rocking the Boat"
deplore, however, that the fact
that in a crisis of this kind, when the
President of the United States is en-
gagged in negotiations that relate to
two wars-a civil war on our borders
in Mexico and an international war
abroad-and when the questions of
the highest delicacy are being consid-
cred by the man charged by the Con-
stitutton with responsibility regarding
the conduct of our foreign relations,
we should allow a question of our
foreign relations TO enter into these
controversies of elimination and re-
elimination.
Spanish War Could
Have Been Avoided.
Just before the Spanish war / hap.
pened to be a member of the House
of Representatives and a member of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs. At
that time the country was excited with
reference TO the condition of Cuba
An election was approaching and the
party of which l was a member was
then engaged in somewhat the same
thing, form of attack upon Mr.. Nc.
kinley, as Is now being INDUCED in by
the Republican party upon Mr.. vii.
son. ..
! recall that during that time the
President was embarrassed by the
consideration of numerous resolutions
presented by the leaders of the adj
versary party in the House of Repre-
.sentatives regarding the recognition
of belligerent rights and other mat
tiers of that kind. I recall that at a
conference of the Democrats of the
House the question came up as to
whether this mode of attack was prop
er and would be fruitful of results
l ventured to inquire at that time
whether the Democratic party wished
to get into war, and 1 was assured II
did not; that it was a mere question
Of party tactics; that the commence
ment and the maintenance of war
pending a national campaign would
insure the retention in power Of the
dominant party. My reply was, then
this resolution will drive this admins.
tration into war. An answer came
back from prominent Democrat that
the Republican party could not be
kicked into war. That mode of attack
went on. Disaffection increased in
the Republican party; in the north
west particularly the sentiment was
intense and Republicans felt that their
seats were in danger at the approach.
ing election. They formed an organi-
cation called the insurgents" and
called upon the President with refer.
ence to the pending situation and in
sisted that the administration should
take decisive action.
Finding himself gradually losing the
support of his own party in his de-
liberate methods, the President finally
announced that he would deliver a
message to Congress upon the Cuban
situation on a particular day. the fol-
lowing Friday. The House of Repre-
sentatiyes met in expectancy OF that
message. Business was suspended;
the atmosphere was surcharged with
electricity. Contention arose on the
floor in one or two cases leading al.
most TO physical violence while they
were awaiting the Presidential mos
sage. Whilst stood there philoso.
pbically viewing the scene and won.
dering at the turbulence of a socalled
deliberate body the Sergeant at Arms
informed me that the President de.
sired to see me at the White House.
I went there and in the ante room
found two other Democrats, minority
members OF the Foreign Affairs Com.
mittee. We were Immediately ushered
Into the Presidents office. He sat
there ut table upon which lay docu.
ment bound In red ribbon, evidently
the message which he was about to
send to Congress. could not but
contrast the calm and the dignity of
that room and OF the President him.
self with the scene OF turbulence
which I had just left The President
informed Us that he had Just received
telegram from Consul General Lee
at Habena advising him that Habana
was IN a high state of excitement with