Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1898 — IT TAKES NO ACTION [ARTICLE]

IT TAKES NO ACTION

Senate Spends the Day in Debate ' on Cuban Resolution. SESSION LASTS FAR INTO THE NIGHT. Many Speech** Are Made 04 Doth Side* ot the Rxcltlngr Scene Between Senator* Money and Wellington. Washington, April 16.—The senate of the United States Is still in the throes of discussion of the Hispano-American crisis. While pie senate talks the people of the country-of the civilized world—-await Its verdict. That verdict will be returned in accordance with an agreement reached late Friday night, some time during the legislative day of to-day. That legislative day Say extend Into Sunday. After the deite had continued for eight hours Friday an effort was made to reach an agreement *0 begin the vote upon r aU of the pending resolutions at seven o'clock this evening, and In the confuted colloquy among senators there was made manifest for the first time a disposition to filibuster. Senator Caffery (La.), although disclaiming any intention to delay action unduly, objected to any agreement to the fixing of a time to vote. The debate then proceeded, but In a few minutes Senator Wellington (Md.) entered a motion to adjourn. This was defeated by the decisive vote of 61 to 30. The emphatic manner in which the decision was reached indicated a determination on the part of those senators who desired immediate action to endeavor to force the senate to remain In continuous session either until the question was finally disposed of or until an agreement had been reached for a vote to be taken at some specified time In the future, to be measured by hours. At eight o’clock Friday Slight another effort was made to reach an agreement to adjourn, but it, too, Was unavailing. A Memorable Scene. The scans in the senate Friday afternoon AS the war of words was being waged was A memorable one. Friday will pass Into history as one of the great days of the senate. Thronged galleries looked down upon the half-circular chamber below, where ww# assembled scores of m*n who had written pages of American history. .With one exception every member of the senate was there, and the exception (SenAtor Walthall, of Mississippi) was confined to his bed, HL- Among the distinguished audience were a hundred or more of the members of the house of representatives, Justices of the supreme court, members of the president’s cabinet and others eminent In the life of the country. It was an Inspiring, a historic scene, and on* rarely witnessed even In this country of great and notable assemblages. In such circumstances it Is not surprising that the brilliant orators who addressed the senate rose to and even surpassed their best previous efforts. The occasion, the surroundings, the momentous subject under discussion — war, with Its awful consequences—inspired them. Their lips were rich with eloquence; their reasoning close and cogent; their wit *us keen as the flashing sword; their colloquies as sharp and piercing as the pistol’s crack. , Many Speakers. The debate, beginning at tne unusually early hour of ten o’clock, continued until far Into the night, and yet the throngs remained as If held under some spell. During the day speeches were delivered by Senators Cullom (Ill.), Berry (Ark.), DanJel (Va.), Tillman (S. C.), Wolcott (Col.), Spooner (Wis.), Chilton (Tex.), Teller (Col.) and Stewart (Nev.). Fully 20 other senators are on the vice president’s list for Speeches. All the deliverances were characterized by brilliance and eloquence, but it is no detraction from the effort of any man to say that the notable utterances were made by Senators Wolcott, Daniel and Spooner. Senator Daniel carried aloft the {lag of recognition of the Cuban republic's ndependence, while both Senators Wolcott and Spooner magnificently supported the toolicy of the president and the foreign relations committee in favor of armed intervention with ultimate Independence. The argument*! Senator Spooner was exhaustive, profound and brilliant. Amid all the talk, however, it is not apparent that a ■ingle vote on the main question has been changed. The minds of senators are made up as clearly as is America's case against

Spain. A Sensational Scene. A sensational incident, not really growing out of the debate upon the pending question, occurred at 9:25 at night. In a personal squabble over the recent trip made by Senator Money (Miss.) to Cuba, between him and Senator Wellington (Md.), Senator Wellington charged Senator Money ■with speaking in the achate as the agent ®f a New York newspaper. Senator Money was on his feet in an instant with the remark that the statement was false. Senator Wellington—ls there is any untruth in the statement It was made by the newspaper. "I am correcting you, not the paper," retorted Senator Money. “I say the remark you make is not true." "I make the remark as the paper gave it.” again retorted Senator Wellington, doggedly. "Then make it on your own responsibility," cried Senator Money, hie whole frame quivering with suppressed emotion, his arm outstretched defiantly toward the senator from Maryland. "I do make it on my own responsibility," replied Senator Wellington, like a flash. “Then you He!” came from the Mississippi senator, so quickly that It sounded like an echo or a crack of a pistol after the flash of the explosion. The senate was electrified. Senators looked at each other in blank amazement and the galleries rose en masae and leaned over as the two senators faced each other. "I call the gentleman to order. If the gentleman can indulge In that kind of conversation on the floor of the senate," Senator Wellington resumed, walking toward his antagonist, "I can stand It as well as he can.” By thia time all was confusion. The vioe president was rapping for order and senators had risen to their feet. But the two senators still called to each other tn defiant tones that rang out above the din, "Come outside and make it," cried Senator Money. "Very well, then," retorted Senator Wellington. "Come now," said Senator Money, beckoning. Senator Money Apologises. Senator Wilson (Wash.) broke the tension at this point by stepping forward Into the center Isle and asking. In a bland voice, "Whether a declaration of war would be tn order." The senators and the gallerlus laughed heartily at this sally, and meantime friends of the bellicose senators surrounded them and led them away Into the cloak rooms. A few minutes afterwards to the adoption of the Jones' agreement, Senator Money emerged from the cloak room, and amid an impressive silence, saldi "Mr President, I desire to say that under strong provocation 1 used language which was not parliamentary. Nothing oould be farther from my Intention than to violate the decorum of the senate or to break any of its rules. I therefore desire to apologise to the senate for language which I should not have used in its presence.” The galleries applauded this utterance, and the incident closed. At the conclusion, of Senator Stewart's speech the senate, on motion of Senator Davis, adjourned at 10:40 until ten a. m to-day. Senate’s. Probable Action. It la the general belief among* senators

that the vote will b* taken by nine or ten o’clock to-night. There being numerous amendment*, there will be many roll calla. ' It U likely that the committee resolution* j with the minority amendment recognising the rejaibllc of Cuba will be adopted. The resolution agreed upon wHI be substituted for the house resolution, making it a house measure, to avoid the parliamentary dlf- • Acuity of a new proposition in the house. 1 It is supposed that the resolution will go to I the bouse Monday and probably be sent to conference, though an effort may be ; made to concur at once, but the strength i of thia move is yet uncertain. Lively Scene in House. Washington, April M.—There was another lively scene Ip the ho’use Hieing to a personal explanation, Mr. Bailpy said the speaker was responsible j for the late soene In the house. Hot words 1 passed between him and Mr. Dalzell (rep.. Pa.), who alleged that Mr. Bailey was taking his dally airing, andMbat he had, a* the papers stated, lost his head. Mr. Bailey responded angrily that gentlemen when Insulted and called liars were charged with having lost their head* If reqen|edlt. He said he wduld Infinitely prefer to losd his head In resenting an ln«ult than his self-respect in submitting to one. The house was keyed up to an Intense pitch. The democrats applauded Mr. Bailey's utterances, and the republicans broke Into Cheer* when the speaker, with a vole* trembling with suppressed feeling, de•clared that he refused to enter Into a discussion of his course with Mr. Bailey. Whatever he had done on Wednesday last or on another day had been done In the presence of the house and of 1,000 witnesses. He scored Mr. Bailey severely and said he was ready to rest his justification upon the judgment of those who had witnessed It. Mr. Bailey attempted to reply, but the regular order was demanded ana routine business resumed.