ad the slightest hesitancy in seeking his advice when I was in
doubt concerning any legal or constitutional question.

Senator Spooner was a much more technical lawyer than Senator
Foraker, but not quite so technical as Senator Bacon. On questions
coming before the Committee on Foreign Relations, his advice was
always to be trusted. My judgment in this respect may be influenced
by our close personal friendship; but I always felt that when I
had his support on any question I was safe and right in the position
I took respecting it. Seldom within my knowledge did the Senate
fail to agree with any attitude that Senator Spooner assumed on a
controverted question.

Senator Spooner was placed on the committee at the time I became
its chairman. At that time there were before the committee treaties,
legislation, and matters of the utmost importance. He entered upon
the work with the greatest interest, and exercised commanding
influence in the disposition of matters under consideration. He
always seemed to take particular interest in my success as chairman
of the committee, and always wanted to assist and help me wherever
he could.

We were wrestling with the Reciprocity treaty with Cuba at a meeting.
It had been before the committee for a number of meetings; Senator
Spooner feared that I was about to turn the treaty over to another
Senator to report, and he sent me, while the committee was in
session, a brief note marked "Confidential." It read:

"The report is that you will give this treaty to another to report.
I think you should report it yourself, as you are not only chairman
of the committee, but you are also a member of the Committee on
Relations with Cuba. Platt spoke to me about it. He felt sensitive
in the first place because the treaty did not go to his committee.
The fact that you and others on this committee were on his committee
reconciled him. I will stand to your shoulder in the fight for
its ratification.

"Yours,
"Spooner."

I hope Senator Spooner, if he does me the honor of glancing through
these rambling recollections, will forgive my quoting this confidential
note without his consent; but I do so only to show the very friendly
and confidential relationship that existed between us.

I doubt very much whether the Colombia or Panama treaty would have
been ratified, or the Panama route selected in preference to the
Nicaraguan route for the Isthmian canal, despite the great influence
of Se