Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-12-08
Lobby Schemes.
NEARLY RESULTED IN WAR.
ERS.

WAsHINGToN, Dec. 3.-The partial
exposure of the gigantic lobby organic
ing here to give value to the enormous
claims against Peru, gives interest to
other similar schemes which have of
late years been persistently pressed to
the verge of involving the country in
war. Under President Grant, those in
terested in claims for the destruction Of
American plantations in Cuba gained
such influence here that for time war
with Spain seemed almost unavoidable.
The Cuban bond lobby proceeded so far
that on one occasion a proclamation
recognizing the beligerency Of the in
surgents was prepared at the white
house and sent to the state department
to be issued. Secretary Fish, however,
even at that stage, succeeded in having
it withheld.
The scheme for obtaining the north
ern states Of Mexico, in which promi-
nent lobby operators and public men
were interested, is another illustration
of a lobby, which, in the end, narrowly
escaped involving the United States in
war. The first step in the plan was the
working up of claims amounting to
many millions for live stock and per-
sonal property destroyed in Texas by
Mexican raids. SO theoretically was
this branch ofthe moment carried for
ward that the stealing of more cattle
was reuorted from the border counties
than the latest statistics of the state of
Texas showed to be owned in the three
tiers Of counties next north or the
border. The same report claimed the
destruction Of more personal property
in the the border counties than was
owned in the entire state, according to
state statistics gathered the same year
the astounding report was made. The
plan was to run up claims against
Mexico to such an amount that she
could not pay, and then have the gov
ernment demand cession of territory in
settlement.
The officers stationed there were
fully aware that the policy of the add
ADMINISTRATION was to stir up war by
making it appear that Mexico was the
aggressor. To this end raids were or
gained and sent across into Mexico
ostensibly to pursue cattle thieves,
when no raid whatever from Mexico
had taken place. These things were
several times repeated, and 1t was only
through the prudence and good sense
Of General Trevino, the Mexican COM
mander of the border district, that q
conflict between Mexico and the United
troops was avoided The main idea in
exciting this trouble was that war with
Mexico would bury the southern ques-
ton and those features of it which
arose during the electoral count by a
union of the blue and the gray under
the flag.
Later on the power of a great lobby
was shown here in our Mexican affairs
by causing the recognition of Diaz to
turn upon the ratification of a railroad
charter IN which a number of the heavy
New York capitalists were interested.
They were able to control the action of
the state department, and through it to
control the president for several months
The first enunciation of the Monroe
doctrine under the last administration,
if not made directly in the interest Of
the Ncaraguan canal, was urged and
influenced by those who were directly
interested These are all cases which
illustrate the influence exerted in Wash
ington in international affairs by COM
binations of capital.