The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-05
WHAT CONGRESS WILL DO
Beet Sugar Interests Oppose the
Annexation of Hawaii.
SENATOR MANTLE TALKS
An Overwhelming Majority of the Sen.
ate Ready to Grant Belligerent
Rights to Cubans-His Position
on Other Questions.

session of congress which opens to-
morrow. Last evening the senator
chatted with a Standard reporter in
| regard to various matters which will
be up for debate during the coming
| season.
| Among the important subjects which
| will be up for discussion will be the
Hawaiian question. There will be a
| very determined opposition to the an
nexation of the Sandwich Islands, led
| probably by Senator White of Califor-
| MA, who will no doubt be seconded by
| rev OF the ablest members of the SEN
| ate This opposition will no doubt be
| based on the general proposition that
! the annexation of territory so distant
! from the United States is not in accord
| with what mas been the policy of the
| government heretofore-an innovation
| which will carry us away from the old
landmarks and launch us on a sea of
uncertainty. 1t will be argued that the
islands are too distant to be kept we'll
in hand and brought under the general
| spirit of our laws and government. i
suppose, however, that the main incen-
tive to annexation opposition on the
Pacific slope is the fact that if annexed
Hawaiis products will be admitted to
this country free of duty, her main
product being sugar. California has
lately entered into the production of
beet sugar on an enormous scale. La
Dor conditions in California are not the
same as in the Sandwich islands. I
believe beet sugar lies at the bottom of
California opposition although doubt
less others oppose annexation on high
er grounds. j think, however. there. is
no doubt that the treaty will eventual
ly get the two-thirds vote and pass.
Personally / favor the annexation on
such information as / have obtained,
although | think something should be
done to bring the labor condition of the
Islands into harmony with those of the
United States. That. however is a mi
nor question, and can be adjusted. The
chief value of annexation is as shown
by Senator Morgan in the wonderful
strategic position of the islands, the
possession of which will give us con
troll of that portion of the sea and will
be most valuable aid in the defense
of the whole Pacific coast.
The Cuban Question.
The Cuban question will continue to
be a prolific source of debate until it is
finally settled. The senate has already
passed resolution recognizing the
belligerent rights of the Cubans, but
the resolution is sleeping in the other
end of the capital and has not seen day
light. l believe there is an overwhelm-
ing majority in the senate ready at any
time to vote in favor of the belligerent
rights of the Cubans, if not kept from
voting by the dilatory tactics of the
Spanish sympathiZers, as has been done
heretofore. l believe also that the vast
majority of the people are in sympathy
with Cuba. and the present admins
tration could do nothing which would
so popularize it as to recognize Cuba.
] think Cuba will surely gain her lib
| erty. If we don't help them, they will
| be free anyhow. They are wearing
Spain out and have already exhausted
her financial resources. The dispatches
to-day show that the Cubans are elect
ing new officials. They are still alive
and in the fight.
The Currency Problem.
The currency question will of course
take up much time in debate but it is
difficult to forecast what form the sub
ject will take until the presidents COM
ments and recommendations on the
subject are heard. Many of the most
sagacious leaders of the republicans are
averse to taking up the subject at all,
but it is likely that the whole subject
of currency and coinage will be thor
oughly and exhauStively debated.
Whatever recommendations are made
will undoubtedly be made in regard to
currency alone, but currency and coin
age are so interviewer that it will be
difficult to separate them in the discus
sion / do not think any of the pro-
posed measures of the gold standard
can pass the senate as now constituted
The divergence is so great between the
old parties that / do not expect to see
single currency measure crystallized
into law at this session. There will be
many propositions brought forward.
most of them at the suggestion of the
great banking interests of the country
and they will disclose an effort to still
further enlarge the privileges of the
banks for the purpose as they say, of
taking the government out of the
banking business. The silver men of
a ct-t1n not nv, with 1a
propositions of the bankers, and / am
one of those who believe that nothing
can be done for silver that will touch
the real merits of the questions except
the opening of the minis of the United
States to the coinage of both gold and
silver on equal terms I am convinced
this is the only solution of the question
which can bring any beneficial result to
the great masses of the people. l am
satisfied that a recommendation for the
retirement of the greenbacks will open
a wide gap in the republican ranks in
the senate and will disclose the utter
impossibility of carrying such a rec
ommendation if made as urged by the
gold men who will be satisfied with
nothing less
"A division will also be created in the
house with it's rock-rbbed republican
majority held together by so deter
mined leader as Reed. There is great
affection for the greenbacks among
many republicans who think they We're
largely instrumental in saving the
union, and the greenbacks will find
many defenders.
Postal Savings Banks.
Another measure to be discussed is
the establishment of postal savings
banks. This subject has been before
congress many times, but despite the
popularity of the measure with the
masses the opposition in congress. in
cited undoubtedly by the banks Of the
country. has always been successful in
smothering the discussion and relegat-
ing all proper measures to The hidden
recesses of the committee rooms. / be-
lieye the popular sentiment in favor
of government postal savings banks
has reached such a point that it viii
be impossible longer to defeat il. The
banks will of course as usual oppose
the measure. Postmaster General Gary
has earnestly recommended the adop-
ton Of the system and scores Of men