The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-08
Congress and Cuba.


President Mckinley sent his message to
Congress the New York Herald publish
ed the result of a complete poll of the SEN
ate and house OF representatives, show
ing that the majority of both houses will
stand by the administrations Cuban
policy. The poll shows that Congress
viii concur In the wishes of the President
and give fair trial to the new scheme of
autonomy to be Inaugurated before taxi
Ing radical action. The net result OF the
interviews by the members of both
houses is shown In the following table;
Senator's against action. ,..,............ ~
Senators who favor, but do not expect
action OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, n
Senators for immediate action......,,.. 9
Senators non-committal or not SEEM. 4
Representatives against action..,..... us
Representatives for action. ..,........,. l59
Representatives non-committal or not
seen .,,,.,,,......,.,,,,,...'''' ~
While the Herald's Interviews show
that there Is an overwhelming pro-
Cuban sentiment in Congress, and that
the sympathy for the insurgents is I'M
st!n.ed. The conservative element that
Is willing to trust the matter to the Ex-
ecutive prevails, and the large ma
jorlty will support the administration to
prevent action that would interfere with
the desire OF the President to pursue a
conservative course and give Spain OPP
portunity to test her policy. The Herald
says:
In some respects the interviews are more
significant than the poll They show that
everything depends upon the leaders IN the
house OF representatives. The senate has
already passed u resolution recognizing
tho Cubans as bellIgercnts. 1t Is pending
In the house. The interviews show that
notwithstanding their strong sympathy for
Cuba the most Of the Republicans and not
few Of the Democrats think that the
whole matter can safely be left In the
hands OF the President.
II is Significant that Representative
Dinsmore. the leader OF the Democratic
minority of the committee on foreign af-
fairs, Is very conservative and does not
advocate that Congress should take the
matter out of the hands OF the President.
Although the pressure may he strong 10
have the speaker let the bars down and
permit the Morgan belllgerency resolution
10 come TO vote. the poll shows that the
conservative lehuerS VIII nave StuHb
backing, and with the speaker and the
committee on foreign affairs on their side
be ablo to control matters.
Though the pro-Cuban sentiment Is
stronger and the influence Of the admin
istration Is weaker In the senate, the re-
suit Of the poll of that body shows there
is little probability OF any action. Many
even OF the most radical senators, are
against taking any further step at this
time
Members Of Congress understand that
the Cuban situation at present Is radical
~ different from what 1t was when Con-
gress was in session last summer The
new Liberal government of Spain, as
pointed out by the President, has come
into power In the meantime and now Of
fcrs Cuba autonomy of a more liberal
character than any one expected; while a
more humane policy in the contest OF the
war has been inauguratcd The conflne-
ment OF American prisoners did much to-
ward increasing the feeling against
Spain In this country but under the new
regime all have been liberated and this
country has no longer a grievance in this
respect.
The situation warrants the prediction
that the sober Judgment of Congress Will
be to sustain the policy of the President
which docs not carry with 1t an indiffer-
ence for the future. on the contrary, the
President plainly announces that a vIo-
iation OF faith upon the part of Spain will
call for drastic measures on the part of
the administration OF the United States.
II Is this attitude Of the Executive that
causes the level headed ones among sena-
tors and representatives, to express sym
pathy with the policy recommended by
The President.