Evening star., 1897-01-09
Maj. Mckinley Prefers 1t Should Re-
main as 1t is.
BIS POSITION ON THE QUESTION
What is Reported by Those Who
Have Visited Him.
w AITING FOR CAMERON

lhe capitol that Major Mckinley prefers
that the Cuban question should be left
| where it is until he comes into office. To
this fact more than TO any other may be
attributed the failure of the Senate 90 take
| up the Question on the basis of the resolu-
| ton presented by Senator Cameron and
reported by the committee on foreign re-
| lations.
| The knowledge of Mr.. McK:riey's atti-
| tude has been derived through various
sources, but principally through senators
| ana representatives who have reached
Washington after conferences either at
Canton or Cleveland with the President
elect. Among the senators who have seen
| Mr.. Mckinley since the Cameron resolu-
| tions were favorably reported are Ellison,
| Cullom and Thurston. None of these gen.
| tlemen has been found willing to discuss
Major Mckinley's attitude on Cuba for the
| newspapers, but some of them and also
| members of the House who nave been west
recently have talked freely with their COL
| leagues and with other friends on the ques-
| ton. 1t is notable fact that these sem
| ators have made it evident since their re-
turn that they were disposed to give the
Cuban question very careful consideration
| before again agreeing to take it up in the
Serate.
Senator Cullom is member of the COM
| mittee on foreign relations, and he is
among the most aggressive of the Cuban
| supporters. Since his return from Him
| oiS, via Canton, he has manifested dis
position to let the resolution remain on the
| Senate calendar tor the present. Senator
| Thurston, while not member of the COM
mittee which deals with foreign questions,
has also been one of the most ardent and
| aggressive supporters OF the Cuban cause.
| He says openly that he is willing that the
question should remain in allegiance for
| the present and until further information
| can be obtained. Senator Allison takes
| the same position.
| Maj. McNfnley's Position.
| Maj. McKinley's position IS that the
| United States has not at the present time
| sufficient information regarding the condi-
| tion of affairs in Cuba, and especially to
/ the status of the Cuban government, to
| warrant this country in interfering to the
| extent of recognizing the independence of
| the island. This is, in brief, the message
which has come to the Senate through
| various sources, and IL is stated that the
| President-elect feels very keenly the i'm
portance of holding OF until more definite
information can be secured. Ii is not rep
| resented that he is not favorably inclined
| toward the Cuban interest On the con-
| trary, his friends who have converSed with
| him, assert their belief to be that his
predictions are all favorable to the str1g-
| Cling islanders. Said one of them N refer
| rig to Maj. McHinley's attitude: He
cannot, of course, this time, commit
| himself to any policy in so delicate a mat
ter as that OF the relations between Cuba
and Cuba's mother country, but it is my
| belief that mis- patriotism is so broad ard
| his courage so stro2g that he will not hesi-
| tate to take d position such patriotism
| demands whenever he feels that he has
sufficient information to act upon. We
| must all admit that while sympathies
| have been strongly aroused for Cuba, we
| have had comparatively little accurate in
| formation unon which TO act, and none of
| tnlS 1n1OrmA ton to the status If the
| Cuban government is very recent. Loath
! as am to postpone further word OF en-
| couragement to the patriotic Cubaus L
feel that l should defer to the judgment
| and wishes of the man on whose shoulders
| the responsibility of sustaining our cause
| In case OF trouble will so soon have to rest.
1t would hardly be fair to voluntarily
complicate matters in that direction any
more than they are at present complicated
Tor The incoming administration so near
the time of its Inaugural ton. 1 believe that
Maj. Mckinley will as President have the
Cuban insurrection thoroughly inyesti-
gated, ard while know he will be exceed
lngly cautious about taking any steps
which might provoke International compli-
cations Of a serious character I am also
satisfied that he will not quail before a re-
sponsibility which may become his duty"
Much Depends on Cameron.
very few senators now believe that there
will be any determined effort on the part
OF the committee on foreign relations TO
press the Cuban resolution to an issue. and
1t is the general opinion that the question
In the Senate will resolve itself into scat
tering speeches. Much may depend, how
ever, on the attitude of Senator Cameron
when he returns from his vacation off the
coast OF South Carolina. He is the one re-
publican member of the COMMITTEES who
mas not shown a disposition to allow the
question to rest quietly. He has been alb
sent from the Senate since Congress re-
convened after the holidays, and his posi-
ton is not known definitely. Ii is as
sumed, however, that If he had heen de-
sirous of pressing his resolution he would
nave been present In committee and In the
Senate for that purpose
me attitude of at least some OF the demo-
cratic supporters of Cuba in the Senate will
also depend upon Mr.. Cameron's position
Senators Morgan, Turpie and Mills. ali OF
whon are members of the foreign COM
mittee and all Jealous Cubanites have re-
Trained from any effort to take up the
question during the present week and All
have practically said that they should await
nr, Samerons return before making any
move In the Senate. II Is understood that
senator Morgan, who has taken more ad-
vanceo ground on the Cuban question than
almost any other senator, has gone farther
ana informed the republican members OF
the committee that his course would de-
pend entirely upon what they should de-
sire In the matter, because of his wish not
10 complicate our foreign relations on the
eve of the change of administra ton and
especially when the administration which
would soon come into power would be of a
political faith opposite to his own He
takes the position that il this country Is to
be committed to any course likely to in
volve a foreign war by any action of Com
gress the initiative in that course should
be taken by the political friends of the new
government.
What Tkfs Means.
All this does not mean that the Cuban
question will not be discussed In the SEN
ate In Its various phases, nor that some
very stirring speeches may not be made.
but 1t does mean. It Is contepded, that no
action looking to the recognition of Cuban
Independence will be taken during the pres
ent session unless there should be some
decided victories won by the Cuban arms
Senator Cameron IL expected to be IN his .
seat Monday, but 1t II altogether probable
that Senator Sherman, chairman Of the
committee on foreign relations, will be alb
sent from the city q part of next week,
and this latter fact may afford excuse for
failing TO call Up the resolution. Much In
terest viii. however, center In the attitude
of the Pennsylvania senator ana he WIN
be expected to shoH his hand soon after
his return.