The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-12
DISCUSSED LIVE ISSUES
Hartman Given His Usual Re-
ception at Great Falls.
OUTRAGE ON THE CUBANS
The Administration May Attempt to
6traddle q Big Debt on the Island.
Opening of the Mints-Silver
Republicans in the East.

Great Falls, Aug. s.-Congressman
Hartman arrived in the city this morn
ing and remained over until the 2
O'clock train. AS usual, his stay in the
city was a continued reception, his
room at the hotel being filed with call
ers up to the time when the train
eailed him away. The crowd was very
representative of Mr.. Hartman's politi-
cal following. for 1t included democrats.
silver republicans and populists in
abou equal parts. and there were even
some gold republicans. Mr.. Hartman
talked very freely with the crowd and
The conversation was not confined to
any one line of topics. but was very
general.
Mr.. Hartman was asked as to the
probable Intentions of the administra-
ton toward Cuba.
He said: II am afraid that the adj
ministration will attempt to saddle the
debt of $500, 900. 900 of bonds. now partly
secured by a lien upon the Cuban reve-
nues. pom the probable Cuban repub-
lie. I am not positive Of thisa and would
not accuse the administration of such
intention. but 1t certainly looks that
way. The fact that the administra-
ton refused to recognize the Cuban
republic, which would at once annul
any obligation on the part of the Gu
bans to pay off this enormous debt, y
pears very suspicious. 1t is. of course.
a Spanish debt, and it would be an out
rage to reward the Cubans for their
heroic struggle for freedom by making
them pay the expenses of IL to the
other side. There are a great many of
these bonds held in this country. Gov
ernor Morton of New York, / under
stand, has quite a slice of them, which
he picked up at 30 or 80 cents on the
dollar. and should these be fixed upon
the Cubans and further guaranteed by
the United States. the profit on such
investment would be considerable.
There will be no attempt at direct an
nexation of the island. That would
he impossible. and a fragrant violation
of the pledge made by the American
people to the world. Should a stable
government be established and the peo-
pie then, by a majority vote at a regu-
lar election, ask to be annexed to this
country, the request might be consid-
cred and perhaps granted, but no other
method Of annexation is possible, and
this would take considerable time. But
whatever may be the ultimate end of
the trouble, it is doubtful If the senate,
as at present constituted. would ever
permit the new Cuban republic to start
out with a load of $500. 900. 900 tied to it's
neck"
What do you think of the probability
of the opening Of the India mints ?" was
another question asked of Mr.. Hartman.
He replied that he believed they would
p as many of the prominent English
financiers had begun to think that sill
yer must be coined in India as a meas
ure of self-preservation. But the ratio
was not likely to % to /. The gold
standard would either be maintained to
the last possible minute or the minis
would resume at the former ratio of IL
to L. The opening of the minis would
.-11
81 question, although IL was certain that IL
would force the market price of silver
upward by about 20 cents. What would
have a greater effect upon the silver
question would be the annexation plans
OF the administration If contaminated.
hat would require an expenditure of at
least a billion OF dollar and that
amount would have to come either from
the national minis or the bureau of
printing and engraving. or it would have
to be borrowed from the world and the
situation would make the money ques-
ton the leading issue more than ever.
Some one said that there was a pre-
vailing idea here hat the silver republi-
cans of the East were getting weak
kneed.
"That has not been my observation"
said Mr.. Hartman, You will notice that
the part of the press controlled by the
goldbugs, such as the associated press,
is very anxious to disseminate such re-
ports, but II you trace them down you
will find that they all come from sources
which are anxious for their own inter
ests to have them believed. The silver
republican is a pariah; he is shot at.
knitted. villiied, upon each and every
occasion. To the goldbug republican the
democrat is a gentleman. He is his nat
ural enemy and he is accustomed to
fighting him and to treating him with
all the honors of war, but a man who
has been a republican all Of his life
and then caves the party because of a
difference of opinion on the money ques-
ton, he is one WHO has committed the
objectionable sin and is to be stamped
out of existence whenever possible.
NeYertheless where | have been I find