Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-01
Senators Hanna and Mason Call on
the President.
SHOULD HOLD THE PHILIPPINES
That is the Ohio Leaders Ex-
pressed Belief.
MIR. MASON'S CONFIDENCE

President Mckinley heard great deal
about politics today. Among his visitors
| were Senator Hanna, ex-Gov. Merriam of
Minnesota, Senator Mason and Representa-
tive Cannon of Illinois. Ex-Gov. Merriam
accompanied Senator Hanna. These four
men all talked politics. Senator Mason
said that he would return to Illinois at once
to enter into the campaign.
Ex-Gov Merriam said that Minnesota will
be as largely republican ever The only
trouble with the republicans this fall" he
added, will be about getting out the voters.
but l think this will be overcome before
election day. The voters do not come out
when they think there is nothing at issue.
We will show them, however, that there
is great deal at issue this year and try
to bring them out
Senator Hanna said that nothing had been
said to Mr.. Merriam about going as ambas-
sador to London.
senator Hanna on the Philippines.
Senator Hanna says that the synopsis he
saw of the interview published with him
this morning on the subject of the Philip
pines, while in the main correct, does not
altogether describe his position so as not to
be subject to misconstruction. Il have not
SAID that we should keep the Philippines
nor. in fact, what we should do with them;
but my position is simply that we cannot
put them back under the Spanish flag.
Until all the facts are brought out and the
conditions are thoroughly understood no
one can say just what ought to be done
with the islands. The war was begun in
the interest of humanity and liberty. 1t
has Gevolved responsibilities upon US.
These responsibilities we must fulfill. We
can make no sacrifice of humanity nor lib
efty, and must maintain the charge left to
us DO not see how a conclusion as to eX-
actiy what will be done can be reached by
either Congress or the administration until
the facts and conditions are thoroughly un-
derStood. But | feel sure that there will be
10 sacrifice of liberty or the prinCiples of
humanity and that the Philippines viii not
| be restored to the sovereignty of Spain
| Meanwhile, pending the settlement we
must hold the islands, and in my opinion
| this will be done
| senator MaGon's COnfideuce.
Senator Mason expressed confidence that
the general political situation in the coun-
| try was favorable to the success of the re-
| public; II party. "If we do not hold the
next House of Representatives" he said
''it will he because of overconfidence aud
the consequent lack of activity. The demo-
Gratis are trying to make capital out of the
lew mistakes that Were made in the con-
duct of the war, but rely on the glory
of the war, which outweighs everything
else, to c0unteract such an attempt. This
war has demonstrated that we Yankees can
raise an army of a million men, but that
we were not able at once to provide all the
hospital and conmissary needs of the army
Whatever faults in this particular there
may have been were the result of inexpe-
rience and lack Of facilities. The people of
this country, ] do not think, will attach
blame TO the administration for this
Speaking of the policy of the government
toward Cuba and the Philippines, the SEN
ator said that ii was the purpose of this
government to give to all its citizens and
to all people subject to its influence or con-
tro, the most perfect local self-govern-
ment, whether they were on this continent
or on islands of the Atlantic and Pacific.
We would provide, he said, the most liberal
goveInmen possible, wherever the respon-
s!hility rested with us to establish gov
ernment or maintain il, and that the future
of the people of the Philippines and of
Cuba would, in his opinion depend upon
the local conditions, the adaptability of the
people and upon their own wishes.