Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-01-26
Washington Letter.

GUAR letters 10 lndlVldualS OF lnf1u-
ence in states where the sugar beet
industry has obtained a foothold,
requesting them in the name of this
high sounding fake society to write to
their senators protesting against the
annex alton OF Hawaii, and request
ing them to hold meetings and get
Instrumentation resolutions adopt
ed and forwarded to their senators.
1t Is also sending out circular letters
TO editors asking them to print anti
annexation editorials which are en-
closed. All of this is being done on
the claim that the annexation of
Hawaii would destroy the sugar beet
industry in the United States. This
week, In answer to resolution of
inquiry, Secretary Wilson officially
informed til senate that the annexa-
ton OF Hawaii would work no injury
to the sugar beet industry of this
country. 1t is not probable that the
senate will reach a vote on the an
neXation treaty until some time in
February; the decision is in the
hands OF senator's who have not an
nOunced how they will vote
Senator Hanna isn't worrying even
a little bit over the alleged intention
of those who failed in their efforts to
prevent his election to the senate bv
the Ohio legislature to investigate the
matter. On the contrary, he is will
ing o render all the assistance in his
power In any investigation that may
be made. and to appear before the
legislative committee whenever he is
wanted. Mr.. Hanna's Ohio enemies
failed in their effort to make Senator
Jones, OF Arkansas, chairman of the
Democratic national committee,
their agent on the floor of the senate
to the extent of Offering and pressing
a resolution against Mr.. Hanna's
right to his seat. When Senator
Jones asked for evidence to support
such resolution and none was pro-
duced be declined having anything to
do with it.
The resolution offered by Senator
Teller, declaring United States bonds
to be payable in silver dollars, at the
option of the government, has been
favorably reported to the senate, and
will in due time be adopted by the
votes Of silver senator's, but it Will
play no more important part in the
financial policy Of the government
than did its exact duplicate, which
was about twenty years ago adopted
by the house and senate This time
1t will not even get favorably report
ed to the house. In fact, the only
object sought by forcing this resolu-
ton to the front at this time is the
compelling of Senator'S Murphy of New
York, and Smith, of New Jersey, both
of whom are willing to be reelected,
to come out for or against silver, and
the embarrassing of those Republican
candidates for congress from districts
IN which the Republicans are more
or less favorable to silver In other
words, it is political trick intended
to hip the silver Democrats.
Regardless of opinion on the Cuban
question, the Republicans of the
house earned the praise of all true
patriots when they refu sed to be
stampeded by buncomb talk and
voted solidly to sustain the decision
Of Representative Hepburn. of Iowa,
who was temporarily in the chair,
declaring a proposed amendment to
the consular and diplomatic appro-
priation bill, providing for the recog-
milton of Cuban belligerency, to be
out Of order under the rules OF the
house. The Democrats of the house
care very little about Cuba, but they
will attempt most anything that they
think might help them get votes at
the congressional elections this fall.
AS everybody knows, be Republican
leaders of the house concluded at the
extra session that President McKin-
ley was amply able to take care of
the Cuban question and that so far
as the house was concerned he should
be allowed to doit. That conclusion
has been generally endorsed by the
Republicans Of the country. and by
the shoulder to shoulder attitude Of
the Republican members of the house
when the Democrats sought to use
Cuba as an excuse for reducing the
house to state Of anarchy, by over
t rowing it's rules. Representative
Henderson, of Iowa, who is member
of the committee on rules, truly said
!" his remarks to the clustering
Democrats: "There is no committee
in this house so mighty as to act, or
retard action. unless the house is
behind it. And there is no man so
mighty as to retard action. unless a
majority Of the house is behind him."
The Democrats continued their efforts
by offering Cuban amendments which
they knew to be out of order for
several days, but the solid ranks
of the Republicans, ever ready to
back mp the frmness of Speaker Reed,
made them all failures, AS they de-
served to be. Right, honor, and pat
riotism were all on the side of those
who voted to maintain the rules of
the house.