The San Francisco call., 1898-12-21
WILLIAMS AGAINST
 T IN THE HOUSE He Vigorously Opposes Holding Philippines. FlLlPINOS HARD TO CONTROL ANNEXATION HOSTILE TO OUR
 INSTITUTIONS.
FILlPINOS HARD TO CONTROL
One Way Out of the Difficulty, Says the Mississippi Statesman, Would Be to Sell the Is-
 lands to England.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

Special Dispatch to The Call.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-The House to-day listened to the first speech on the annexation of the Philippines. Will Hams of Mississippi, a Democratic member of the Foreign Affairs Commit tee. in an hours speech. stated his op- position to a policy which would bring the islands under the sphere of the United States inf1-:ence. He contended that it would be hostile to the spirit of our institutions to assume control over 1000. 900 unwilling souls; that annexa- tion would cost us 40,000000 a year; that the annexation of the islands met none of the tests which applied to our past acquisitions of territory and would be a mistake from a social, political and material standpoint. Williams re- marks received careful attention and several times drew applause from his Democratic colleagues
 The agricultural appropriation bill was passed without material amendment. It carried S3,696, ,322, or $187, ,l20 more than the current law.
 At the opening of the session of the House Cannon called up the conference reDort on the army and navy deficiency bill and moved its adoption.
  whether the reapportionment Of the bal ance of the $50,00O,000 to De expendeo under the direction of the President would in any way sanction or authorize the pay ment out of that fund of Sl0O,OO0 each to Whitelaw Reid and Judge Day for ser vices as Peace Commissioners.
 Cannon said he knew nothing about 1t and, on his statement that this reappor- tionment made no change authorizing such an expenditure, the report was adopted.
 whole on the agricultural bill. Wads- worth (R) of New York explained that it carried s 3696,522, an increase Of SlS1,l2o over the current law.
 Williams (D) of Mississippi took ad- vantage of the latitude allowed in debate while in committee of the whole to make the Philippines. Physically, he said, the islands would prove a great dlsappolnt- ment. They were thickly populated with peoples of heterogeneons races. They could never afford home or opportunity for American citizens. In the annexation of territory of the past the area annexed had been always coterminous, except Tn the case of Alaska, and we had in each case increased our population, and our power of national defense. These had been the tests in the past. The Philip pines fulfilled none of these tasks. In the case of Cuba, if Cuba should be willing in the future to throw her lot with us, the case would be different. Sixty-sx per cent of Cuba's population was Caucasian. could easily be assimilated Cuba was practically contiguous. She lay directly within the sphere of American influence
 We want no unwilling subjects" said Williams. I've want no opportunity for the exercise of tyranny. The South is especially hostile to the absorption of a great population alien in race, blood and color and customs.
 Annexation would project us 1000 miles in the melee of the Orient. We would have to hold in subjection 5000, 900 Fi- ininnS a V and as the House was considering an az ricultural bill 1t might be well to bear in mind that the increased taxes could be shifted and shifted until they reached the farmer, who would pay in the end. He argued that under the fifteenth con- stitutional amendment citizenship could not be denied the natives of the islands If they were annexed. He had been asked why, if Mississippi had been able to deal with the race question, the people of the United States would not be able to do so in the Philippines. The difference was that the people of Mississippi understood the problem with which it had to deal It came home to them by actual contact. The people of the United States who have to solve 1t would do so theoretically and they would fall. There must be white su- premacy. If white supremacy were not guaranteed in Hawaii he declared that 90 per cent of the Caucasians would not re- main there.
 While he opposed the annexation he said he should not return the Philippines
 
 where they were the day after Dewey's glorious victory at Manila. I should haul down the American flag. I am for the flag for what it means, not for itself. It Is nothing but piece of bunting, and when some one announces that 1t must not come down, l care not how high his station. he says something unworthy of himself and his country The flag should come down if 1t Is right that 1t should do so, and the American people must null if down, We. would not let any other coun- { (PTninncnd Democratic side.) oN 'iie
 Proceeding Williams argued that if the Pnllippines could not take care of them selves they would fall under the in,uenne of France or Germany. Our interest in them was the commercial interest. We had in the East generally an interest in try got possession of the Philippines it would not do worse than Spain did. Ina event, our trade with the Philippines was mere drop in the bucket, and If we re- tained possession of them We would sac rifice the open door policy in the Orient or go back on the constitution There was still another solution of the problem, the islands their independence or let them fall under the sway of another country we could sell them as war indemnity to England. She would bring to them civil ization. The islands would get freedom Of religion and freedom of trade and we would get rid of a military, political racial, social and naval problem and an CNtiIdoliiS, pcipcludl LOItlSn pOllcY.
 Williams remarks were listened to with careful attention and his colleagues gave him hearty round of applause when he concluded
 No further time was occupied in general debate. and the bill was read for amend ment under the five-ninute rule
 The provision inserted in the bill to be used as a means of retaliating against Germany and other countries was passed with slight amendment which gives the Secretary of the Treasury discretion in refusing the delivery of goods adultera ted instead of making refusal to deliver such goods mandatory.
 A provision in the bill to grant leaves of absence to employees of the Bureau of Animal Industry outside of Washington went out on a point of order
 The bill was passed without further amendments. At o'clock the House ad- journed
 Wine Cellar Destroyed