Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-18


as the message will be a long and impor-
tant one the President will begin work
upon it almost Immediately upon his return
to Washington. He will have about six
weeks to complete this work. and in the
meantime he will have to deal with the
routine matters which come up and with
ell other questions which nay arise. He
will not have any too much time to get the
document in shape for Congress.
The Philippine Question.
No doubt Is now left as to the Presidents
intentions as to the Philippines. His
speeches in the west have clearly demon
strated that he will recommend to Con-
gress that the islands become the property
Of the United States for all time to come.
He will not recommend how the islands
may be treated as that question will be left
TO Congress. but he will go so TAR as to ask
Congress TO take some definite action as
early as possible to indicate the intentions
of the United States. He will do this for
one important reason-that the Filipinos
may know that there is no longer hope for
them to continue the insurrection. The
President has ascertained that the Filipinos
are daily growing more hopeful that the
next election may bring about 4 change in
the policy of the United States They do
not believe that Congress will take any
action at the coming session, ard think
that the whole question of their future Will
next year The President sees that If Con-
gress should take prompt action Dns source
of Filipino hope would be eliminated. With
that step taken the tnsurrectiOn would
weaken. and If there should be discomfort
q year from now it would BE- suppressed
by the returns Of the presidential election.
The President and his advise-s assert that
they have no doubt of the result of the
next election. They had no doubt before
the President went west. they said. and
they now believe that the country will
Overwhelmingly support the republicans n
the policy of expansion which the President
has laid down so unmis takaDly within the
last few weeks. With this certainty. the
President believes not only IN aggressive
action by the army, but aggressive acton
by the legislative and executive branches
Of the government He will not mince
words, therefore, in his coming message.
He WILL commit himself to expansion and
to the retention of the Philippines. lie VIII
advise Congress that the sooner the Filip-
nos are made aware OF the intentions Of
this country the quicker they will relin-
quish their bellserent ideas.
To Anticipate Next Years Contest.
The Presidents recommendations will an
ticipate rhe hght OF 1900 to great extent.
The democrats will be met earlier than
they expected. and the republican leaders
hope that when the campaign of next year
comes around the democrats will not have
enough left Of the Philippine issue, owing
to public opinion. upon which to go to the
country. II this issue can be cut from un-
der them they will have to fall back upon
free silver and that is what the repubu
cans. the President included. desire. Upon
free silver the democrats would stand no
earthly chance OF winning, the republicans
say
The rapidtty with which the President re-
veaIed his determination TO the Philip
pines affords deep interest to the admin
isJratiOn leaders who have remained in
Washington. Cabinet officials who accom-
i.4@ ThE. aaii liant a m
without an idea that he intended to COM
nit himself so thoroughly. Lp to withlr
the last few months he had never an
nuunced. even at q cabinet meeting, that
ne believed this country should permanent
ly retain the Islands. The drift of his
marks had always been toward retention,
and cabinet officials inferred that tins
would be the ultimate position OF their
chief, but they did not have word OF his
upon which 10 say positively that he in
tended TO commit himself early. They
have predicted that he would commit the
whole matter TO Congress without an eA-
preston Of his own TO what ought TO ne
done about the future Of the islands. He
has, therefore. surprised hts friends N the
positive position he has taken.
When the President left Washington on
this trip It was stated in The Star that
his intention was TO feel the pubic pulse
on the issues Of greatest Importance. This
prediction has proved absolutely tue The
President began somewhat cautiously in his
first speeches. but he soon came to the con-
CIusiop. II Is asserted that the people Of
every ClaSs-the banker, manufacturer and
artisan-were with him, and the caution
which he had displayed in the beginning
disappeared. When ne makes up his mind
that the people want a certain thing he
no longer waits 1t Will be remember ed
that the beginning Of his policy on the
Philippines had its origin in a western trip
during which he felt the public pulse at
every step and came TO the conclusion that
the country desired no retiremeEt from
the islands which Dewey had practically
made possessions Of this country
VIII Take Up Trusts. Too.
President Mckinley will anticipate the
democrats on another issue which they
threaten, he thinks. to attempt to appro-
pirate to themselves as strictly their own.
This is The subject Of trusts and trade COM
biuatious. Mr.. Charles G. Dawes. the con-
trU!Ier Of the treasury. spoke upon this sub
Ject before gathering Of Boston business
men last night MIR. Dawes is given credit
fur being the closest man to the President
IL this country. Socially and politically he
i q faVOrite with the President, and IL IS
expected that he Will one day become a
member OF the cabinet If the President IS
reelected next year. His speech In Boston
l. regarded as of the greatest significance
b. those who know of his relations with the
President What he says undoubtedly car
ries with II administration approval in
many respects. Mr.. Dawes is not only a
nnaucier. but an astute politician The po-
sitiOu taken by him on the subject of trusts
- IL ASVPAAs WIN Tic eoLtlcl4t > poSIlINIl
for many years, and the difference now is
that Mr.. Dawes opens discussion and opens
the way for recommendations which the
President Will make TO Congress unless
something changes his mind.
The President VIII. II is now believed,
make outright recommendation that
Congress enact Legislation which will fur
nish some control of the trusts and other
combinations Attorney General GriggS,
has stated that with some exceptions, there
are no laws which will now reach the trusts
except those in force in the various states
The President knows that these are in
adequate to the situation, and Will suggest
that federal legislation is absolutely neCes-
sary. II IS understood that the President
will take vigorous position on this sub
tect He sees the iniquities of the trusts
hundreds of which have been formed dur
ing the present year He will not only put
himself on record. but will anticipate the
democratic threat of next year to make the
trusts one OF the paramount issues. The In.
dustrial commission Will make report &c