The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-20
NO DEFINITE POLICY YET
THINKS THE ADMINISTRATION
WILL OPPOSE ANNEXATION.
Would Cost More to Govern Them
Than Total Value of Their Trade.
Guarded Statement Regard
garding the senatorship.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.
ooo T1.o.o5 Nov NTorph 10

from Sacramento that he would De the
sole representative of California IN the
United States Senate for the next two
years. For this condition OF AFFAIRS SEN
ator Perkins disclaims all responsibility,
for he says that he kept his hands off OF
the entire business, nor could he be ca
joled into expressing any other sentiment
than that 4 Republican Senator would De
elected to succeed Senator White, pro
priety restraining him from expressing
any preference.
1T is unfortunate for California" said
the Senator, that this deadlock has &C.
CURED, for this growing State has need of
all its representation il the Senate. There
are so many important interests demand
ing attention that l deeply regret the ina
bility of the Legislature 10 elect q Sen
atOr. Did l have any preference among
the candidates. None whatever. l re-
ceived letters and kilograms by the score
asking quesuons regarding the SITUATION,
but replied 10 all that II would be very
unbecoming Tor me TO take a hand in the
contest l was IN Washington 10 repre-
sent California, and this Is an arduOuS
honOred and important task. 1t would
have been very bad taste on my part to
have attempted TO influence legislators on
such an important question when l was
not even acquainted with the details of
Senator Hanna received several tele-
grams from California asking him, as
chairman of the national committee, to
do all in his power 10 insure the election
OF a Senator and induce the Legislature
to go into caucus, but he sent back but
one reply. He said he had confidence in
the good Judgment of the Republican par
~ and that il would do what would be
best without advice from him. Senator
llama, Ike other republican representa-
tlNeS ana TRENDS or the administration,
deplOred the deadlock, but he would not
tender any advice regarding individual
candidates..
In response to a query, Senator Per
kins said he would rather not say who
the parties or the Influences We're that
In Coz 1F.,V. To-,
California Legislature to get into caucus.
IN my third speech in Congress l ad-
Iocated the election of United States
Senators by direct vote of the people, and
am glad to see that my views are now
becoming popular"
According to the views expressed by
ton there has been great deal of graf
uitous assumption on the part of certain
so-called Republican leaders regarding
the policy OF President Mckinley and his
Cabinet. When the sober second thought
comes to the American mind Senator Per
klns predicts marked change IN sent-
1 might say that the administration
has no settled policy regarding the future
of the Philippines SAID the Senator.
when the peace treaty came before
the Senate l asked the Legislature of Cal
ifOrnia for instructions, and they wished
me 10 vote for it. l did so. This course
was necessary, because if The treaty had
failed of passage we should have returned
TO the. situation we were in before the
armstice with Spain was declared. This
would have been an lndefenSible policy.
a year and half ago the administration
would not have entertained the idea of
pnneXing the Philippines, but after the
battle Of Manila a new complexion was
put on Affairs. We had to do as we have
done, but l do not believe the administra-
ton has any desire to annex the Philip
pines. l am hopeful that Washington
or Lafayette Will arise who Will be
able to establish a stable government I'M
der a prOtectOrate, that Will ultimately
develop into an Independent republic. L
think that after America has been in
strumental in restoring peace and pros
peritv to those islands, and has started
them on their way to certain progress,
she should retain an adequate naval
depot and cOaling station and retire with
honor and dignity.
Il have great faith in the sober second
thought of the American people. do
not now Near of any sentiment in favor
of making the Philippines a State, and
believe that before long we shall hear
little of annexation. We are business
like nation, and when we consider that
the total imports and exports of the
islands are $40 1000 a year and that our
present army in Manila and other places
costs US $60,000,000, think patriotism VIII
find its practical level.
Nor is this all Let me tell you some
thing that the average man does not
know II costs $4,000 per year to send,
maintain and pay each soldier in the
Philippines, and this is independent Of
the fearful death rate and the ultimate
pension list for the next generation. The
Philippines are aliens and 80 per cent OF
them never heard of this country and
cannot possibly be graduated into Amerl-
can citizens.
issue. The annexation of the Philippines
will undoubtedly bring new trade to the
Pacific coast. l can state that even now
Eastern capital is seeking to establish
several lines of steamships on this coast.
Do not run away with the idea that | am
not an expansionist. l am an expansion
list of the most expansive type. 1 would,
however, proceed along the lines of those
grand old Americans who have built up
the republic OF to-day from the nucleus of
the original thirteen States. [ would favor
the purchase of British Columbia, the an
neXat1on of Canada, of Mexico, of the
whole of this continent, but do not favor
the granting of statehood to the Philip
pine Islands or TO any territory with
whose inhabitants we cannot aSsimilate.
1t is mistake to assume that the policy
of the administration is to permanently
annex the Philippines, for this is not the
case. President Mckinley Is proceeding
with caution, hrmness and great wisdom,
and the republic can rely on it's leader
The next twelve months will produce
great development, and 1 am not descend
ing to flattery when 1 say that the admin
1stration Will prove its complete ability
70 deal with this great question In the
senate can say there is no general feel
Ing IN favor OF annexation at this time
Senator Perkins has no doubt as to who
VIII be the choice of the Republican party
Tor PRESIDENT next year. Nothing short of
miracle or folly can prevent the re-elec
ton of President Mckinley.
Ihere is not, and perhaps never has
peen, a more popular man in the limited
States than President Mckinley said
Senator Perkins Nothing can prevent
his denomination and Reelection His
popularity and the public admiration for
his ability are daily growing. 1t is nos
sible that there may be those who will
differ from him in his war and foreign
policy, but it will not hurt the party. for
it will, I believe, all be adjusted within
the party. 1t will be to the interests Of
certain political factions to stir up dis
sensions, but the pendulum will have to
swing far in the opposite direction from
its present position before any doubt can
arise as to the result of the next general
election"
Senator Perkins desires to pronounce an
anathema upon the plans for the San
Francisco Postoffice. He says they are
better fitted for Jail or warehouse than
a large and costly Federal building. at
will be an eyesore and disgrace to the
city" he said land Senator Tilman told
the truth when he said the plans re-
sembled those Of a Southern cotton gin.
Two large appropriations have been
made this session. said Senator Perkins,
flor the naval training school on Goat
Island. There are already 400 boys en-
listed. and 1t will soon be possible 70 have