Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-03-30
From our Regular Correspon ient.

WASHINGTON, March %, 1900.
Republican Senators ere still in q
deadlock on the Porto Rican tariff
and the key is yet to be found. Some
OF the Republican Senators have been
whipped into support of the tariff
against their own convictions and
against the expressed wishes of their
constituents, but there are still about
a dozen who hold out for free trade
and who say they will vote with the
Democrats for free trade amend
ment. The bill giving back to Porto
Rico the money which has been and
is being unjustly taken away from its
inhabitants under the Dingley tariff
has become Law, but what is to be-
come of the other and more important
Porto Rico bill is yet to be determined.
Mr.. Mckinley and every member of
his Cabinet are now openly working
to get votes for the tariff, in the face
OF their official record as advocates of
free trade with the island. Demo-
Gratis are taking no part in the mess,
realizing that the Republicans are
making Democratic votes by thous.
ands and being willing to let it 20 at
that until the time comes to vote.
Although hampered by the Repub.
lican members of the House Military
Committee. which is investigating the
use of Federal troops in the Idaho
mining troubles last year, Representa-
tives Lentz and Sulzer have succeeded
in showing that the troops were ex-
tremely brutal in their treatment of
men arrested; that warrants OF arrest,
similar to the Infamous French lettres
de eachet, with the space for the name
left blank, we're signed and issued to
in quar- titles, and that, al
though there is State law against
discrimination against either union or
miners, no man could work
in the mines of the Ceour d'Alene
without a permit, and no
OF a labor union could secure
o permit. This isn't showing to be
proud of, and the investigation isn't
over yet.
The platform adopted by the Ne
braska Democrats is thought to repre-
sent Col. Bryan's idea of the platform
that should be adopted by the Kansas
City convention, and consequently il
has been much discussed among
Democrats in Congress. The only
feature of the platform adversely criti-
cised by Democrats is that dealing
with the Initiative and Referendum.
Among Southern Senators who were
in their condemnation of
this idea we're Tillman, Bacon and
Clay. Senator Jones, chairman of the
Democratic National Committee, said
of the Nebraska platform: ats va-i-
Gus declarations seem to me to be in
harmony with the Demo-
cratic position. Certainly We are all
agreed upon the re-affirma,ion of the
Chicago platform, upon the condem-
nation of trusts, in our opposition to
and in the belief that the
Constitution follows the flag. The
Initiative and Referendum is some
thing new in Democratic platform, l
admit. but I am not prepared to say
that it is an unwise innovation. l
would not, OF course, advocate the
reference of all minor matters of leg.
islation to the people, but on all
great questions it seems to me that
the judgment of the people might
we'll be appealed to and accepted. As
a general rule, no man is afraid of
submitting a question to popular will
If he believes that he is in the right"
Representative Sulzer, Of New York,
made q warm speech before the East
Washington Democratic Club, 10
which he said: ENGLAND controls
the policy Of the administration of
William Mckinley. 1t was English
influence that involved us in war in
the Philippines. England wanted our
soldiers and our ships in Asiatic
waters. II is beginning to be clear
now why she wanted them there.
Salisbury is far-seeing prime minis
ter. He foresaw the effort that Eng.
land is now making TO crush the
South African Republics; he foresaw
thst the Gar might seize the oppor-
tunity to push Russian interests in
China and thus jeopardize what Eng.
land calls her rights there. With .
secret alliance or understanding be-
tween the. government OF Great
Britain and the Republican admins
tration in Washington, American
guns and American bayonets might be
turned to England's account in the
far East"
Representative Champ Clark, Of
Missouri, thus stated his position on
the trust question: cit would be
foolish for me to waste time making
an antitrust speech. The entire mat.
ter may be summed up in a eingle
sentence. This is not new issue.
The first antitrust speech was made
about 1900 years ago by an old gen.
tleman named Moses, when he wrote
upon the tablets OF stone the inspired
words, Thou shalt not steal.'"
Hon. Hoke Smith, OF Georgia, who
was in Washington on private bust
ness, WAS asked to state his views on
the political outlook and said: "The
people OF Georgia are too busy making
money to pay much attention TO poll
tics, but they are solid for the regular
Democratic nominee for President, be
he Mr.. Bryan or anyone else. OF
course, We all believe it will be Mr..
Bryan. Georgia, and / think the
South generally, is dead against i'm
perialism. and will vote that way"
Mr.. Mckinley has requested Gen.
Joe Wheeler to Withdraw his resigna-
ton and remain in the army, but Gen.
Wheeler has not yet decided to do so.
He has been given to understand that
ii he will remain in the army he can
have Brigadier's commission in the
regular army, or rather be retired with
that rank. DEN