The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-03-29
WASHINGTON.
from our Regular Correspondent.

dead. lock on the Porto Rcan 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 tor 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 import.
ant Porto Rico bill is yet to be deter
mined. Mr.. Mckinley and every
member Of his Cabinet are now open
ly working to get votes for the tariff,
in the face of their official record as
advocates of free trade with the is
land. Democrats are taking no part
IN the mess, realizing that the republi.
cans are making democratic votes by
thousands, are willing to let it go
at that until the time comes to vote.
Although hampered by the repubi.
can 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 succeed.
ed in showing that the troops were
extremely brutal in their treatment of
men arrested; that warrants of arrest,
similar to the Infamous French lettres
de cachet, with the space for the name
left blank, were signed and issued to
constables in quantities, and that, al
though there is a state law against
discrimination against either union or
non-union miners, no man could work
in the mines of the Couer d'Alene
country without a permit, and no
member OF labor union could secure
permit. This isn't showing to be
proud OF, and the investigation isn't
over yet.
The platform adopted by the Neb-
raska democrats is thought to repre-.
sent Col. Bryan's idea of the platform
that should be adopted by the Kansas
city convention, and consequently II
has been much discussed among de-
mocrats in Congress. The only fea.
ture of the platform adversely criti
cized by democrats is that dealing
with the initiative and referendum
Among southern Senators who were
outspoken in their condemnation O.
this idea were Tillman, Bacon, ant
Clay. Senator Jones, Chairman O
tie Democratic National Committee
said of the Nebraska platforms: at:
various declarations seem to me to be
IN thorough harmony with the de
mocratic position. Certainly we are
all agreed upon the re-affirmation O
the Chicago platform, upon the con
demnation of trusts, in our opposition
to imperialism, and in the belief tha
the Constitution follows the flag. The
initiative and referendum is some
thing new in democratic platform,
admit, but l am not prepared to sa,
that 1t is an unwise innovation.
would not, Of course, advocate tn,
reference of all minor matters of legis
la,ion to the people, but on all grea
questions it seems to me that th
Judgment of the people might we'll b,
appealed 10 and accepted. As gen
eral rule, no man is afraid of submit
iing question to popular will il h
believes that he is in the right"
-.
Representative Sulzer, of New Yorl
made warm speech before the Eas
Washington Democratic Club, il
which he said: "England control
the policy of the administration @
William Mckinley. 1t was EnglsI
influence that involved us in war II
the Philippines. England wanted ou
soldiers and our ships in Aslatlc waters
II is beginning to be clear now VIII
she wanted them there. Salisbury
a'ar-seelng prime minister. He fore
saw the effort that England is no,
making to crush the South Atrical
republics; he foresaw that the Ca
might seize the opportunity to pus
Russian interests in China and thu
Jeopardize what England calls he
nights there. With secret allianc
or understanding between the govern
ment OF Great Britain and the republ
can administration in Washington
American guns and American ba,
SrArE OF OHIO, CITY OF To- %
LEDo, LUCAS COUNTY. Do
Frank J. Cheney makes oath tha