The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-28


Mr. Clayton (Ala.), who followed. BIr.
Carmack, created much amusement and
enthusiasm by reading letter written
by Chairman Payne to ". II. Curtis
Of Palmyra, n. Y. Jan "a 1900, in
which he advocated free trade with
Porto Rico on the ground that 1t would
give relief to the stricken island The
letter also contained the following ref
erence to the Philippines:
Under the treaty the Philippines are
TO have free trade with Spain for ten
years. We could not extend these
tariff laws to the Philippine Islands,
even If we would
Mr.. Clayton asked that this leutef and
an extract from Mr. Payne's speech in
support Of the bill be printed in par
abel columns in the Record.
Mr.. Payne smihngly assented to the
request and expressed the hope that
there would be no objection.
Mr.. Kleberg (Tex.) and Mr.. Peary
(Tenn.) also opposed the bill.
The latter declared that the brood of
trusts had fiocked to Washington and
had compelled the leaders of the Re
publican party to turn their backs upon
Porto Rico He asked If the people
Of that island were not entitled to as
much consideration as the sultan Of
Suiu. who was granted free trade with
all the Philippine islands
Sets Aside Constitution.
Mr.. De Almond (AIiszouri) said this
bill proposed to set aside the constt-
tuition not for the purpose of doing
something philanthropic, but in the in
terest of the partial or complete en-
slavement Of a helpless people This
change of front had beer brought about
bv the influence of the agents of
mighty corporations.
Mr.. De Almond argued that nothing
could be done outside Of the constitu-
ton. There was always one supreme
test from the beginning of the republic
until the last sal hour OF its exist
ence, if that should come, and that
test was constitutional He said the
administration had determined bhndly
and greedily to hold the Philippines
for what could be made out OF them.
IL mattered little about Porto Rico.
The Porto Ricans were to be cruel
fed in order that the cross might be
raised in the Philippines We could
withdraw from the archipelago, and
leave 10000 600 tropical people to work
out their own salvation
In my opinion said he. that is
what We ought TO do" Democratic
applause)
But if they are held, they must be
held under the constitution. The inhab-
itants must be American citizens, black,
brown and yellow, and ultimately TO
be represented upon this floor with
more representatives than all of New
England.
Mr.. Cannon Follows.
Mr.. Cannon 0lin0is) followed Mr.. De
Armond. He spoke with much earnest
ness. He was old enough, he said, to
Judge time by events and he had grown
TO distrust those who came when great
public crises arose, talking Of the con-
stitutionality of measures to meet
them. He remembered when a presi-
dent with a whole party behind him,
asserted that there was no power un-
der the constitution to COerce a SOW
ereign state, when those states were al
ready In arms prepared to shoot the
life ont Of what was left of the Union
The constitution, ne said, was the
buckler of those who attempted to en-
barrass the government during the
war. 1t was the shield OF Nallanding-
ham and voorhees,
Mr.. Cannon said he believed we
could do what jefferson did when he
signed the act which was an exact copy
Of fhe Spooner bill now before the sen
ate. to vest the legislative, executive
and judicial power over the Louisiana
territory in him until the Instruction
was put down.
what is the administrations pol
icv?" asked Mr.. Norton.
.TH tell YOU responded Mr.. Can
non. AS to Porto Rico. do the only
thing that can bring relief 10 the is
land-pass the bill. As to the Philip
mines. continue 10 DO ss we are doing
-put down the Instruction and re-
store law and order. (Applause)
I'm for keeping the Philippines" he
continued. under the treaty and un-
der the constitution subject to the leg
istation of the country that owns them
and work out good results for them and
good results for US. I'll risk the pos
sible verdict on that issue"
Bogies of the Democrats.
Continuing. Mr.. Cannon declared that
the Democratic members were not real
w at heart opposed TO this bill. but
they had, he said, set up a bogie for
campaign purposes that they were
hound to make the most OF.
Then. in his inimitabie sing-sOng
manner the Illinois member drawled