The evening times., 1900-03-23
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
FRIDAY, MARCH %. 1909.
The Lash of Public Opinion.

The Porto Rican hurricane is still at
work on the Republican Administration
and party. Closely following the destruc-
tive gust from Indiana, where the Payne
Foraker infamy has been denounced as "a
departure from right principles" " on yes
terday thunderbolt from Iowa burst in
the middle of the trust camp with fright
ful noise and asphyXiating effect. The
House of Representatives Of the Iowa Leg
islature unanimously passed a resolution
as follows:
The people of Iowa are unaltcrabiy opposed &
the establishment OF any tariff duties between the
United States and any territory acquired as a re-
sulJ ct the spanish American war. the people Ct
which accepted the sovereignty ot Tins Govern
mtut without resistance and voluntarily passed
under the jurisdiction Of it, legislation and laws.
Il is quite needless to remark that this
resolution, when brought to the attention
OF the various members Of the Iowa dele
cation in Congress. caused them unspeak-
able pain and terror. Speaker Henderson
was visibly and almost profanely agitated.
He is said 20 have declared that what the
Legislature of his State did not know
about the Porto Rican question would fill
an ocean bed. and. in any event, its views
or action were matters of total indiffer-
ence TO him Most of his colleagues we're
less defiant. as becomes men who know
that unto them not a thing viii be done
when they &C home and try to be renomi-
mated Altogether, it was a season Of
unusual interest.
On the same day that very respectable
and influential commercial body. the New
York Board OF Trade and Transportation.
adopted Il resolution, in which j. ~a;'
We believe that So
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no' ... .
1ro@
pied
that ..... ....sr-
with ---.us
Il viii be observed that there are sew
eral states and organizations which have
not as yet taken official cognizance Of the
proposed crime against American good
faith and honor. and the Constitution
but this is unimportaut, as the White
House and Congressional mail offers daily
and conclusive evidence that there is but
one opinion in the country on the SUBJ
ject On ordinary occasions such a
universal admOaition as Mr.. Mckinley and
his political associates are getting in the
Porto Rican connection would produce inn
mediate results. 1t happens. however.
that the party managers feel that they
must have at least thirty million dollars
TO purchase the next Presidential election.
and the only important source Of wealth
for such a purpose is the trusts. There
fore, they will brave the popular wrath
and try to buy it off. after they secure the
loot Of the oil steel sugar tobacco. bank
ing. and other monopolies. But the money
they must have. or the campaign Will be
hopeless. Why, with not more than Hanna
had the handling of in 1886 the chances
are that the full Republican vote could
not be gotten out in enough places to talk
about. But with thirty millions, States
like Ohio, which, last time polled about
one ballot to every three units of popula-
tion. this year could be depended on to vote
every man, woman. and child that the CEN
sus takers can catch and register next
summer
Considering the peculiar and even alarm
ing character of the situation, the Admin
Istration. which is a great deal more afraid
OF the trusts than it is of the people. has
definitely determined to jam through the
tariff against Porto Rico and take its
chances on the day of judgment in No
vember. Present indications are that .it
will succeed. But for the shame involved
to the nation. and the i'll effects of the
measure upon poor Porto Rico we could
wish that it might. Politically speaking a
better thing could not happen for the Dem
lcratic party.
The Tenant Farmer.