The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-27
TUESDAY. MARCH p. 1900.
Public Opinion and Porto RICO.

Public Opinion and Porto Rico.
II we may judge from appearances. Fate, !
represented by American public opinion, |
has a chance to show itself stronger than /
the trust Jove Of Rockefeller. Havemeyer, !
Oxuard Spreckles. Duke. Hanna, and Nc
Kinley, Before the Republican caucus met
yesterday. there seemed TO be a con-
siderable prospect that the Administration.
aided by Foraker and others, might be able
TO Jam the Porto Rico infamy through the
Senate. in the shape OF the Payne House /
bill, without amendment, and thereby !
hually accomplish the proposed outrage
upon a loyal American territory and COM
munity In violation ard defiance OF the n
stitution. The deliberations Of the Senate
rial majority i'm caucus tend strongly 10
show that the probabilities are very much
the other way. The harmony committee,
having failed in its mission. was DE-
charged without thanks" and ,ar whole
situation appears TO have Undergone d
radical change.
This is illustrated in the announced in-
teHtOn OF the trust element 20 abandon
the idea Of forcing the House bin on the
Senate without amendment. Although UT
Foraker pleaded earnestly for the other
course and warned his oil. sugar. tobacco
and rum colleagues that the least altera-
tion in thc measure would lead 20 certain
defeat Of the whole infamous scheme IN
the House. his associates determined not
90 heed him. and decided TO reunite the
Senate Civil Government bill with the
Payne Tariff bill. and let nature take her
course
Il is too early 10 form any intelligent
opinion as to when vote on this basis
can be reached. There are Senators who
think that the trust change Of front may
prclong the fight in the Senate for several
weeks and that at the end the result viii
be in great doubt Perhaps in existing cir
cumstances the expected delay may not b.
unwelcOme TO Senator Allison and others
who do the steering for Hanna and his
principals. lt would afford time 10 pros-
cute campaign of education at the other
end Of the Capitol. with some chance that
a sufficient number of votes could be en-
listed from among the Representatives vino
have already forfeited all hope Of renOmi-
nation. 10 ensure the passage Of any KIND
OF measure sent over to them. OF course
ing an opportunity to corral and butcher
The Payne Foraker mOnsuosity. many
Congressman might stiU square them
selves with their constituencies and save
their political sCalps
Be that as il may. no one need fancy
that the trusts and their agent. the Ad-
ministration, are in any way preparing to
give up the battle There is too much cash
for the corruption barrel involved in sue
cess for that. We are aware that Mr.. Han
ma has denounced as "a malicious lie" the
statement. in the Washington Evening
Star. that a deal had been clio ed by which
the enactment Of the Payne Foraker bill
into law was made the condition precedent
to an enormous campaign contribution by
the trusts interested in perpetuating the
oppression and starvation OF Porto Rico. On
The merits of this question OF fact between
the star and Mr.. Hanna it is not
necessary to speak now, but If
the latter will glance over the leading
newspaper exchanges OF Che day. he viii
probably discover that his frank and
sweeping denial has had the effect OF ac-
centuating and increasing the unpleasant
impression created by publication Of the
story which he threatens to and, we hope
will investigate.
There is a far deeper purpose in this
trust attempt to override the Constitution
than has yet generally occurred TO the
American people. An understanding Of it.
will perhaps explain why # is that Repub-
lican statesmen Of late have been resort
ing to every device known to the cult Of
corporation lawyers, to make It appear
that they believe Congress superior to and
independent OF the Constitution Of the
United States. the long line of Supreme
Court decisions from 1920 TO the present
time TO the contrary Notwithstanding.
There is not an individual in the lot who
does not know that the Constitution goes
with the flag. and that the flag and sover-
eighty make American territory. guaran-
teed domestic free trade by the plain terms
OF the Constitution. What is the reason
that there is such an effort to obscure OF
deny these obvious truths, never before
questioned
The answer is that the trusts want the
insular possessions for purposes Of ex-
ploitstion. but are determined that they
shah be denied their rights and the Consti-
tuition ignored or eyaded. Otherwise free
trade between the States and the Terrific
Ties would obtain, and would paralyze &
number Of giant monopolies. Fhe object
can be accomplished in but one Of tive
ways namely, either by a constitutional
amendment, which is out Of the question
because the country would not allow it. Of
by packing watering the Supreme
Court It is true there is a possibility thai
the Supreme Bench as 1t is now constituted
before or soon after the Presidential cleo.
ton. might get chance to declare uncon.
stitutioBal the imposition Of customs du-
ties on the trade OF our territories. but il
the event OF Republican victory In Novem-
Der this would not matter, at least If
Republican Congress were secured at the
same time. Then it would suddenly de.
velop that. in the opinion of the trusts ant
their political creatures. our Supreme Couri
judges are greatly Oyerworked. and thai