The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-08
M'KINLEY FAvORS 1T.
Told Certain Senators to Pass
Porto Rico House Bill, Says
Wellman.

Chicago, March 8.-The Times Herald
publishes the following special dispatch
by Walter Wellman from Washington:
President Mckinley stands squarely
by the house bill levying a Is per cent
tariff on Porto Rico He is unusually
earnest in his advocacy of that meas
ure. and is not in favor of the Davis
amendment, which gives the island free
trade and at the same time saves the
constitutional precedent involved by
asserting the power of congress to ex-
tend the constitution in its wisdom.
If the president continues of the same
opinion that he held at the cabinet
meeting today he will use all his infiu-
ence with Republican senators to Sc
cure passage of the house bill and de-
feat of the Davis or any other free
trade trade amendment
In fact, the president has already ex-
erteo MS influence in this direction. To
number of senators who called upon
him today he said:
Pass the house bill. The Is per cent
tariff is just and fair to the people Of
Porto Rico They are satisfied with it.
Adoption of this policy is now essential
TO RepuDilcan success. If we retreat in
the face of the enemy we shall be over
Whelmed next November We can
neither retreat nor compromise
1.-The people do not understand the
situation now, and as soon as thew do
they will be with us. This newspaper
agitation will all blow over in a week
or two, and upon gaining full informa-
ton the country will indorse our atti-
tude."
The president discussed the whole
situation today with senators and with
members of his cabinet. To all he made
known the earnestness of his conviction
thdt demonstration of the constitu-
tlona! power of the government to levy
a tariff upon such possessions as Porto
Rlco, the Philippines, Guam and Samoa
IS absolutely essential to success of the
pollcy OF expansion and of the party
which stands for expansion
He said the Democrats were trying to
force the country into a position where
1t would be necessary to give m the
Philippines, and such would be the case
II they We're able to establish their
theory that the constitution of itself
the flag flies.
President Mckinley made plain and
unequivoca1 statements today of his
views, and these are that the consti-
tuition does not extend to these new pos
sessions Till congress extends it and
enacts the legislation needed to put if
in force; that an economic system
adapted to the United States is not
necessarily adapted to Porto Rico and
certainly not adapted to the Philip
pines; that the United States has
enough wisdom, generosity and skill to
devise economic and governmental
systems for each of these possessions
that will be just and advantageous to
the people thereof. without being unjust
and harmful to the people of the United
states; that a test case having arisen
in Porto Rico, and the power of the
government having been denied bv the
enemies of expansion, it is now doubly
important to assert that power in nm
mistakable terms.
"A month or six weeks ago we might
have permitted Porto Rico legislation
without asserting that power and with
out any great danger" said the presi-
dent to one of his senatorial callers to-
day, but after the recent agitation
and vehement denial that we have such
power do you know what would happep
if we were to beat a retreat now
Simply this: The people would say we
retreated because we did not have the
from Porto Rico they would pass on to
the Philippines and declare that great
archipelago is likewise already under
the constitution, and that therefore no
tariff duties could ever be applied
against imports from the PHILIPPINES. -
The president was asked for his views
concerning the Davis plan, and his OBJ
jections to it were that it does not
assert the constitutional power with
sufficient directneSs and clearness. and
that its adoption would fail to bring
the problem fairly before the supreme
court. But for his sincere conviction
question is now of such great inlpor-
tance that it overshadows everything
else it is understood the President
would be willing to accept the Davis
compromise AS the case stands. he is
emphatically opposed to it.