The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-07

ton Of the house today with "a slight |
DEPRESSION concerning the war IN South
Africa The feature Of the debate was
the speech OF Mr. williams. Of Mississippi
who presented an argument against the
Bnnexat9on OF the Philippines witch
attracted much attention. 1t was devoted
almost entirely to the commercial aspects
OF the acquisition holding that the abb
sorption OF the islands would be ulu-
mately riinous 10 the American produc-
ers OF cotton, rice tobacco. hemp, and
sugar Mr. Morris OF Minnesota, made
an exhaustive legal argument in support
OF the right to hold and govern the ISL
ands. The other speakers were Messrs.
Gibson, OF Tennessee, w. A. and II. G.
Smith. Of Michigan Coeharan of Mis-
souri,, and Melville, Of Nebraska.
The general debate on the diploma
bill closed today and tomorrow IL will be
taken up for amendment under the FIVE
minutes rule.
1--WE were. he said. "cNpansonlsts by
herdity and destiny II Mr.. Bryan had
been elected president in 1896 tn tead OF
Mckinley" said Mr. Gibson "hc believed
the Spanish war would have occurred as
did, Dewey would have fought Montejo
in Manila bay. he United States would
have acquired the Philippines Bryan
would have been engaged in putting
down the insurrection and every demo-
crat on the other SIDE would have been
shouting hurrah and amen"
Mr.. williams OF Mississippi a member
OF She foreign affairs committee, submit
ted an argument against the annexation
Of the Philippines from a commercial
standpoint
1t was NOT very lofty he said. to dis
cuss this question from the standpoint
of dollars and cents, but the spirit Of
commercialism made 1t necessary. He
said he would undertake TO show that
from She stanpoint Of the American aS-
rlcultural industry and American labor
the annexation OF the Philippines would
be disadvantageous In comparison with
what would be done under comparatively
free relations. He believed that IN we
aided the Filipinos in setting up sable
government there we could obtain perpet-
ual free entry for our goots and escape
the great question that was perplexinh
us. The cost OF maintaining an army of
5000 men which would be necessary II we
retained the Phlllppins would be three
times the value of the imports and ex-
ports of the islands.
Mr.. Morris, Of Minnesota. thought
there were higher ana nobler issues in
volved In the acquisition Of the Philip
pines than the benefits cf our trade. He
devoted himself to the constitutional
view OF the case. arguing that the right
to acquire terrtory had been established
by the decisions Of the courts
Mr. Neville. Of Nebraska, in opposing
annexation. said he had promised his
constituents never TO vote a dollar for
the support Of THE Sultan OF sulu, with
his eight hundred wives and one hundred
and seventy-six slaves.
Mr. Cochran. Of Missouri. said that he
were to govern the Philippines under the
constitution, It must be subject to all
the limitations OF that insrumen. He call
ed attention to the fact that the agree
ment made with the Sultan OF sulu re-
cognized slavery and avs therefore in
violation Of the amendment to the con.
stitubon which provides that slavery
should forever be prohibited not only in
the United States but in all territory over
which II exercised jurisdiction.
Mr.. Cochran said that many of the
slaves in the sulu group were Christians
or the descendants OF Christians captur-
cd by the fanatical Moros. The day the
American flag was raised over these ISL
ands was a day OF disgrace
Mr.. William Alden Smith, Of Michigan.
the members OF the foreign affairs COM
mittee for minister resident to the
South LAfrican republic and the Orange
Free State said he knew It would be use
less to offer the amendment In the house
as a single objection would defeat IT, he
should therefore urge a separate bill not
20 embarrass the government but be-
cause he believed diplmoatlc officer OF
the government was needed in South AZ
rica. Turning TO the Philippine question.
Mr.. Smith said is was useless to attempt
10 please the other side of the house.
The democrats were always In the oppo-
sltion. Speaking Of Cuba, he expressed his
regret that the g,vcr ient had been
committed 10 a policy there by the resolu-
lions put In by Senator Teller as a SOP
20 the powers OF Europe Recurring no
the question OF the Transvaal he said
ahe meetings held all over the country
evidenced the popular sympathy with the
the Beers. But much as his sympathies
went out 10 the Beers he wished only for
England, renOwn, glory and power be-
cause he believed the glory OF England
would rebound 20 the beneht Of Anglo
Saxon civilization everywhere.
Now. when there was a popular demand