The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-03-08

N"o ouAAihASth hobAOht prints VIC AOiAOW-
ing editorial
mot since the speech Of Senator
Proctor setting forth the narrowing
sufferings Of Cuba under Spanish mis-
government. has American sentiment
been so universally aroused as at the
present moment over the bill 10 ex-
clude Puerto Rico from free access 20
American markets. Indignation min
giles with the amazement of Republi-
cans throughout the country that their
representatives should be so dead TO
popular opinion as to fout It.
SIN this worse than unfortunate
state of affairs responsbility for the
reversal OF the Republican policy to-
ward Puerto Rico is laid directly St
the door of the president. 1t is cred
IDLY reported that but for the presi-
dents change OF front the bill report
ed by the ways and means committee
would have been defeated with or
without the compromise that went to
the per centage and not the principle
of the wrong. Congressman Watson
OF the Sixth Indiana district says that
president sent for him and induced
him to vote for the bill in the face of
hundreds of telegraphic protests from
his constituents.
THE press dispatches from Wash
ington all testify to the fact that one
word from the white house reaffirming
the president's declaration of last De-
cember would have rallied Republican
congressman from every section OF the
Union TO the performance OF our plain
duty to Puerto Rico. The president
failed to utter that word, which, like
blast from the horn of Roderick,
would have carried dismRy and con-
sternation through the lobbies Of
sugar and tobacco in Washington.
"Teis was mistake OF omission OF
plain duty.
"Then followed the mistake Of CONS
mission. Instead Of preserving what
might have been pardoned as 3 digni-
fed silence--leaving to congress its
responsibility and reserving to the ex-
ecutive its freedom TO follow the
course OF plain duty in accord with
the almost universal will Of the peo
rle-the president permitted it to be
understood that he favored the action
of the ways and means committee and
wished to see tree trade with the
United States denied to Puerto Rico.
"In this we think President MeKin-
ley committed the first almost irrepar
able mistake OF HIS administrations
mistake that we fear will not down
unless through his influence with con-
gress he can induce the senate TO
throw out the house bill for substi-
tule that shall enact free trade with
Puerto Riso US an integral Part Of the
United States.
"We are told from Washington, and
especially we OF the Mississippi valley
are told, that we do NOT understand
the motive behind the presidents al
tered attitude toward Puerto Rico.
"Neither do the Republicans OF the
country understand these motives.
But they understand this, that with
all tbs light before him, that he and
the people now possess, last Decenbsr
President Mckinley declared;
1.-THE markets Of the United States
should be opened up to her products.
Our plain duty is TO abolish all Gus.
toms tariffs between the United States
and Puerto Rico, and give her pro-
ducts free access to our markets.
Moreover, the Republicans under
stand thst II there were any sufficient
secret reason Why our duty in Decem-
ber should not be oor duty in March,
there is no art under heaven that can
reconcile the about face in this ease
where the impression has gone forth
that IL was brought about in the In
terest OF two great trusts,
"rhe president aud the Republican
party must remember that the people
Of the United States are at this time
particularly suspicious Of the occult
influence Of great trusts on national
Legislation.
mo two million collar sop Of GUS
toms rebated for the use and benefit