The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-24
The PHILIPPINES FUTURE
Rumor Of Change Of Front on the
Part of the President.
An Intimation That the Supreme
Court Will Declare Against the
Porto Rican Tariff Law - Radical
Revision of the Republican Colo
ninl Policy Would Be Necessary.

Is Mr.. Mckinley about to reverse him
self in his Philippine policy? This ques-
ton would sound ridiculous if it were not
for a well-founded rumor indicating that
the President has again put his ear to
the ground and is intently listening to
the rumblings. None of the President S
close friends have ever made any other
claim for him in this Philippine business
except that he was drifting" If that IS
to be his policy for the next four years
as it has been during his present Admin
istration 1t is conceded by some OF the
stoutest Republicans and some of the most
uncompromising advocates Of holding the
Philippines at all hazards that he may
drift" out of the tangle he is now in.
The rumor is based upon the belief that
Mr.. Mckinley has received strong and
timely hint that the Supreme Court will
not sustain the Republican view OF this
courtry's relations to the new insular pos
sessions as expressed in the Porto Rican
Tariff bill AS is we'll known, that law
soon will be tested in the Supreme Court,
and it is stated upon credible authority
that Mr.. Mckinley has learned that the
decision of the court will be adverse to
the contention that discriminating tariff
duties can be levied by Congress against
what nearly all the Administration ora
tors in the Senate call with studied and
scrupulous nicely our outlying posses
Sions.''
If the Supreme Court knocks out the
Porto Rican Tariff law the whole colonial
policy of the Administration will have to
be radically revised if not wholly aban-
doned. AS no revision of the present poll
icy would suit the purposes in the Philip
pines of the influences responsible for Mr..
McKinley's reelection, it is argued that
the Republicans suddenly would switch
around to the ground held by the Demo-
Gratis, which is independence for the Phil
ippines with a perpetual protectorate by
this country.
Still, it is not expected that Mr.. Nc
Kinley will have to execute a change Of
front on this important proposition for
several months. because it is not believed
in the Sest-informed circles that the Su-
preme Court will render its decision in
the Porto Rico test case for a consid
cradle time-at least. not until after the
adjournment of Congress in March. 1t
is true that the case is set for hear
ing at an earlier date than the one in
dicated, but it is we'll understood that the
Attorney General can present convincing
reasons when the case is called why 1t
should be postponed. Meantime the Ad-
ministration will make haste with Its
scheme to increase the standing army to
100, 900 or more men. II the Supreme
Court should decide that this Govern
ment cannot hold and govern the Philip
Plies, as demanded by the special in
terests that contributed SO heavily to
Mr.. McKinley's triumphant reelection,
then the Administrations chief argument
for the increase of the permanent mill
tary establishment to a war footing would
be destroyed.
In that event it is thought that even
Mr.. Hull of Iowa, the principal advocate
in the House of greatly enlarged stand
ing army, would be afraid longer to con-
tend for that measure. Certainly. in
Vulnerable other House members would
not feel that they could risk their po-
litical futures on such an issue. Where
fore, it is pointed out. it behooyes the
Administration to make all possible haste
with its bill to increase the standing army
to its present temporary size, and then
save that much out of the wreck of the
hopes of those who believe that what this
country most needs is a stronger gov
eminent" With the army once increased
to the desired proportions, it will be al
most impossible to reduce it to Its for
mer paltry dimensions Of $1,000 men in all
arms of the service.
How the President and his intimate ad
yisers are alleged to have come into pos
session of the highly important informa-
ton that the Supreme Court is liable to
knock out the Administrators imperial
colonial policy in its decision in the Por-
to Rico test case involves an interesting
story, which can only be limited at
vaguely Suffice it to say that weeks ago
Mr. Mckinley learned that in all proba-
bility at least five of the nine members OF
the Supreme Court would vote against up
holding the Porto Rican Tariff law when
the opportunity to do SO was presented.
1t is presumed that the Democratic mem
bers OF the court Chief Justice Fuller.
Mr.. Justice White, and Mr.. Justice Peck
ham, are three of those whom the Presi-
dent has learned are opposed to his CO.
lonial policy on constitutional grounds.
In view of their unofficial expressions on
the subject, it is believed that Mr.. JUS
tice Harlan and Mr.. Justice Brewer, both
Republicans. also are of opinion that
there is no warrant in the organic law of
the nation for imposing unequal taxes
upon different parts of the countrys do
main.
In other words. it is firmly believed that
the Supreme Court will in effect enunci-
ate the Democratic doctrine that "the
Constitution follows the flag" and thus
Mr.. Mckinley's whole colonial policy will
fall. There has never been any pretence
in Republican circles that unless the
power is distinctly reserved to Congress
to levy discriminating tariffs against the
Philippines those islands would be held
by this country All through the cam
paign Administration orators and Jews
paper organs made this point clear when
ever forced into an expression on the
subject, and since the election 1t is noted
that the newspapers which are supposed
to speak by the card have been saying
that unless the Porto Rican Tariff law was
upheld by the Supreme Court this country
would draw out of the Philippines, with
the understanding that only the United
States should prescribe the form of gov
eminent for the archipelago. and that the
protection of this nation for all time
should be guaranteed TO and accepted ly
the Filipinos.
Those who do not believe 1t possible for
President Mckinley TO so completely change
front on the Philippine question as herein
outlined are being reminded that this would
be no more radical a change than he ex-
ecuted on the Porto Rican question. In his
last message to Congress he said 1t was this
country's plain duty to give absolute free
trade to Porto Rico. About the same time
Secretary Root said the same thing, also
In his official capacity. The Hon. Serene E.
Payne Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee Of the House, wrote letters IL
his constituents after Congress had assem-
bled telling them that there was no way
out of giving free trade TO Porto Rico. In
point of fact. it has never been denied that
nearly all of the Republican leaders, from
Mr.. Mckinley down, were Of opinion that
there was no authority in Congress TO en-
act discriminating tariff laws against the
-........,. .,a,u nocSns sinnS They all sud-