Iron County register., 1900-05-10
Status of Affairs of National Inter.
est and Doings of Political
Leaders.
DIsAPpROvAL OF The PORTO RlcAR BILL
Overwhelmingly Cabinet and Sec
retary Roots TaIk-The Proposed
Subsidy Grab VIII BE Nailed by
the Democrats.
Especial Correspondence

NOR over the harmony" which pre-
vailed. Senator Fairbanks is gleefully
announcing that Indiana is entirely
satisfied with the Porto Rican tariff
bill. Hanna contemplates with pride
the platforms which he and Represent
ative Dick made and had adopted in
rars aus states. They claim that har-
| moLy has been fully restored even in
| Ohio-the state where factions always
flourish.
In Washington there is a disposition
to regard the republican harmony 81
such states as Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin
and Massachusetts in another light.
The reaction from the storm of popu-
lar disapproval came too quickly to
be Altogether genuine. From the sur
face point of view ii is conceded that
Messrs. Dick and Hanna give fine ex-
hibition of thorough party discipline
when they write the state platforms
in Washington and have them adopted
| Without a murmur.
But what has become Of the opposl-
ton of the republican press? 1t voiced
deep and sincere protest of the peo-
nIa III the Porto Rican matter, and
there is no indication that there has
been any change of heart since the bill
was passed. 1t seems suspiciously won
derful that state conventions can>>so
thoroughly obey the behest of party
bosses and at the same time reflect the
| real sentiment of the people-especial
ly when the two were as wide apart as
heaven and earth only a few weeks
ago.
There is a belief in Washington that
the disgusted and angry republicans
are staying away from party conven-
tions. That they are sulking in their
| tents now, and that they will do the
same thing on election day. 1t is
good deal easier to impose party dis
cipline on a convention than upon the
mass of voters. 1t would be a more
healthy indicat ton if some of the re-
publican indignation against the vacil-
lating policy of the administration had
| broken loose in the state conventions.
The harmony which prevailed savored
very strongly of the harmony of the
graveyard.
Hanna and Dick have practically
toreshadowed the republican national
platform, and they show clearly that
they have NO adequate grasp of the new
issues that have arisen in the last four
years.
They deal in justification and eva
sion of administration blunders, and
the fulsome praise of its imperial policy
is not likely to conciliate the people
who believe that constitutional princi-
pies are involved and that the future
of the nation depends upon their prop
er solution.
McKiuIey's Creatures.
Members of Mr.. McKinley's cabinet
have lately been diverting themselves
and other people by attending ban
quets in various parts of the country.
Most of their utterances are harmless
enough. OF course they praise their
master and take credit to themselves
for various good things which they i'm
agine they have done. But Secretary
Root was more unfortunate than his
colleagues when he chose the Monroe
doctrine for his topic and suggested
that we might yet have to fight in it's
defense.
He overlooked the very obvious fact
that our intermeddling with matters
in Pacific waters left the administra-
ton with very little reason to object
if European nations chose to assume
the aggressive on this continent. Sure
ly Monroe never contemplated this ma
ton waging war of subjugation on
the Filipinos and massing war vessels
to grab share in the Chinese partition
when it comes off.
Secretary Root might have talked
very instructiyely on the coming of the
rainy season in the Philippines, which
will suspend hostilities and leave the
Filipinos no nearer subjugation than
they were before. He might have
cheered his auditors by telling them
that the war department is constant
~ sending fresh troops and supplies to
the Philippines. He might have called
attention to the fact that its costs
nearly million dollars day to carry
on the war in the Philippines, and that
the average exports from the United
States to those islands amount to
about $1,000 a day. They would be
much less if we were not supplying our
own army with many requirements.
He might have playfully explained
how necessary it is to allow our army
officers to have a free hand when it
comes to Cuban revenues. so that they
can live in prineely magnifcence and
entertain lavishly.
He might have suggested that the
Porto Ricans will also be obliged to
pay for Imperialism out of the island
revenues. He should not have neglect
ed to call attention to the democratic
simplicity with which Gov. Allen land
ed in Porto Rico, though of course he
would be excused if be passed over the
chilly reception accorded the new gov
ernor by the populace.
Really there are SO many interesting |
things that Secretary Root might tell |
the people. 1t seems a pity to go back |
to that Monroe doctrine, which the ad- |
has replaced by the gilt |
tering spectacle of Mckinley imperial
ism.
Obstruction in the Senate.
Senator Hanna is obstructing busi-
ness in the senate because he can't |
make up his mind to drop the ship
bill. He might as well, for he |
cannot possibly get votes enough to |
pass IT. The vote on the Quay case |
marked the climax of republican dis
content and disorganization in the SEN
ate.
The democrats, however, promise
that congress shall stay in session all
summer rather than permit the pas
sage OF the subsidy grab. Practically