Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-18

1t was not worked through Congress at the
IN The q hands sns parry of the hemp fr u dees n "a p very
especial. 1t was not passed In defiance OF
beng true, from the fact that a few bois-
ferrous Democratic newspapers and an as
sortment of wild-eyed Democratic pohti-
The Register will please be so kind as to
file a diagram. of its specifications, 50 that
It can be seen why It is that this Is the
the most He is certain Of the RepubE-
can nomination for President, and the
Democratic party Is not n q cona 4bsr 70
nothing in the world that President Nc
Kinley could influence with the, appoint
ments named and he is not the KIND OF a
man to want to influence 1t that way, II
he could.
This extract from the Journal is n
of the most remarkable contributions
to Republican campaign literature ex-
tant, and will cause both smiles and
contempt. The Registers statement
vas a statement of fact. The
Puerto Rican bill is diamet-
really opposed to President McKin-
ley's own ideas of last year, and to the
SOlcL1H plOIulOCS " tAC POOPAO
of the island by many representatives
of this country, upon many occasions.
1t was worked through both the Sen
ate and House under the party lash,
and only then succeeded by a scratch,
as it could not command the votes of
some Republicans who were unwilling
to stultify the country, violate the
spirit Of the Constitution and break the
promise of the nation. 1t DOES place
in the hands of the President d very
large number, of fat appointments, as
the list published In the Register
shows. And it WAS passed in def
ance of the sentiment Of the country.
IS expressed by three-fourths of the
public press, Democratic and Republi-
can alike, and such eminent Republi-
can statesmen as ex-President Harri-
son, ex-Congressman Feed, ex-senator
Edmunds, Senator Hoar, and
many others. The State Jour
nal knows these statements to be
absolutely true, and yet it tells its
readers they are not true. The State
Journal is not willing to concede that
its patrons have common sense.
The State Journal knows other
things as to the scope of this bill. 1t
knows, for instance, that under it the
people of Puerto Rico will be taxed
without representation.
1t knows that the bill gives the Pres
ident power to kill any legislation the
people of the island may desire and
enact.
1t knows that the President may ap-
point a majority of the members of the
higher branch Of the Legislature of the
island from the States.
1t knows that the President names
the Governor, the Executive Council,
the Judges, and generally all the Offices
of trust and profit on the island, with
out the people thereof having any voice
or say in the matter.
1t knows that the people of the ISL
and are only allowed to elect the mem
bers of the lower house of the Legis-
lature and n commissioner" to the
United States, said commissioner" bo-
ing without especial power.
And lastly, the State Journal knows
that under this bill, well termed in
i%quitous," President Mckinley has
power to do everything in Puerto Rico
that King George III, of England, en-
deavored to do to the American colo
MES, and which endeavor led to the
Revolutionary war and American in
dependence.
The State Journal is attempting the
impossible when it endeavors to de-
fend the Puerto Rican bill. 1t is the
worst piece of legislation eve enacted
by an American Congress. And the
people know it.