The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-03-08
Former President Harrison and
Other Indiana Leaders Con-
denim Puerto Rican Bill.
WILL APPEAL TO THE SENATE.
Only Indiana Congressman Who 0ppc
posed the Measure Congratulated
BY Republican Office Holders
Changed Opinion
Changed Opinion

indianapolis, Ind, March 1.-The
passage of the Puerto Rican tariff
bill by the house OF representatives
yesterday, only one Indiana CON
gresham voting against it, started
storm in the republican party OF
Indiana this morning, and there were
dire predictions of the party's fate in
the state election next fall,
The measure was denounced on
almost every hand, prominent lead
ers being particularly grieved at the
course OF the lower branch of con
gress One state official said that it
would not surprise him to see the
Statehouse cleaned out" if the sen
ate indOrses the action of the house
of representatives
Other republicans were talking OF
the danger to President Mckinley
chances for denomination, and sug
gesting Roosevelt as an available
man for the Indianans to unite on.
1t is estimated that over 400 protest
ing kilograms have poured in on the
Indiana representatives at Washing
ton in the last two days, and indica-
tions point to tall stacks of yellow
envelopes on the desks OF the two
senators before forty-eight hours
have passed.
Two of the state officials sent tele-
grams this morning to Representa-
tive Crumpacker congratulating him
on the bold stand against this bill
putting a tariff on Puerto Rican pro-
ducts. One ce-holder denounced
representative James f. Watson as
"mercurial' for changing his mind
because the president told him to-
Former President Harrison has
privately expressed himself within
the last forty-eight hours very
strongly against the Puerto Rican
bill, and to the effect that it would be |
committing a great mistake to pass
it. His views have been widely circu-
lated from mouth to mouth and have |
accumulated the opposition to the
bill.
The business men and politicians
OF this state are talking about the
bill and are almost uniformly against
it.
Harrison, in being pressed for an
opinion tonight said:
Il do not want to say anything off
hand on matter of such grave i'm
portance. may prepare a careful
article on the matter.
Attorney General Miller of Presi-
dent Harrison's cabinet is very pro-
nounced in his opposition The {
republican state officers say that the {
state will GO democratic this fall I'M I
less the senate modifies or kills the t
bill. n
Congressman Watson of the Rich {
nond, Ind, district says that he was t
opposed to the bill, but President !
sent for him and told |
him that he had changed e
his mind about free trade with Puerto {
Rico.and asked him to vote for the
bill. Watson said that he did not
want to have his party against him.
so he concluded to crafty Mex inley.
Lucian B. Swift, president of the
,ivil service league, Indiana. said that
yesterday wrote one of the
most disgraceful chapters ever writ
ten by any congress. -
Postmaster Hess says that the q
party has committed political suicide {
republican chairman state committee ?
Hernley left for Washington tonight !
TO present the republican sentiment ;
of Indiana to senator's and the add :
All prominent Republicans oppose =
the bill and perhaps 80 per cent of :
the rank and file.
MASON : PREDICTION.
New York, March 1.-Senator vii
liam E. Mason. of Chicago. made q =
lew predictions at the Hoffman House :,
to-day. He prophesied that the SEN
ate would never accept the Puerto ),
Rican tariff bin as passed by the
house; that the Nicaraguan Canal
bill could not reach the president I'M il
less the hckinleyHay treaty were so K
amended that the United States 4.
should control the waterway. both in i
war and peace; that the senate would T,
nave 10 meet the Boer issue in . few e,