The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-28
CONGRESSMAN EDDY IS EvAsIvE

COaG1tAcSS MAN EDDY IS EVASIVE.
Congressman Frank NJ. Eddy has not
yet finished explaining his vote on the
Puerto Rican tariff BILL nor has he yet
found the saving grace Of humility. He
still insists that he Is wiser than all his
constituents in the Seventh congressional
district and persists in his effort to edu-
cate them up-or down-to his own plane
In reply to the questions asked him by
the C l o b on March Is Mr.. Eddy makes
answer by letter. and his reply Is pub
lished in full in another column. The
space given to Mr.. Eddy IS perhaps more
than he deserves, but for such a constant
reader the G 0 b is willing to strain
point once in a while in his favor.
Mr.. Eddy defes the Globe to
arouse" his constituents to the neces-
sity Of having another representative in
congress. Mr.. Eddy is no doubt by this
time aware that the arousing is an &C
complished fact. and that the Seventh
district Republicans have a candidate In
view who VIII in all probability be nomi-
IaJeu IN place OF MT. EUQy.
Now. as to Mr.. Eddy's answers to the
Clio b e's questions. He fails to answer
the first four probably not considering
them OF sufficient importance-and yet
they are vital. He evades answering, by
stating they were answered In his first
Statement" or explanation" AS mat
TOR pf IA IN bot
statement, but are slurred over. 1t is
the four facts contained in these first four
questions that are at the root of the dis
satisfaction felt by Mr.. Eddys constitu-
ents At his course regarding this bill.
As for the answer to the fifth question,
does Mr. Eddy or anyone else imagine
for one moment that few hole-and-cor-
ner personal conferences between mem
bers of congress and President Mckinley
can be accepted as a reversal of the poll
cy towards Puerto Rico so solemnIy
enunciated by the president in his mes
sage to congress? When, where, why
and in what manner did it cease to be
'the plain duty of congress to abolish
ali customs tariffs between the United
States and Puerto Rico, and give her
products free access to our markets."
No doubt Mr.. Eddy is very tired Of
having that extract from the presidents s
message fired at him so frequently. but
he cannot be half so tired Of that as are
the "uninformed and ignorant" people of
Minnesota Of hearing congressman ex-
plain the reason for ignoring that same
plain duty" The people have. just as
good a right to infer what the president
wanted when he sent that message to
congress as any congressman. and, what
ever congressman may have secretly
learned since, the people have yet to
learn that the conditions which made 1t
their plain duty to give free trade to
Puerto Rico have changed since the date
OF the presidents message, or since Sec
retary Root and Gov. Davis recommend
ed free trade for Puerto Rico or, for that
matter, since the house ways and means
committee introduced the free trade bill
The people yet wait to see the promise
contained in Gen. Miles proclamation 70
the Puerto Ricans redeemed by con-
gress. and to see puerto Rico under tba
American flag, enjoying the same priyl-
leges and the same immunities as the cit
izens Of the United States and territories
of the Union;" for that was the promise
made to the people of the island by Cen.
Not even the president may with i'm
punity play fast and loose with the
honor and the solemn pledge of the ra-
tion; aud when few s.ruttlng congress
men presume to set their own standard
for the conscience Of the people--tke time