The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-07
MAKES ARGUMENT FROM COM
MERCIAL STANDPOINT.
Absorption Of the Islands Would Be
Ruinous to the American Produc-
ers of Cotton, Rice, Tobacco, Hemp
and Sugar-Immense Cost Of
Maintaining Standing Army.

the EDEEE0 " AAAAd1ilS A-AAAss7-yS " lAA
presented an argument against the an
nexatiOn of the Philippines which at
tTacted much attention. 1t WIS deVot-
ed almost entirely to the commercial
/ aspects of the acquisition, holding that
the absorption of the islands would be
ultimately ruinous to the American
producers of cotton, rice. tobacco, hemp
and sugar.
Mr.. Morris Mimi made an exhaus-
tive legal argument in support OF the
right to hold and govern the Islands.
The ether speakers were Messrs. Glib
son CTenn), W. A. and II. c. Smith
(Afich.), Cochran (Mo) and Neville
/ (Neb).
The general debate on the diplomatic
bill closed today and tomorrow 1t VIII
be taken up for amendment under the
five-minute rule.
At the opening Of the session the
speaker laid before the house an invi-
tation to congress from Secretary Root
to attend the funeral services over the
remains of the late General Lawton at
the Church of the Covenant Friday af-
ternOOn.
Talk On Philippine Question.
The final conference report upon the
urgency deficiency bill was agreed to.
Inc QGDale uDOEl TIE u4D4OlldAlC anu
consular appropriation bill was then
resumed under an agreement to close
general debate at o'clock today. Mr..
Gibson (Tenn) opened the debate to-
day with a general argument in favor
of expansion, reviewing the acquisitions
of territory from the foundation of the
government TO show that expansion
had been a national policy since its in
ceptiOn.
We, he said, were eXpansiOnists by
heredity and destiny. If Bryan had
been elected president in 1895 instead of
Mr.. Mckinley, Mr.. Gibson said he be-
Beved the Spanish war would have Oc-
Cured as L did, Dewey would have
fought MOntejO in Manila the United
States would have acquired the Philip
pines, Bryan would have been engaged
in putting down the Instruction, and
every Democrat on the other side would
have been shouting hurrah and amen
From Commercial Standpoint.
Mr.. Wilkins (Mss.), d member Of
the foreign affairs committee, submit
ted an argument against the annexa-
ton OF the Philippines from a CONNER
cial standpoint. 1t was very lofty, he
said, to discuss this question from the
standpoint Of dollars and cents, but the
spirit of commercials made it neces-
sary.
BE said he would undertake to show
that from the standpoint of the Ameri-
can agricultural industry and American
labor. the annexation Of the Philippines
would be Instantaneous in COMPARE
son with What would be done under
comparatively free relations. Het@se-
lieved that if we aided the Filipinos in
setting up a stable government there
we could obtain perpetual free entry for
our goods and escape the great queS-
ton that was perplexing US.
The cost of maintaining an army of
s., 900 men which would be necessary if
we retained the Philippines, would be
three times the value of the imports
and exports Of the islands.
Mr.. Morris (Aiinn) thought there
were higher and nObler issues involved
in the acquisi tion Of the Philippines
than the benefits to cur trade He de-
voted himself 70 the constitutional view
of the case. arguing that the right 10
acquire territory had become estab-
lished by the decisions Of the courts.
Not a Dollar Fer Sulu Sultan.
Mr. Neville CNeb.). in opposing an
nexatiOn. said he had promised his con-
stitUe1ts never to vote a dollar for the
support of the sultan of Sulu, with his
eight wives and 146 slaves.
Mr.. Cochran (MO.) said that if he
were to govern the Philippines under
L cOLst tut on il must Be subject to
II the limitations Of that instrument.
He called attention to the fact that the
agr5 ement mae with the sultan Of
Sulu recognized slavery and was there
fore in violation Of the amendment to
the constitution, which provided that
slavery should be forever. prohibi ted.
rot only in the United States, but in all
territory over which it exercised juris-
dsctiOn.
Mr.. Coo ran said that many slaves in
the Sulu group were Christians or the
descendants Of Christians captured by
TIE fanatical Moros. The day the
American flag was raised over these is
lands was a day of disgrace
MT William Alden Smith (Mich). the
member of the foreign affairs commit
tee who offered an amendment in the
committee for a minister resident to
the South African republic and the Or
ange Free State, said he knew it would
be useless to offer the amendment in
the hOuse. as a single objection would
defeat it. He would therefore urge a
separate bill, not to embarrass the gov
eminent. but because he believed a dip
lomatic officer Of the government was
needed in South Africa
Sympathy Fer the Beers.
Turning to the Philippine question,
Mr.. Smith said it was useless to at
tempt TO please the other side of the
house. The Democrats were also in
the opposition. Speaking of Cuba. he
expressed his regret that the govern
ment had been committed to a policy
there by the resolutions put il by SEN
atOr Teller as a sop to the powers of
Europe.
Recurring to the question of the
Transvaal, he said the meetings held
all over the country evidenced the pop-
ular sympathy with the Beers. But
much as his sympathies went out to the
Beers he wished only for England re-
nown, glory and power. because he be
lieved the glory of England would re-
dound to the benefit Of the Anglo
Saxon civilization everywhere.
Now. when there was a popular de-
mand that the president should OFFER to
mediate in the struggle in South Africa.
he thought we could properly wait I'M
til the ripe judgment Of the president
should decide that time had come to
acc. (Applause)
If you want to follow the president
said Mr. Richardson (Tenn). do You
expect 10 follow him In his reeommen-
datiOn Of free trade for Porto Rico or
viii you follow the ways and means
committees recommendation for % Der
cent duty?"
4 am with the president" replied
Mr. Smith. He is the leader of orr
party, and the embodiment of moro
wisdom than can be found in an the
cohorts of Democracy. Republican
eDpias1ea