The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-24
FRAUDS IN CUBA THg BASIS
BOLDLY ASSERTS THAT MONEY is
BEING USED TO KEEP CUBA
FROM THE CUBANS
MR.. sPooNER IS ANGERED
Ins1nuated That Mr. HaIe's Talk Is
That of a Democrat and Is
Spiked by the Man
From Maine.

WASHINGTON, May 23.-This was a
day Of rasping political controversy and
Cratory in the senate. With the contro-
Versy those on the Democratic side Of
the chamber, anomalous as it may seem,
had little to do. With far-seeing senators
what is regarded to be the paramount
subject of the national campaign was
the subject of controversy, discussed by
Mr.. Platt, Of Connecticut, and Mr.. Spoon
er, of Wisconsin. The formers speech
was an answer to resolution by Mr..
Bacon in demanding the investigation Of
financial affairs in Cuba.
Mr.. Platt favored the adoption of the
resolution, but deprecated what he de-
clared was u cheap effort to make po-
litical capital out of shameful condition
of affairs, which the Republican party
needed no prodding to induce it to probe
to the bottom.
The speech of Mr.. Spooner was a con-
tinuation Of his address of yesterday on
the Philippine question. In it's course he
became involved in a heated and sensa-
tional colloquoy with Mr. Hale CMe.)
over the governments conduct of affairs
in our insular possessions. 1t was a re-
markable controversy between two of the
best-equipped debaters in the senate, and
was listened to with profound attention
by senators, many representatives and
crowded galleries.
Mr.. Hale said: THE senator has more
confidence than have in the experiment
we are trying today of<teaching the peo-
pie Of Cuba honesty and good govern
ment l think we would be better off If
we had not taught the Cubans the lesson
that has been taught In the last few
months"
Mr.. Spooner: What Iesson?"
LESSON OF FRAUD.
Mr.. Hale: 1.-The lesson of fraud, pecu-
lation, cheating, appropriation of reven-
ues, stealing, carnival in every direction
of corruption and fraud"
Mr.. Spooner (warmly): ''It is a little
tiresome for me to be called upon ON
this side Of the chamber to reply to a
Democratic speech"
Mr.. Hale q am as good Republican
as the senator from Wisconsin. 1 do not
recognize any party obligations that com
pei me to consent to the proposition that
everything has gone right in Cuba"
Mr.. Spooner: Nobody pretends it."
Mr.. Hale: II do not think the expert
ment has been a success. 1 would vote
tomorrow to withdraw from Cuba and
leave that people to establish and set
up and maintain their own government.
The time will come when Republicans
will be glad when we get out of this thing
without worse things happening than are
now"
What does the senator mean" de-
manded Mr. Spooner, when he speaks
in general terms of a carnival of fraud
and corruption?''
Il mean the things disclosed. A bill
of particulars has been filed already 1t
is not the administration at fault 1t Is
a natural cause. There never has been
an instance of setting up supreme gov
ernment in a colony or dependency that
has not been attacked with precisely the
things that we have seen in Cuba Con-
gress is much at fault. The administra-
tior is not at fault. The administration
has selected men who are believed to be
good men. We went into it with utter
confidence, believing 1t was an easy thing
l voted against the Paris treaty because
L believed colonial dependencies would re-
suit in precisely what has happened. 1
am glad to see the administration is try
Ing to defend it, but l do not want any,
body to say 1t Is an unexpected thing
Mr.. Spconer: 80 far as anything I
have said is concerned the senator's re-
marks are, IN the language OF Shakes
peare, "A bolt of nothing, shot at moth
ing We went to war to free Cuba. Have
we done Cuba and the Cubans no kind
ness by pouring millions of our money
and spreading the blood of our soldiers
in order to drive out Spanish tyranny
forever from Cuba? Has the senator any
suspicion in his mind or in his heart
that the pledge made In the resolution
passed by congress as to the temporary
character of our occupation in Cuba is
not to be kept?''