The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-02-16
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent


Without intending to do so, Sena-
tor Pettigrew paid high compliment
to the American press, when he said
In effect that the reason. .he was max
ing a public nuisance of himself by
continually trying to use the Congress
sional Record, for the dissemination OF
treasopable literature was that the in
1uential papers of the country, regard
less OF politics, were too patriotic to
print stuff calculated to encourage the
Flllpinos to continue fighting Ameri-
can soldiers. The senate has been
very patient with Pettigrew, much
more patient than the people have
been, but the limit of patience has
been reached, and his talk and actions
haye been publicly characterized as
the treason they have been, and dur
ing the past week he has been shown
that the Senate does not intend to
countenance the uttering of treason
able language on its flour, and the
people will indorse the Senate, as
strongly as they have already endorsed
the Philippine policy Of the admins
tration which is, under the cIrcum-
stances, the only patriotic American
Policy.
Since Senator Lodge read that
plainly Worded letter from Admiral
Dewey, branding as lies all the numer-
Gus stories told about the Admiral's
having promised Aguinaldo independ-
ence, recognized the Filipino republic
and saluted its flag, Aguinaldo's Sena-
toral assistants have been too dazed
to start new batch of stories.
Elk Gov. Lowry, of Mimi, who is
now in Washington, says there is no
question of the best element in that
state, regardless of political lines, en-
dorsing the Philippine policy of Presi-
dent Mckinley, and that if the demo-
Gratis make anti-imperialism their war
cry, as he believes they will, the state
will give President Mckinley phen-
omenal majority.
The first volume of the report of the
Philippine Commission, consisting of
book OF 264 pages, is now in the
hands of Senators and Representatives
It is one of the most comprehensive
reports ever sent to Congress, and
when the second volume is printed,
which it will inside of two or three
weeks, there is scarcely a question
concerning the Philippines that could
he asked that full and satisfactory
answer cannot be found to in the re-
port. The form of government recon-
mended for the island is that of ter
ritory, modified to meet existing
conditions, which will give the island
ers control of all their home affairs.
President Mckinley intends to send
new civil commission to the Philip
pines, with authority to organize local
civil governments as soon as he can
get the men he wants for commission
ers.
The bill reported by the House
Ways and Means Committee, provid-
ing a duty equivalent to % percent of
the duty paid by foreign products OF
Porto Rican products, is the result of
a compromise between those who
favored smaller reduction of existing
duties, and as such, it will probably be
accepted and become law. The
Senate Porto Rican Committee has
ordered similar bill reported to the
Senate. In agreeing upon the bill,
the majority of the Ways and Means
Committee reached the conclusion
that Porto Rico is not, in the meaning
of the Constitution part of the U. S.,
and can therefore be governed as
colony.
President Mckinley is watching the
Kentucky mlx-up With interest, as
most other men in Washington are.
He believes in common with nearly
everybody else, that Taylor was elected
governor, and that he has no chance
of fair treatment before the state
courts, but he doesn't believe it to be
the business of the Federal government
to interfere with such matters, except
upon the request of the regular state
authorities. With the legislature in
session, it alone possesses the authority
to make that request, in the opinion
of President Mckinley and bis ad-
visers, and unless it makes it there is
no probability Of any Federal inter-
ference IN any shape in Kentucky.
In the eyes of the President, this
isn't case of politics, but of law, and
the strict letter of the law will be fol-
lowed by The Federal government.
The death OF Goebel has not changed
The SITUATION at the Washington end
particle.