The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-24

oftalt ldSlihs nearly Two ANLi9s lft "htNA
Messrs Tillman and Spooner took the
most active part.
Mr.. Tnlman said that he voted for The
bin as It passed the Senate. and. as a
member Of the Appropriations Committee,
voted in favor OF reporting it, but that
he was bitterly opposed to the conference
report He expressed his regret that the
Senate conferees had yielded TO the con
teutiou Of the House and particularly in
agreeing to enlarge the purpose of the
measure by providing FOR the aid ana
relief OF the people" Of Porto Rico. Mr.
Tnlman declared that there were Two mo-
lives behind this bill-the first the neces-
sity fer the Immediate relief by the United
States Of the Porto Ricans and the otner
was that the Republicans were uneasy
about the result OF erecting a tarin wall
against Porto Rico. which, he said, had
10 be CLOSED over somewhat for the ben5-
fit OF the psople. He criticised severely the
plan OF supplying food TO the suffering
people OF Porto Rico and said that me
effect OF IL would be to interfere with
me supply Of labor in the island. As
long as you continue te feed those peo-
pie down there. declared Mr. Thlman,
YOU may feed them. SO long as the
Freedmsn's Bureau was maintained in the
Scuih the cOlored race there amounted 10
nothing That's Characteristic OF the
race. So long as you give food to those
Porto Ricans they viii never do a stroke
of work This Government viii set itself
up as an eleemosynary institution by the
passage Of this bill, and / do not believe
We should stand on any such ground
80 aav NJ ErNnnuT
Mr.. Tinman said he was in favor OF free
trade with Porto Rico Il do not believe
in one part OF the United States taxing
another part" he explained. Referring to
The proposed uniform labor day, be con-
tinued: There is already on foot an effort
20 discriminate against the industry OF
my state by Incorporating in the Constitu-
ton OF the United States an amendment
allowing Congress to regulate the hours
Of labor
Nr. Gallinger-wiu the Senator explain
how there would be any injustice done to
his State by the policy Of uniform labor
hours for laborers in this country? How
would that initiate against the interests
OF the people Of South Carolina?
Mr.. Tnlman-Because the climate is not
Uniform in the United States. In my State
there are only three months OF winter, and
FOR half OF that time out door labor can
he carried on, whereas In some OF the
Northern States there are six months OF
The year when outdoor labor cannot be
carried on We have the advantage that
God has given us sunshine and you can
moi GET around il. l am opposed to any leg
islation that interferes with local condi-
lions and I am opposed 10 having one por-
ton OF the United States rob another por-
ton.
Mr Perkins enqulred Il Mr.. Tillmsn was
ia favor OF free trade with the Philippines,
knowing that those islands had the adyan-
tage Of peon and Malay labor
In Favor of Free Trade.
Nr. Tillman-f we continue to hold the
Philippines will be in favor OF free trade
following the flag.
Nj Perdns-The question OF holding
those islands is not under consideration.
We acquired them by treaty, and they be-
long to the United States as much as
south Carolina or California or any State
Of the Union. Whether we VIII give them
away afterward OF viii keep them. they
belong TO us now. And is the Senator from
South Carolina in favor Of the peon con
tract labor there coming into competition
with American lRbor2
Mr. TiIlmsn-There is an old legal axiom
that q man cannot take advantage Of his
own wrong. and those who voted TO bring
into the country those Islands with their
cheap contract peon and Malay labor were
told Of The results that would follow the
ratihcstion Of that treaty. And you could
not gel the votes necessary to make that
ireaty law until you had bought some men
TO vote for it. / must of course, bow 10
he behest OF a majority. and If the Ameri-
can ueapie next November shall decide
;hat we are 20 have dependencies and colo
rles aud turn Congress loose to rob these
PEOPLE by sending a horde OF carpet bag
gers and yagabonds there I cannot help il;
but SO help me God. SO long as ] have got
a voice I shall protest
Mr Tilman alluded 10 the fact Of Mr..
ReKeridres speech in the Senate having
l,een translated and circulated in the Phil
iBpiue Islands and said that TO it might be
attributed the recent renewal Of hOstili
lies there and the liveliness with which
the extinct rebellion was springing up
agsin.
These ueople." he said, have found out
at lssi that our professions Of humauitsr-
Ism aud philanthropy. and OF our desire 10
raise them IN the scale Of citizens are
lies and that we propose to 90 there 20 eE-
rloit them that We may get them 10 fur
nh q feld where a new set Of thieves can
20 20 rob, and rob, and rob. under the
American dag.'
Referring 70 Mr. schurmsn. President
of the Philippine Commission Mr. Tillman
said.
"Ee warns you that If you are going 10
treat Porto Rico in this way and refuse to
grant her people their rights that fact
y ili ouly increase the determination Of the
FIlipinos 20 resist to the death.
in the course OF further remarks. Nr
THlmsu apostrophizing Republican SEN
at0rs. exclaimed: You are a vcry IN
happy family and I sympathize with sou
from the bottom Of my heart / only hope
that son viii repent next November when
the American people viii have taught y1u
shat trade. and the flag and liberty and
the Constitution all go together"
A Nsrnin. TO Republicans.
Mr. Tillman commented upon the recent
action Of the Iowa Legislature. and said
ID was a warming to the Republicans Of
that State and elsewhere that there would
De a day Of reckoning.
III seems" said he, that the avalanche
ot trouble which no one suspected a month
sgo. has broken loose and is now tumbling
shout the heads OF my friends on the other
side. and they are now running to cover
and are trying TO find some place 90 hide.
is the President for free trade. OF has
be surrendered 70 the dictates OF special
Interests Is he prisoner OF war. so 10
speak. doing the bidding OF those who
have certain interests in the products Of
Porto Rico2 VIII some Senator please
tel me whether the President is for free
Trade or Is not for free trade? And where
Ha..