The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-04-25
A FR0THY DEBATE
As 10 Whether the Honorable
William McKinley's Minds
HUNG ON SPRING HINGES
Permitting it to Wig.Wag in or
Out, According as Pressure
is Applied. There Was
N1 1laolehaS
No Bloodshed.

senatl7es Wednesday on the naval ap-
preparation bill drifted into politics
and for good portion of the afternoon
members fought hammer and tongs
across the political aisle. The partisan
rancor almost eliminated in sensa-
tional scene between Mr. Grosvenor Of
| Ohio, the champion Of the adninistra-
tioa, and MI. Williams Of Mississippi.
Mr. Williams askek Mr.. Grosvenor,
| who had Joined in the debate, if it was
not true that the president had changed
his mind on the Puerto Rican question.
There was considerable fencing, Mr..
| Wheeler tskinga hand in trying to
force the Ohiosn. At last Mr.. Grosye-
nor made an allusion to Mr. Williams
method Of interrupting him which the
latter resented with an emphasis that
portended a personal quarrel on the
| floor, but Mr.. Williams finally allowed
Mr.. Grosvenor to proceed, reservipg
his reply until the Ohioan had finished.
"Does the gentleman deny that she
president has changed his mind?"
asked Mr.. Kitchin of North Csroii aa,
addressing Nj. Grosvenor.
''As coon as it became manifest to
the president that money had to be
raised in some way and that the ways
and means committee Of this house had
brought in a tariff bill providing for
Is per cent. or 25 per cent" replied
MIR. Grosvenor, the president recog-
nized the right and power Of this house
to originate that tariff bill. But I call
the gentlemaa's attention to the fact
in the message of the president he gave
40 sign OF indication Of when he de-
sired that free trade measure should
90 into eject. We, By our vote, put it
50 that within the next SO days, 80
days, four months, any time after the
organization of the civil government
the people Of Puerto Rico can have free
trade. The president has signed it and
thereby given his approval to it.
| 1.-The gentleman says the p1esident
| bows to the will Of congress, inter-
posed Nj. Wheeler. In the debate on
the Puerto Rican question when the
gentleman appealed to bis colleagues
to support the pending bill, he charged
it to be true that the president Of the
United States was then in accord with
him
Mr.. Grosvenor-I say SO now.
Mr.. Wheeler-He changes his opin.
ion.
Mr. Grosvenor-I say he did not
| change his opinion in any material re.
spect, he simply changed from the
original idea Of free trade to what was
| almost the condition Of free trade that
We appended to the measure. The coun-
try understands it. Congressman after
congressman who stood here in defense
Of the bill has been sent back here with
unanimity almost unparalleled. The
Republican party will not lose any
votes in the coming election because Of
its action on the Puerto Rican bill.
We are not holding back by the coat
tails Of the world and hollering whoa
| Qaughter), We have got something to
| show for our opinions. Witness the
splendid organisation of the government
Of Hawaiian territory. Look at the
| liberal, generous, Christian laws that
| We have bestowed upon the people Of
Puerto Rico. Look at the fact that
bus for the intervention of few men
| Oh this side Of the water We should
| have extended the same benefits Of the
! constitution, the same iberalisy Of
!! American citizenship, in embryo at
| least, TO the people Of the Philippine
islands. But We would not consent that
| millions Of Malays and all those people
! might come over here and march into
! our labor markets and We will make it
warm for you before the campaign is
| over. daughter and applause or the
Republican side.) In due time under
the wisdom Of the Republican party
| and under the blessings Of God We will
| send liberty and equal rights, as rapidly
! as they can comprehend them, to the
| people Of Puerto Rico and to the peo-
| pie Of the Philippine island. Gap
plause on the Republican side.)
When Mr.. Grosvenor took his seat
| Mr.. Williams demanded an opportunity
| to reply and time was accorded MIN.
MIR. Chairman" said he, speaking
| with deliberation, "ss g man grows old
| he learns something. l have learned
| something today. l will never again
while member Of the American son.
1ess undertake to ask question of
any member on this 5oor who is not
sufficiently we'll versed in the ordinary
courtesies Of human intercourse IS to
be capable of returning at least polite
| reply to polite inquiry. Further than
that it would be almost impossible for
me without breach Of parliamentary
| rule to express myself upon that par
ticrlar subject
II asked the gentleman from Ohio
question which he either could not
answer o, would not answer OF in his
usual lswyer-like politician style de-
sired to eveds. That question has not
been answered yet. The gentleman said
on this ioor that the president Of the
United States had not changed his
| mind upon the Puerto Rican question.
Remember, did not charge that he
had. What charged was that he had
permitted others to change his mind
for him, which in my opinion was not
thing Of which any man could at any
time be proud. But in charity to the
president and in charity to many Of
the members Of this house, I asked the
gentleman when he denied thas the
| president had changed his mind that
| be permit me TO ask question; and he
yielded. I asked him whether the pres
ident had not in public message An
nounced thst he was in favor Of free
trade between Puerto Rico and the
| hsjenee oe che limited States and also