The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-24
SELF.INTEREST.
Motive Behind Porto
Rican Bill.
Debate One Of Most Interesting in
House in Years.
Matter Of Precedent
Against 1t.
Presidents Recommendation
Also Clog.
ESPECIAL TO THE PRKssl

ESPECIAL TO THE PRRssJ
Washington, February IS. The debats
In the Puerto Rico bill has been so far
one Of the most interesting that has 90
CURED In the House for many years. IL
has been in NO senre pro forma debate
A. no time has anyone been able to pre-
di ct with certainty, either that the bill
would pass or be defeated outright The
orators have been the ablest members Of
the House, representing the greatest
committee, and on both sides they have
Iabored to carry conviction TO their hear
ers rather than display their own ora
torical acoomplishm ents. Mr.. Serene
K. Payne, Re ubplic,n leader OF the
House. led off With an able and judicious
speech, which held the attention Of the
House In spite Of Mr.. Payne's rather un-
attractive style Of 'rstory. He discussed
the general policy : this bill. leaving to
his able subordin. tes the task OF treat
lag legal and constitutional details. MI.
James d. Richardson Of Tennessee. DEM
ooratio floor leader. followed Mr.. Payne.
Mr.. Richardson makes no prstsnss at
oratory. he usually reads the greater por-
ton Of his set spesohss. and there Is moth
ing Of rhetoric or ornament about what
he says. The substance Of his speech
was q serious and forcible argu ment
against Mr.. Payne's position.
The loyal and constitutional branches
OF the subject were treated most foroibly
for the Rspubiioan side by Mr.. Dalzell
OF Psnnsylvania, and by Mr.. Chester 1
Long OF Kansas. who succeeds the bet
ter-known but far less able Jerry Simp-
son. Mr.. Long served In the saith Con-
gress and ms1e single speech. BY this
speech and his subsequent judicious
silence, he made an impression on the
House, which was not lost whom the
Popuiist wave swept him under and
sent Jerry simpson 70 the Doth Congress.
In that campaign Mr.. Reed went to the
Wichita district TO help Mr.. Long. max
ing there the speech In which he told the
people of the district that during Sim p
sons inoumbenoy they had been repre-
sented BY chaos. When Mr.. Long returned
to this Congress he was promptly placed
on the Ways and Means committee, an
unusual honor. He vindioated his APP
pointment, however. by the powerful
argument which he made In behalf OF
the Puerto Rica bill On the other side
o memorable speech made BY Claude A.
Swanson Of Virginia, . spare, black eye,
wiry young Democrat, who has to use
the most vigilisnt activity to keep him.
self from being turned out OF his seat BY
Q -oontssting Republican, who is always
on hand with charges that Swanson has
been seated by means Of approved South
ern methods. Most men with contests on
their hands do not take great part on
the floor. Mr.. Swanson is an able ex-
ception. He followed Mr.. Hopkins OF
Illinois, who had closed with glowing
eulogy OF the President. Almost taking
the last word out Of the Illinois mans
mouth. the young Virginian declared
dramatically that he took the floor to
support the Puerto Rican policy which
the President recommended. The hit,
which was palpable. was loudly applaud
ed. Mr.Swanson proceeded to argue that
according to the principles of the Ameri-
can revolution, uerto Rico must have free
intercourse with this country, and that to
tax her without representation, even
though the money was to be spent for the
benefit OF the islanders. would be to re-
vert to the policy and primo pies of George
Ill.
The spectacle of Q Democratic orator
upholding the recommendation OF the
Republican President against the pur-
poses Of the Republican majority In the
House of Representatives. IL q fair index
OF the perplexities of the situation. 1t
perhaps marks tina place where the thso-
retioal craftsmanship Of good intentions
and high Idle ais must yield to the prac-
tioal statesmsnship Of self-interest more
or less enlightened. Prince Bismarck,
at the end of long life spent with rars
success In the council chambers Of Eu-
rope. declared that the diplomacy of good
Intentions always failed when matohsd
with the diplom acy of national salt inter.
est. 1t has been assumed by the Amsri-
can people that the new colonies were
to be governed for their good; but in the
first measure which comes up 1t appears
that our good is a controlling condition.
The peopls Of this country who believe
that their own interests will be injured
by the competition Of "pauper labor" In
the new colonies. have come forward and
insisted ON certain things. Thus the
powerful dynainics Of self intsrest Is
SET at work In every Congressional dis
trict. Ii is expected that 1t will bring into
lima for thu hill four ilauocrats avian
two in Florida aud two In Louisiana.
Other Democrats have felt Its force. but
have felt able to defy 10, believing 10
safer in their districts to stand BY the old
free trade ideas Of their party and the
principles Of no taxation without repre-
sentation which they are putting to the
front. The Republicans, on the other