The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1900-03-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON, D, c., Mich, &c, 1900, |
Boss Hanna having failed to con-
vince all the Republican, senator's by |
telling them that the passage of the
Porto Rico tariff bill was necessary
to get certain big campaign contri-
buttons, is now vigorously welding
the party whip on the shoulders of
the kickers, with able assistance ON
the quiet from Mr.. Mckinley. 1t
was to help him that Senator Fora
ker got the senate Porto Rico bill
sent back to committee, This leaves
a clear deck for the house bill, which
deals exclusively with the Porto Ri
co tariff, Every energy is now to be
bent to force that through the SEN
ate without amendment, Five or
six Republican senators will threat
en- to 6llibuster against vote,
Senator Cockrell, speaking for the
Democratic senator's, just before the
senate passed the bill authorizing
the appointment of a commission to
go to China and Japan and make
report on commercial conditions in
those countries, said: "The Repub-
lican party is in absolute control,
and we ON this side of the chamber
are powerless to prevent the enact
ment of any legislation coming from
the Republican party and deemed
necessary by it. will not antago-
nize this bill, although do not agree
with it in principle. want it un-
derstood now, and distinctly, that
hereafter absolute responsibility
must rest upon the Republican party
for the passage of all resolutions and
bills"
Senator Tlllman utilized his pitch
fork to toss a few aggravating ques-
tions to the almost distracted Re-
publican senators, which furnished
considerable amusement to the Occur
pants of the galleries and to the
Democratic senators. Among the
questions, which no Republican seri-
ously attempted to answer, were the
following Has the president
changed his mind or not Is the
president for free trade with Porto
Rico today, or is he not? Is he lead
ing his party, or has he surrendered
to the dictates of special interest
following the trlumphal car like q
prisoner of war Will some gentle
man please tell me whether the pres
ident Is for free trade with Porto XII
co, or is he not" After waiting II
, vain for a reply to his questions, Mr.
Tillman said, with a sardoniclaugh
"a dumbness falls upon us all" Ht
then vividly sketched the present
troubles of the Republican party ant
predicted that the people would
sweep it from power for not recog
nizing that the flag, the constitution
and liberty must travel together ,ant
charged the Republican party will
base hypocrisy and dirty work
Senator Spooner sought to detrac
: attention from Senator Tillman
plain talk about Porto Rico by shift
ing the debate to the suppression O
the negro vote in South Carolina
$ but Mr.. Tillman met him at once b,
declaring that he had no apologize
+ to offer for the action of The whit
people of South Carolina, adding
"When you could get nothing mor'
from us by law, you turned a horde
r OF niggers and carpet-buggers loose
Z upon us to steal everything we had
l left. We are here to stay, and we
l demand our rights. We are not to
be trampled on and hampered and
patronized any longer. l say that,
as a South Carolinian, l am the
equal of any senator on this floor. !
propose to have my say here, nc
matter whose feelings are hurt"