The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-03-20

ment with the sword upon the Philip
pines. To go over there and seek to
govern those people against their will
is indirect conflict with the fundamental
principles of this nation which declare
it to be an established principle that
all just governments derive their powers
from the consent of the governed. It is
the greatest mistake this country has
ever made. / believe it marks an epoch
in the nations history which is the
beginning of q decline. OF course the
soldiers who go and lose their lives are
to be pitied. They are not to blame
but the ones who send them are to
blame and 1 think it is a very serious
thing for this country. Here we are
starting in on the establishment Of q
great army and navy. The govern
ment is spending $2O00,OOO a day or
about S50,000,000 a year. This amounts
TO about $40 person for every person in
the country or $50 a year for a family,
just for the national expenses, to say
nothing of the state and local taxes.
No nation can stand such an enormous
tax and 1 am afraid it will ruin us.
Besides the spending of this vast sum
gives the president a terrible power in
patronage. Why, If a president should
even declare he thought we ought to
have king, if he had such patronage
to bestow, he would have a remarkable
following. The paying of $20,000,00 for
those islands as we could oppose the
rebellion of the natives was very
poor bargain. would not have taken
them off Spain's hands if she paid us
tn hnN iclo lie
1 think that wherever the flag floats
there should be absolute freedom of
trade"
j. l.. Robb: GAS a general principle
1 believe, if Porto Rico is to be a part
of this country that it should be treat
ed just as one of the states and trade
should be free. But I have not looked
into the question thoroughly and there
may be good reasons that have come
up to cause Mr.. Mckinley to change his
mind. 1 think Mckinley is a very level
headed man upon such matters gen.
orally"
]. A. Welker: "I am with Mckinley
now. l have no doubt that contingent
cies have arisen since December that
furnish a good reason for his changing
his mind and being in favor of a Is per
cent tarln Tor Porto Rico"
Mayor Robertson: "I am in favor of
free trade with Porto Rico but a ma
jority of the congressman, it seems, are
not"
Julius Whiting, Jr.: "I have not con-
sidered the subject but 1 am perfectly
willing to let the wisdom of congress
decide the matter"
A. w. Agler: II have not given the
subject very much thought, but it seems
to me that the recommendation for free
trade was the proper thing as regards
Porto Rico. 1 suppose the plan to turn
over to the people of the island the
revenue coming from the Is per cent
tariff was a compromise upon the free
trade matter in view of the fact that
there might be some industries in this
country that would be seriously affected
by absolute free trade"
Judge George e. Baldwin, Henry w.
Harter and Attorney Harry Webber,
when seen and asked whether they
stood with the president in December
for free trade with Porto Rico or whether
they stood with him now for a fifteen
per cent tariff, expressed an unwill-
ingness to be interviewed on the sub
ject on the ground of not having given
the matter thorough investigation. A
number of other prominent Republic
ans were out of the city when the re-
porter endeavored to see them, and still
others were not at their offices when
the reporter called.
DEMOCRATS OUTsPOKEN.
Squire Joseph Calmelat: Most
certainly approve of the recommends
tion made by the president in his mes
sage last December, and disapprove of
levying a tariff upon Porto Rico. The
same law applying to our states is ap-
plicable between the countries, and
therefore 1 believe tariff an imposi-
ton"
Judge A. A. Thayer: ''Emphatically
approve of the presidents recon-
mendation made in his message last
December. am confident that a tariff
law effecting Porto Rico only would be
unconstitutional. Not only is this true,
but it would be a national outrage"
Attorney James A. Jeffers: "Such a
tariff would be unconstitutional be-
tween our states and therefore the same
law should be applicable to Porto Rico.
1t would be an imposition to impose 1t
upon those people. If we are govern
ed with specific laws, they too are en-
titled to them, the same as any other
part of our country is entitled to such
a law"
Hon. John c. Welty: IT approve of
the recommendation made by the presi-
dent in his message of last December,
and disapprove of the Is per cent, tax
to be levied upon Porto Rico. There
should be no discrimination between
us. The laws governing between our
states should govern Porto Rico"
Attorney Peter j. Collins: IT am op-
posed to 10 per cent tariff or any tariff
whatever to be placed upon products
from Porto Rico, and favor the recon-
mendation made by the president In his
message last December. / believe the