Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-15
Washington correspondence.

Mark hauna's Ready Made Platforms
to Republican State Conventions.
Washington correspondence:
Secretary Root in his report on
Cuban expenditure to the Senate, has
furnished the people object lesson No.
on imperialism in practical operation.
This policy is no longer a rainbow-tint-
ed dream lowering about President Me-
Kinley's imagination. 1t is an actual
and solid reality. which costs money to
support This report from the War De-
partmcnt shows the extra salaries
which our military officials have been
allowed to draw from Cuban revenues
in addition to their legal and regular
salaries as officers of the United States
army Here are most important items:
TO the Governor General of Cuba.
$500 per year
Military Governor Of Havana, $1,000
per year"
Collector of Customs for Cuba,
$500 per year"
Treasurer Island of Cuba. 800 per
year"
Secretary Root very frankly states
that this extra allowance was made in
order that these officials insight live in
style more betting their positions.
He assumes without question that our
carpetbag" Imperialism must outshine
the princely spiendor of the Spanish
tyrants from whom we delivered the
Cubans The old ideas of Jeffersonlan
simplicity have been entirely forgotten
The law is very explicit in prohibiting
extra allowance to army officers, but
Secretary Root says that the payments
were authorized by the President on the
Oraladyice of the Attorney General. An
attempt IS made to justify the expendi-
ture by citing the fact that allowances
were made to army officers performing
civil functions in Mexico and CalifOr-
MIA, aud were sanctioned by Congress
IN 1S40 and 1853, bat Secretary Root
conveniently forgetB that Congress in
1870 passed the law specifically prohib-
ting extra allowances. Republicans
have strenuously maintained on the
floor OF the Senate that these allow
a1ces in Cuba were not In the nature Of
extra salaries, but the official order of
1899 shows that the amounts were
termed salaries when ordered to be
paid out Of the revenues of Cuba.
1t is not stated what the impoyerish-
ed Cubans think of this Spectacle of
having their island revenues spent more
layishly for the purposes of our mill
tary occupation than they ever were
under Spanish regime. The Cubans,
being under martial law, are not in u
position TO make known any criticisms
OF their new masters.
The Cuban iteln is not so very large
IN itself, but ii is the thin end of the
wedge II that amount can be taken
every year from Insular revenues, why
not any other SUN up to the limit of the
revenue producing capacity of the ISL
and? The same sort of a raid is plan
ned in Porto Rico, and Congress is
asked, as a mere matter of form, to
give its sanction in advance to the plum
dering Of the stricken people of that
island
she blessings os our institutions to the
ITilipinos lies this very scheme of max
ing them the helpless subjects Of a lot
of irresponsible officials who will loot
everything in sight. OF course it will
be done in a geatlemanly manner and
with the sanction of the administration,
but il il no wonder that certain inter
ests are SO loud in the defense of inn
perlalism They see already what OPP
portunities are going to be presented
for private spollation If only the prece-
dent can be established that the Presi-
dent aud his Congress are above the
Constitution.
Mark Hanna is taking pains that no
Republican State Convention shall be
allowed to criticise the Porto Rican
Measure or any other matter pertain
ing to this administration. Unfortu-
uately for his dreams of four years
more IN which to strengthen the Inn
perial policy, the people may choose
after a Il 10 vote for "A man who will rec
oguize the authority of the Constitu-
ton Ia relation to the insular posses
sions and other important matters.
Ready Made Platforms.
Much interest is felt in Washington
in the State conventions which are be-
ing held at this time, Mark Hsnna and
mis- lieutenants not only sent ready
made platform TO Ohio, but 1t looks
as IL Indiana Wisconsin and Massachu-
sets received duplicate copieS in order
TO guide their action. Hanna feels that
there must be at least the appearance
of surface harmony, but It is suggested
little more variety of diction In the VA
rious platforms. Hanna AMI Dick re-
turned from Ohio in the best of spirits
and seem really TO have persuaded
themselves that their shifty and eva
sive platform would convince voters
that She administration is all right and
only needs more time and more power
in order that everybody shall be happy.
The trust planks in the State plat
forms are noticeably weak, and II is
said that the representatives of sew
erai OF the big trusts served 5otice on
Hanna before he left Washington that
II they We're to put up the fund for his
campaign they expected to be treated
with respect and Difference. The trusts
have gotten SO far away from tie peo-
pie that /, is difficult FOR them to see
why their agent Mr. Hanna. should
even take the trouble to dissemble his
coutempt for the mere mob which
casts votes
NJ. Quay and his friends have seen
III 70 indulge in good deal of bitter
ness over his failure 20 be seated as a
Senator IL was a lesson 10 those who
get into the comfortable belief that
waen the Legislature and the pre-
scriSed forms become an obstruction to
certain interests. that the Governor of
q state can assume almost any function.
and by Interpretation" put himself
above law and beyond the power o.
tha teaoselN There is n general fe,afin~