Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-07

STeSS must IOll0W tuelF atCtatkOU. 4 lO3o
Senators who are holding out In oppo-
sition to free trade with that Island
have better political sense. From Iowa
TO New York, from all parts OF the
country and from all political parties,
come protests against this narrow pol-
icy These so-called leaders are but
giving their opponents an issue in
which public sentiment is against the
Republican party. 1t will be we'll for
that party il these leaders come to their
senses before they have done irreparable
harm
Chicago Inter-Ocean: -' Free men
and taxed bread. free men and taxed
clothing. free men and taxed medicines
In these fifteen words Senator Cush-
man Davis, in his speech on Wednes-
day, accurately described the 0xnard
tariff bill, as it stands in the Senate to-
day-the answer of the Republican ma
jority in that body to the cry of the
starving Porto Ricans, - Our
plain duty is to abolish all customs
tariff between the United States and
Porto Rico and give her free access TO
our markets. said the President on
December 5th. These words have been
imprinted indelibly on the national
conscience. They cannot be wiped out
by any trick, or subterfuge. or expe-
diency. They mean that Porto Rico
must receive absolutely free access to
our markets. without halt or him
drance."
Rockford (Ill) Republican;-"There
is more danger in the Porto Rico bill
than its promoters in Congress even
~ - 10 hka
support of hired trust attorneys in the
Hobbies and occupying seats in both
houses of Congress. and they are striv-
ing with desperate energy to force 1t
through in defiance of the most power
full and general popular protest that has
ever been aroused by proposed COM
gressional legislation.
Peoria Uu) Journal;-"That Porto
Rican measure will sound the death
knell of several Congressman II they
are not careful. When the people get
in earnst, they are not to be fooled with.
and there is no doubt that they are in
earnest in this matter
Chicago Post: Taking the present
temper of the people of Illinois and con-
tiguous states into consideration, 1t may
be predicted that any western Senator
or Congressman who votes for tar
if tax against Porto Rico. greatly jeo-
pardize his chance for becoming his
own successor at Washington
Indianapolis News: Our friends in
the east need not fear that the people
and papers in Indiana will give up the
fight against the Porto Rican tariff act.
They have enlisted for the war and as
the days go by the more closely does 1t
appear TO those that the President has
made grave mistake-a mistake from
every point Of view He has hurt his
prestige. seriously weakened his party.
and injured the standing of the country
in the eyes of the world"
Milwaukee Sentinel: THE bill Ia
violation of the plain duty of the
United States; 1t breaks the promise
made to the Porto Ricans; 1t ofrends the
moral sense of hundreds OF thousands
of Americans 1t begins legislation for
our new possessions in such way as to
make their inhabitants uneasy and sus-
picious."
Hartford Comm Courant Is IL
wise politics, we again ask the politi-
clans of the Senate and House steering
committees, to jam through by sheer
force of party discipline a measure so
obnoxious to millions of voters whose
votes will be wanted and needed eight
months from now"
Minneapolis Times THE fact re-
mains that 1t is the plan of the Repub-
lican majority In the House 10 make
Porto Rico an object OF chGrity--the re-
ciprocant of aims wrung from her own
resources-instead of self sustaining,
prosperous part OF the United States.
Chicago News: when the tobacco
and sugar interests ask the people Of the
United States TO tax starving people
for their benefit, II is time to draw
the line. II il is not drawn by Con-
gress, it will be drawn by the people at
their first opportunity"
Chicago journal: Are the Porto
Ricans our foes? On the contrary.
they are Tor were) our friends, who
welcomed MS and joyfully hoisted our
flag, confiding in our honor and sense
of justice TO protect them from harm"
Champaign County (Ill.) News
Those who have studied the situation
say that the whole scheme TO tax tho
people of Porto Rico originated In the
tobacco trust itself. because its agents
failed to secure the purchase outright.
at its own prices, the Porto Rican tos
bacco crop"
Clay County 0ll) Record: --"Ry ar.
glment and SLY intrigue among his
advisers. the President has been won
over TO the very opposite opinion to the
one he sincerely advocated in his mes-
sage IF he is as wise now as he was
then, with his ear 10 the ground. he
listened to catch the portentous sounds
that might denote the win Of the peo-
pie relative TO declaring war with
Spain. he will at once and forever rid
himself from the tolls which trusts and
politicians are weaving about him. and
stand forth a free President, represents
ing free people"
Ogle County fIll) Press: THE peo-
pie have not forgotten the reception our
troops and the American flag received
in Porto Rico. and they demand that
people. in their distress, be not given
a stone when they ask for bread. II 10
about time that Congress did some-
thing for their relief. II might help
matters with some Of our millionsries
Senator's II they would put themselves
in the place Of the Porto Ricans."