Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-06-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Probability That the Cuban President Will
be lnaugurated in February.


years since go much interest was TAX
EN- In reciprocity as there Is at pres
ent. 1t will be remembered that
while the Mckinley tariff bill was be-
ing framed In the Ways and Means
committee room, some twelve or
fourteen years ago, james q. Blaine,
then secretary Of state. called and de-
nounced the bill because ''it did not
furnish market for another barrel
Of pork or another sack 0i wheat"
Owing 60 hI- lnsisteucc, which was
so violent that hc smashed his hat
against the table, thcrcciprucityTrn-
visions were added 10 the bill aud
numerous treaties were made under
them-trcaties that were violently
abrogatcd on the accession uf prcsi-
dent Cleveland. Now, things have
changed. President Mckinley stand
ing where Mr.. Blaine then stood,
while another wing Of the Republican
party stands where Representative
Mckinley then stood. Hence the
great interest now taken in he sub
iect. The president himself started
the ball rolling ON his western tripby
his carefully wurdrd references 10 re-
| lciprucal commercial relations with
foreign countries. and there has been
n daily Increasing amount oi agitu-
ti0n in the public press. which has
served Ia arouse the politicians aud
cause the defenders OF extreme high
tariff 10 rall To resist the aggTrSsiuns
uf the "rriOrmcrs." Associated with
reciprocity is the proposed revision
ui the tariff, urged by Mr.. Babcock,
especially ON articles whose manu-
facturc ana distribution are con
trulled by alleged munupullrs, the
same men who advocate the pruri-
pie Of reciprocity bcingln many eases
vigorous opponents oi the proposed
revision. There will undoubtedly bc
"A strong effort in the beginning Of
congress To lay this troublesome
question. Some oi thcpldcr members
OF the Ways nnd McHHs committee
having in mind the serious effects ul
Il prolonged tariff discussion, and nt
the same time looking out primarily
for the integrity of the Dinglcy net,
are expected to attempt to secure II
conference of Republicans, probably
not approaching the formality oi a
caucus, To deprccntc further talk
about the tariff and put an end to all
uncertainty.
The probability at present IL that
the first president af Cuba viii be In,
inauguratcd ou February 2llh, next.
the anniversary OF the beginning oi
the last rebellion ngnin-t Spain.
There will bo plenty to do in the
meantime, the establishment oi tho
island government being by NO mems
completed by the adoption oi the
Platt amendment in the form adopt.
ed hy congress. IN electoral law
must he passed. nominations must
be made for the presidential aud vice.
presidential Offices and members ol
he CTbnu congress named and elect.
cd. While these formative processes
are being taken, the United States
army will remain. The election law
Is the most troublesome point at il.
sue. Although the new constitution
provides for universal suffrage, ther,
are still In Cuba two factions, one %
which Insists upon retaining this pro
vision, while the other demands that
the constitution shall be amended ~
that the right uf ballot shall DC re-
stricted To those possessing property
and educational qualifications, Tht
last named faction consists Of thu
conservative business interests ui IN,
Island. which view with some appre
hension the successful outcome uf IN,
effort tO allow the suffrage tu ull
In the municipal elections held las
summer In Cuba no one wDs allowed
Ia vote unless he could read or write
Ur WINS possessed oi real persona
property 10 the amount OF $lO0
American gold. or had served in tn
Cuban army prior 10 JulylN. 1N9S. Il
the elections for delegates 10 thdcon
stitu ional convention the sHmr re