Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-17
WITH CUBA
War Department Anxious to Have
Congress Deal Literally
With Island.
Senators Plat. spooenr and
Lodge Confer With Secre.
tary OF War Root.
Root Favors Giving Cuba Advant.
ages Not Accorded Many
Of the Nations.

sue relative to the island of Cuba. The
war department does not disguise its de-
sire that congress shall deal generously
with the island. Secretary Root has
urged action of this kind in his annual
report, and the message of President
Roosevelt pointed out the obligation of
the United States In this direction. Since
the action of the ways and means COM
mittee of the house in accepting the war
department program as to the Pniifp-
pines there have been repeated state
ments of the hostility OF the members
to concessions to the Cubans. These
statements have been made in inter-
views and to the secretary of war ana
even the president by leading members.
One of the arguments made is that oy
erecting a tariff barrier against Inn
ports from the Philippines, the United
States has taken action which forbids
concessions to Cuba. The claim Is made
that we should not be liberal In our
treatment of an island which we have
announced is to be given free and indie
pendent government entirely separate
from our jurisdiction, and yet for is
lands which are for all time territory OF
the United States tax imported prod
ucts.
AT the conference of Saturday it is UNI
derstood that Mr.. Root acknowledged
the force of this argument, and said
there was no objection to making the
same or similar concessions for the
Philippines which are made for Cuba.
He has taken the position that in urg-
ing immediate action as to the Philip
pines he was striving alone to return
and secure the status quo in the islands.
Saturday the secretary admitted that II
there would be just cause Of complaint
as to the treatment accorded the Filipi-
nos. He will consent to alterations m
the present system of taxation for the
Philippines. He believes that the unit
ed States can we'll make concessions IN
a permanent tariff bill, and suggests
that in the measure which is now being
framed in the war department covering
the whole Philippine situation a new
trade arrangement with the Philippines
can be concluded. The measure in
question Is being worked out for leaders
in the ways and means committee OF the
house and those senators who are max
ing study of insular affairs. It will
provide system Of civil governmentsfn
the islands different from the system
now in vogue. 1t will give to the is-
lands, il approved by congress, a form
of civil or territorial government such
as is now in vogue in Alaska. 1t will
provide territorial courts and the entire
machinery for judicial system. 1t
will make the governor. who will be ap-
pointed by the president OF the United
States, the commander-in-chiefo of the
army, and will probably state specifical-
ly, az was done in the act for Alaska,
that the islands shall not have repre-
sentative in congress.
There will be no objection on the part
OF the government to embodying In this
measure an advantageous trade ar
for the United States. The
only concern the administration has is
that the announced open door" policy
OF this government in the east shall not
be violated. Whatever trade arrange
ments are made for the benefit of the
United States must be framed with the
fact in view that Spain will share with
jig for a period Of ten years in the ar
President Mckinley, when
the treaty of Paris was under consider
alton, gave to the nations of the world
the assurances that Is was the intention
of the United States to preserve the
open door policy in the Islands and
there is no intention on the part of the
administration to fail to carry out the
assurances which were given by the
dead president. No definite steps as to
final legislation for the Philippines will
be taken until Governor Taft arrives
from Manila.
In considering the Cuban concessions
the open door policy does not figure.
Secretary Root told his conferees that
national honor demanded that this coun-
try should give to the Cubans advantag-
es which they have lost thru the war
with Spain. American occupation has
taken from the islands the market
which they enjoyed in Spain. High tar
if barriers keep the Cuban products
from this country. The secretary was
asked as to what concessions the Gu
bans could and would make to the Unit
ed States in return and promptly de-
clared that the Cubans wanted conces-
sions on sugar, tobacco and coffee and
in return he could name ninety articles
which the Cubans would open their
markets to gladly. He does not conflne
the talk OF reciprocal concessions to the
articles which have been named by Gen.
Wood. soft lumber, rice, cotton goods
and textiles, but says manufacturers of
the United States will be given openings
In any possible line they may suggest
Nothing in the way of definite steps for
are advised in advance Of
the formation Of the independent gov
eminent in Cuba on Feb. 26.
Conferences and discussions at this
time are designed solely to bear on pub
lie sentiment and sentiment among
leaders in congress. When the time
comes for actual legislation to be urged
the war department will come forward
with mass of statistics to show the
condition prevailing now and
the urgent necessity for something to be
done for the ward of the United States
1t is the hope Of the administration that
the arrangement be a permanent one,
but falling in this desire congress is to
be urged to make an arrangement which
will give the Cubans an outlet for the
crops now being harvested. The feeling
which is shared by large number Of
members of congress that the Cubans
have proven ungrateful for all that has
been done for them and that Cuban am
nexation the only lasting solution of the
Cuban question. will be FASTENED by a
policy Of Indifference to the island by
the Tinted States will he met with the