Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-04-11
NOT IN ACCORD WITH
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
intercollegiate Debate on the
Porto Rican Tariff Laws
Won by Iowa.
SOUTH DAKOTA MAKES GOOD FIGHT
Judges Vote Two to Ono in Favor Of the
Negative view-Many Present at
vermillion Consest-1s
Notable Event.

RESOLVED, That the Porto Rlcan
tariff act is In accord with the principles
OF American government.
/ Debaters--
lowa-lI. S. Bunum. Fred Albert. j. w.
/ Martin.
South Dakota-c. c. Caldwell, w. G.
Waddle. j. Il. Larson.
vermill.on. S. d, April "a
slightly stronger team, better gem
eralship In handling the subject and
the popular side of the question for de-
batting purposes. gave Iowa the decision
OF two OF the judges in the South Da-
kota- Iowa debate, held in the univer-
sity chapel last evening.
The hall was Well filed with citizens
OF the city, as we'll as visitors from LIE
Mars Sioux City, Sioux Falls Yunkton
J and other towns. and their attention
was held throughout more closely and
there was less exhibition of restlessness
| IMAM is usual in oratorical contests.
IOWA, Win the negative side of the
quesiloh, displayed Il large chart, on
"4i1en vas printed their points in
readable characters This kept the ar
ana the judges and each number fol-
lowed where the other left off, giving
eiis STORY IN sequence and in legitimate
cilii2NeS Their best and most telling
argument was given BY the last speak
en- leaving the South Dakotans with
but live minutes IN which to rebut
points of logic and sentiment that
had been With the judges for thirty
| minutes previous. The South Dakota,
~ lN.-tt s,t.
With marked ability. giving less dis
play Of books and charts and speaking
entirely from notes Their campaign
WAS we'll fought out and from the
standpoint of constitutional grounds
lof the Porto Isican act seemed to best
their opponents. But the presentation
OF MIR. Martin, and the summing up of
Mr.. 8uffum, and leaving meager OPP
portunlty for rebuttal, gave the decis-
ION to the Iowa representatives.
The judges We're II. c. French of
Craig l.. Wright of Sioux City. The
contract under which the debate was
arranged provided that none of the
Judges should ever have been connects
ed with either institution, and the de-
yelopment that Mir. link and Mr.
Wright are both graduates of Iowa
university makes the one unfortunate
1 w
that they voted With their alma mater,
although no charge of favoritism is
made. notwithstanding this the South
Dakotans are taking their defeat with
good grace and We're the first to con-
sratuiate their successful opponents.
The question was Resolved, That
t!'e Porto Kican tariff act is in ac-
cordance with the principles of the
American government"
- f,.y.,,ual,
c. c. Caldwell opened the debate. He
said, in part:
The question before us is one con-
corning the legality of the Porto Rican
tarllf act. We discuss 1t as question
of law and not as one of justice or ex-
petliency. 1T is ours to prove that this
act is CONSTITUTIONAL. Our first PROPOSE
ton Is that Porto Rico is property be-
longing to the United States. and as
such congress has plenary power over
1T. II was acquired from Spain. as a
result of the late Spanish war, and for
a payment OF $20,G00,O0O on the part of
the United States, and. like other ISL
ahds winch this county acquired. it be-
came the absolute property of this
union. 1T can be made u part of the
union only by act of congress, and to
my knowledge. that act has never been
MADE. The constitution says that con-
gfess shall have power to dispose of
and make all needful rules and reyuIa-
tons respecting the territory or other
property belonging to the United
states This can mean nothing IL it
aoes MOI give congress power to govern
I"fto Rlco. second proposition is
lils: Aliehs become citizens of this
union only by act of congress or by
treat. stipulation. The treaty with
pam provides that the civil status
ana political rights OF the native in
hapitants shall be determined by I'm.
congress. Congress has decided that
as yet taey are net citizens of tiis
UNION, ana II they are not citizens they
s 90 no. cain the rights and immunlties
o. QUEENS. If they are not citizens of
me United States, Porto Rico is not !.
part OF the United States, and Tho con-
sutullonai clause providing for ma
lorlnitN of taxation does NOT anp,S ia.
thls island And IL 1t be said that this
Is taxation without representation and
~ ere e tyranny. we submit that this
Iani s s",eaHed tyrannical course has
Zee, followed In governing Amer,c,n
territories for a hundred wears. n Is
700 !ate now to declare IL unconstftn9
ttonal." a'i'oi'slltu-
FIRED Albert.
req Albert, OF lteinbeck. In erst
speaker Tor the negative, said i'm r.,..
ne noito liican tariff act cuts orr
trade. This principle of our Araar;o,,,
EoNefnlnent is found in our dccIarat,a,,
OF Independence. The king cut ar NJ,
trade of the colonies, and as a resn1t
we llnti this fundamental law eynress,,';
~ our declaration." His ;,rrn,,s,,i
lheil went to show the injustice of the
' ara, act TO The Porto Rican pconle
ne bureau of statiatics of the tr.ns.
'!iN department. shows that the ,,aonIa
~ Folto l.leo receive a large percent
axe OF their necessities of life from ms
ana almost all of this is taxed. Free
necessities of life is the only RIGHT
treatment OF the island. People must
nave tree necessities before they can
We easily governed. The tariff Bill cuf.
on trace because ii gives the compe1-
ltois OF Porto Rico better trade add
Nantases with the United States than.
Porto ltico herself. The bill violates
car principles because i, has broken
me pledges OF our official representa-
owes; which pledges are binding upon
iiae hoaor OF the government repre-
sented. Mr.. Albert quoted General
Miles, Governor General Henry. and
Commissioner Carroll. men who are
perfectly familiar with thu. conditions
81 the island. He continued:
The act is Unconstitutional. because
ire constitution says that no duties
shall ne levied upon goods exported
from a state. If Porto l,ico is not a
pait Of the United States, goods
sSliaicn from any state 10 Porto Rico
ere exported from a state. Whichever
position they take. they come face to
sace with the fact that the act Is I'M
y,