The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-03
BEET SUGAR CLASH I |
The Strong Position Now Held BY
'. the Insnrgen IS.
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION
Northwestern Senators Say That He
Is Not So Insistent as Ren-
resented.

From, The journal Rureeu. Room e, Post
Building, Washington.
! Washington, June 3.-Within the next
few days the Cuban situation in con-
gress should become reasonably clear.
To-day nobody can tell what the OUT
come will be. Everything will depend
on the policy pursued by Senators AID
rich and Platt and their New England
colleagues. ..-
If that policy is to be radical and if they
try to force the passage of a straightout
reciprocity bill there will be trouble and
q prolonged struggle with the outcome In
doubt .e-."-~=~--- .---.. .-.- o..
If on the other hand theysee the situa-
ton as the insurgents think they should
see it and act accordingly, there will be
no trouble Congress will pass 20 per
cent Cuban rebate bill, and the members
will go home by July /.
It is significant that both sides say they
are Cuba's friends and want to do for
her all that is possible. The differences
are as to the ways and means. --.---- e.
In this connection 1 am in position to
say, on the authority Of two prominent
northwestern insurgsnt senators who have
talked with the president recently, that
the president is not nearly SO insistent on
reciprocity with Cuba as the reciprocity
members in the senate and house are will
ing to make the country believe. These
two senators@tell me- that the president
feels that he has inherited this reci-
procity from the Mckinley administration
and, therefore, must advocate it. -
But they add significantly, She will
be satisfied with a rebate bill or with any
plan that will help Cuba He is not com
Initted to any one form of relief, nor is he
aggressively advocating Cuban legisla-
ton. You may say authoritatively that
he is not bringing pressure of any kline
to bear on the insurgents and will moi
bring any to bear"
These two senators tell me that il
IAldric hand Plat adopt radical program
they cannot pass their reciprocity bill
with republican votes. The insurgents
believe that radical policy will simply
mean the stirring up of big muss with
out accomplishing anything.
- They say that tae prospects poin
strongly to no Cuban legislation at thi:
session, no matter what kind of polio!
the reciprocity leaders pursue unless thu
whole plan is accepted. The spooner sub
stitute, they declare, is more offensiv,
than the original reciprocity bill, in tina
it ignores the immigration laws and hal
q fye-year limit. r., .
!" All insurgents agree that the postpone
Ement of Cuban legislation will hasten tn
general taflH REVISION. Every state con
ivention thus far held in the west, begin
ming with Ohio, has declared for revision
These declarations will have an i'm
;portant influence on the campaign thi
year and may change the sentiment il
congress- At present it is believed i
will be possible to take up the work
Meanwhile, however the Insurgents sa
It shall not be taken UP by an attac
On bet sugar, as this is the only agri
cultural product which has protection
One thing that embarrasses the. situa
tion from the standpoint of the reciproci
lty senators, who are also opposing taril
changes, is the knowledge that the sen
ate would probably vote for any genera
tariff amendments and precipitate the re
yision this session should the openin
offer itself r
Whether this danger can be obviated b
q caucus is uncertain The insurgent
Will st0mtly resist any caucus that will
tie their hands.
w. ". Jermane.