The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-12


House. Earlier in the day Mr.. Thayer,
(Mass)., attempted to take advantage of
the division among the Republicans on
the subject of reciprocity by bringing
forward a resolution to investigate the
reports that the sugar trust would DE
the chief beneficiary of Cuban reciproc-
ity that it was subsidizing newspapers
establishing literary bureaus and in
other ways attempting to create public
sentiment in favor of Cuban reciprocity.
point of order against the resolu-
tion was sustained by the speakers.
Mr.. Thayer appealed from the decis-
ion and his appeal was laid on the table
125 to 81, the Republicans voting solidIy
in the affirmative, while two Democrats,
Messrs. Fleming, Georgia, and McClel-
Ian, New York, voted with tie RepubIi-
cans.
The feature of the day was a speech
by Mr.. BurlesOn, attacking Secretary
Hay for declining to request the British
authorities to furnish passports to 90
through the British lines to Rev. Hiram
w. Thomas and wife, who desire TO go
to South Africa to distribute Boer relief
funds collected in Illinois. Mr.. Hit
Ills, chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Committee. made a spirited reply 20 Mr.
Burleson, charging the Texas member
with attempting to prejudice the case be-
fore the evidence was in.
Mr.. Burleson sent to the clerks desk
and had read letter from John O.
Knight who came to Washington to Sc
cure the passports for DIR. Thomas aud
wife. Mr.. Knight in the letter stated
that the funds were collected in response
to an appeal by Governor Yates. He
had gone to Secretary Hay, the letter
said, with letter from Senator Cullom
and the Secretary Of State, according to
the letter. had declined to make the re-
quest of Lord Pauncefote on the ground
that such a request would be considered
"meddlesome" and "breach of neutral
ity" and against the views of President
Roosevelt
If the facts stated in this letter were
true, said Mr.. Burleson, then the State
Department was so Saturated with uro-
British spirit that it could no longer re-
spond TO the common distates of human
ity when made In behalf of Boer ,yo-
men and children" Mr.. Rurleson said
that under date of March 4, another ap-
peal had gone from Mr.. knight to See
retary Hay without eliciting q response.
Mr.. Burleson said rs purposr in hav-
ing these letters read was to fasten the
attention of the American people upon
the course of the State Department.
Mr.. Hit of Illinois, the chairman of
the Foreign Affairs Committee. replied
to Mr.. Burleson with some DISPLAY of
heat He asked whether he would have
allowed a committee that existed in
London in 1863 and which was in full sym-
pathy with the Confederate cause to 60
through the Union Lines for the purpose
of distributing relief. International law
must be observed, he said The Interna-
tional Red Cross was, organized for the
purpose of carrying relief Funds could
be distributed through it or through our
consuls but not through those in sym
pathy with the enemy.
Relief funds raised in this country had
in fact been distributed through our
consuls.
But why should not the Secretary of
State use his good offices to relieve the
distress of the Boer women and children
confined in concentration camps?" asked
Mr.. Burleson
Mr.. Hit replied that according to Mr.
knights letter the Secretary had offered
to help Rev. DR.. Thomas in every way
in his power but he manifestly could not
do a ridiculous thing The rules of in
ternational law upon the question were
well established. Every soldier of either
army who had been in prison during the
Civil War understood the situation per-
fectlY. Jefferson Davis would not have
allowed Northern sympathizers to per-
ambulate through Southern camps to dis
tribute relief. The Secretary of State
could not make a demand which on it's
face was contrary to all precedents. 1t
would be a slap in the face of a foreign
government. 1t had not been done in our
war or any other Our Government, he
said in conclusion, should not put itself
in conflict with another for the sake of
making political capital.
Mr. Brantley, of Georgia, discussed the
question of Cuban reciprocity. He con-
tended that whatever was to be done
should be done speedily. He favored re-
ciprocity. He argueds that the South
would benefit greatly from the com
that moreover, if Cuba was prosperous
a sanitary condition would be maintain
ed there which would remove the danger
of yellow fever, which had constantly
threatened the Southern ports in the
past
Mr. Brantley spoke for over an hour.
He was closely questioned by the Michi-
gan and Louisiana members.
Mr.. Meyer, of Louisiana, said the
question of reciprocity concerned the
wheat grower of the upper Mississippi
valley; the manufacturer of New Eng
land Pennsylvania and Ohio; the stock
farmer of Kentucky and all our varied in
dutsries. There is, he said, no consider
able number of the American people who
desire tariff agitation and controversy.
The farmers and planters dread any un-
friendly legislation by treaty, Congress
or otherwise.
Against Excluding China,