Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-14
DIVERSE OPINIONS ON CUBA
Representative Cooper Opposed to Any
Agitation Of Annexation.
ELKlNs HOLDS IT ONLY LOGICAL COURSE
West Virginia Senator Maintains
that His Position on Cuban
Reciprocity Has been
MisunderstoOd.
FrOm a star Correspondent

WASHINGTON, July I3.-(special.)- "1
consider all talk OF the annexation Of
Cuba at the present time absolutely bru-
tal," said Representative Cooper Of Wis
%consln, chairman of the house committee
on insular affairs, today. Without dis
cussing the relative merits of the resolu-
lions for the annexation Of Cuba intro
duced by Senator Elkins and Representa-
tive Newlands, Mr.. Cooper announced that
he was unqualihedly opposed to the agita-
ton of this question at the present time.
I'VE have launched Cuba as a new re-
public among the nations Of the world and
1t certainly would not be In keeping with
our pledges to 1t and to the world-cer-
tainly not within the spirit, IL within the
letter OF these promises-if, before its
government had been given an opportunity
to dsmonstrate what It could do, swe should
: inaugurate a movement for annexation. No
doubt many wealthy Americans having
large financial interests in Cuba, as we'll
as the Weather classes there, would pre-
fer annexation to a Cuban republic, but l
consider 1t brutal to undertake to force
annexation upon the island, which, l be-
lieve, is the object Of those who favor
annexation at present.
Opposed to Agitation.
II will not say what would do in
case the annexation question came to a
vote in the house, but at present l am
opposed to any agitation Of the question,
because 1t can have but one result-to
make Cubans disconnected with their gov
eminent by showing them the great ad-
vantages Of commercial and political union
with the United States. The adoption OF
the Plat amendment, against which /
voted, has made Cuba dependent upon us
and we are responsible for its success. l
think, therefore, we should give it COM
mercial advantages by means of a recl-
procity treaty, for after the great sums
expended by the United States govern
ment and the money put in circulation in
Cuba by large American investments, the
drop to present conditions must be very
painful to the Cubans. A stringency in
the money market Of Cuba will certainly
lead to disaffection and the spark Of dis
content can easily be famed into a fame
by agitation in favor Of the annexation OF
Cuba.
81 have nothing to say in particular as
to the advocacy Of annexation by certain
prominent American statesmen, or the res
%olutions Of senator Elkins and Representa-
tive Newlands, but I think the entire move
ment is at present iIl-advised."
EIkins is MisunderstoOd.
Friends of Senator Elkins maintain that
his position on Cuban reciprocity and the
annexation Of Cuba has been misunderstood,
and, to a certain extent, misrepresented,
and they claim that whatever unfavorable
comment upon his position has appeared in
the press is due to this misunderstanding.
In discussing this matter today a close
friend Of Senator Elkins, who is familiar
with his position on these subjects, denied
that there was any connection whatever be-
tween his opposition to the Cuban recip-
rocity bill and his support OF a resolution
OF annexation. Senator Elkins," he said.
"felt that in opposing the Cuban reciprocity
bill he was following the lines laid down by
Harrison, Blaine, Mckinley and Roosevelt.
He did not oppose reciprocity with Cuba In
It elf, but was against the proposition to
have reciprocity by means OF a bill. The
senator believed that should the senate I'M
dertake to discuss such a measure It would
inevitably lead to a general tariff debate and
the proposing and perhaps the adoption OF
a number of amendments looking toward a
general revision OF the tariff. He repre-
sented to the president that whatever lnan-
cial assistance Cuba might need could be
given her by means Of a rebate, which prop
osition was rejected on the ground that 1t
might offend the sensibilites Of the Cubans.
He also proposed that the senate should
pass the house bill Just as 1t came from the
house, but this proposition was not accepta-
BILE to influential republicans In the senate,
who were opposed to the provision repeal
ing the differential on refined sugar. The
senator then suggested that the president
should have a reciprocity treaty prepared
and submitted to congress for ratification,
as II would be impossible to make a gen.
eral revision OF the tariff by means of such
a treaty. and as it would not be discussed
except In executive session, the senator be-
lieved that that was the proper course to
pursue. This proposition was also re-
jected, although 1t is now substantially as
sured that reciprocity will come through
the medium OF a treaty submitted to the
senate, as Senator Elkins suggested. Mr..
E,kins took his keynote from the annual
message Of the president, in which he urged
reciprocity so fas as 1t can be safely done
wi bout injury to any Of our home indus
tries The senator one day pithily defined
his stand by saying: You can take links
out of a chain and still maintain the
strength Of the chain, or claim you have no
chain at ALL
No Onense to Cuba.
Senator Elkins has been literally criti-
clsed for presenting a resolution inviting
Cuba TO become a part of the United States.
The claim has been made that by doing so
offense has been given TO Cuba. The SEN
ator fails to understand why a weak, de-
pendent nation-for Cuba must. as long as
the Platt amendment remains in force, be
a dependent ~nation-could feel in the slight
est degree Inundated or could have ground
for ofense at being invited by a great and
powerful nation such as the United States,
to become an integral part OF that nation,
with all the rights and privileges OF a SOW
ereign state. On the face of It, the conten-
ton is absurd"
Whether the country endorses Senator
Elkins' position on Cuban annexation or not
he Is determined to continue his efforts in
that direction. in the belief that as annexa-
ton is bound to come. the sooner II comes
the better for both countries. He main
tains that there is no improperly in inyit-
ing a ward to enter the family and that an
adopted child is better on with the full
rights and privileges OF the other members
OF the family than II could possibly be when