The Washington times., 1902-07-01
West Virginia Senator
Says Future Union IS
Established.
SPEECH IN The SENATE
Refers to Remarks of jefferson, Polk,
Garfield, Blaine, and Mckinley on Ac-
QUESTION of the handicapped by
Senator Platt of Connecticut.

Senator Elklns yesterday delivered an
elaborate speech in favor of the irnIne-
date annexation of Cuba. He asserted
that this course toward the new repub-
lie is the logical and business-like one,
and that 1t should commend itself TO
the Republican party and the country.
Mr.. Elkins recited the history of the
sentiment in favor of purchase or an
ne1ation expressed by Jefferson. Polk.
Pierce, Garfield. and Mckinley, end by
the different political parties
Annexation Inevitable.
He argued that annexation Is inevi-
table at some time in the future, and
/ tnat .astead OF adopting costly re-
ciprocity plan for five or six years and
then absorbing the island. the better
course would be to annex Immediately
and not dlsarrange the tariff system Of
| the country or excite the Jealousy of
other nations by discriminating against
them.
He compared the Teller resolution
promising independence for Cuba with
the Platt provision finally adopted, and
said that the two do not harmonic In
the least.
Mr. Platt OF Connecticut. chairman CT
the Committee on Cuban Affairs. In re-
plying to Mr.. ElkIns. said he wished to
state his belief that the actual desires
OF the people OF the United States were
not favorable to annexation, and that
the advocacy OF such was merely the
personal view OF the Senator from West
Virginia. He feared that the introduce
tion OF the resolution would be Inisun-
derstood by Cuba, and unless the Gu
bans were set Alright. they would have
just reason to charge bad faith.
He denied that the people O. -e Uni
ted States favored annexatio
thought the suggestion Of 1t
month after the withdraw
United States military forces
island was in bad taste.
Mr. Hanna declared that tn zas ~
obligation on the part Of
States toward Cuba, and he
attempt to heeIeud the issue M
.eussion of plan that did. nS
wishes OF the people. He
was unfair toward the new =, public.
Mr.. spooner suggested that the reso-
luton lie upon the table.
Will Keep Subject Hot.
Mr. Elkins retorted that it was his in
tention to keep the subject hot, and to
speak on it again at the next session of
Congress.
Mr.. Bailey and Mr.. Bacon tried to Sc
cur rom Mr. Elk:ns an expression Of
condemnation against Governor Cen
eral Wood for his expenditures in the
interests of a Cuban reciprocity propa-
ganda. 1t was unsuccessful.
Mr.. Bailey declared that it was i'm
possible to find language sufficiently
strong to properly denounce the act OF
an officer of Government who used
other peoples money TO influence tha
legislation OF his own Government He
said that contrary to Mr.. Elkins' state
ment the United States does owe Cuba
something. the money spent for reci-
procity, which was not secured.
This brought Mr.. Spooner to his feet.
any business transacted, he had better
abandon the subject he grimly re-
marked.
I'll do it, responded Mr.. Bailey, for
know it is irflammable."
The resolution was finally referred to
the Committee on Cuban Affairs.
Senator Elklns said in part:
The joint resolution I had the honor
Of introducing in the Senate. which has
just been read. providing for the annex
alton Of Cuba as a State in the American
Union, has been misunderstood. The in
of this resolution had no re-
ation to nor bearing whatever upon the
question of the Cuban reciprocity bill
pending before the Committee on Gu
ban Relations of the Senate. II has
been my judgment for long time. inde-
pendent of all questions of reciprocity
and trade relations. that Cuba would
Inevitably become a part OF the United
States. This being the case, the sooner
he annexation is consummated the
,etter for both nations.
Dream of a Century.
1T has been claimed that the resolu-
ion is an offerse to Cuba by even sug-
;esting annexation at this time. This .
mistake The resolution provides that
cuba must take the initiative, and only
when she asks for annexation can the
United States take action. Under the
resolution, if Cuba fails to ask to be
admitted as = state there can be no an
loxation. For nearly a century the an
leXation of Cuba to the United States
las been the dream and ambition OF
American craftsmanship. JEFFERSON ana
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