The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-14

l3:INCH Gun.
It Caused Some Confusion in
the Ranks of the
Insurgents.
But They Are Still in Line
The Minnesota Plank a
~ -E~HE ~
Delicate Matter.

rren, The Journal Bureau, Room, 45, Post
Guiding, Hashingten.
Washington, June 14.-Day before yes
terday the insurgent republicans OF the
senate announced that they would vote
with the democrats to defeat Cuban rec
iprocity legislation. That defiance was
answered yesterday by the presidents s
Cuban message.
The utmosa confusion reigns every
where to-day, The Insurgents had their
backbones stiffened and their enthusiasm
increased by the Thurber testimony, and
this led them to close a deal for a union
| with the democrats. The situation was
a critical one for the administration
| forces and the president hurried back
from West Point and fired the biggest
gun of his armament. The reverbera-
tions are still echoing through the capi-
tol and it is quite out of the question to
| suggest what the result will be.
The presidents message has the result
| Of bracing up his congressional followers
who are now prepared to report the
Spooner substitute and to press it for pas
sage. At the same time, however, it
has braced up the insurgents, who now
have their war paint on and declare that,
from this time on, it Is a fight to the
death. They deny the right of the presi-
dent to make a party issue. Party plat
forms are made in national convention,
| they say, and they claim that their posi-
tion is not inconsistent with the 1900 dec
laration at Philadelphia. Besides, all the
insurgent house republicans save those in
Minnesota and Washington have already
been renominated and, their positions in
dorsed. 3d., ..a . =. e. --- ..~. = .....
| 1t looks like long struggle in the SEN
ate, the insurgents joining with the demo-
Gratis to secure passage of the house bill,
which carried the differential feature; the
regulars standing for the spooner substi-
| tute, and the result In doubt with the
probabilities slightly in favor, apparently,
of the regulars. 49,
Should the Spooner substitute pass ths
senate, it's pathway In the house would
| decidedly against it. 1t really looks now
! as if there would be no legislation.
Every memberot the Minnesota delega-
tion is standing pat, sandisays he will not
be coerced into supporting the admins
tration plank. The delegation still in
time will justify it, -s:s@-- .s.s.5'.s Il =
| 1t is reported to-day by members of the
; Minnesota delegation that the president
hos o. f6ot = o3sx L:I1
not willingly, but as a last resort, if such
a bill were. the: only'thing possible of ac-
| complishment. They say that nothing in
his message contradicts that statement.
| When the message refers to the making
Of some provision that would avoid sub
stantial benefit. to the sugar refners he
had in mind the sSpooner substitute which
| provides that the president shall have
the power to set the proposed 20 per cent
reduction aside as to any firm or corpo-
ration in this country which is taking ad-
vantage of it to- deprive the Cubans of
| the full measure Of relief -...s<. ,.---s.
The Minnesota delegation will not be
| satisfied with the Ohio reciprocity plank.
! At the time the Ohio convention was held
I had q talk with a prominent member of
4 the delegation regarding the probable ac-
I tion of the Minnesota convention as to
platform and he said that he believed the
! Ohio reciprocity plank would be satisfac-
lo1y TO our ueleSatlOn. To-Day this same
| member said he was mistaken. The Ohio
plank would not please the delegation if
| repeated in Minnesota and would be, espe-
cially diStasteful in view, OF recent de-
| velopments. 1t is, quite likely that at the
time the Minnesota convention is held
| the situation In congress will be even more
critical than 1t now is, making the word
| ing OF the platform of proportionately
greater Importance than at present. or
than, it was at the time of the Ohio con-
| vention, i:,. ~ 81: ~. : -f', +,
The administration senators frankly ad-
| NIT that they fear Senator Nelson more
| than they do any other member of the
| insurgent crowd The leading senators
| have rubbed up against the Minnesota man
they know something Of his tenacity of
| purpose, wonderful energy and resource
| fulness., They say he will give them more
trouble than anybody else on that side.
1t is generally felt that. the message
shows the president to be just as fearless
as he has the reputation of being, and at
the same time tactful; for there is moth
ing in the message to give offense or
cause alarm. He has discussed the ques-
ton in plain, straight forward fashion
| that appeals to the country in powerful
| way. " - .@sa !
The message Is "a body. blow to the in
surgents. II they stand up under it for
several days the chances are good that
they will be able to rally and make a
strong fight. Their danger is that the
message may weaken a number Of their
followers. But there are no signs of weak
ening to-day.
This afternoon there was "a conference
between Mr.. Tawney and Senators Elkins
| BurrcWs and Jones of Nevada, the insur-
gent. steering committee. The sena tors
wanted Tawney to tell them whether the
house insurgents would indorse union
OF the senatorial insurgents with the
democrats to pass the house Cuban bill
TaWney said that the house Insurgents
would gladly indorse such a program, pro
viaeo. Inc, d1nerential section of the house
bill were amended so as to preserve the
counter1y1ailing duty as to all other coun
tries than Cuba. i, 5. g -
w. W. Jermane.
A -REcIPRoc1TY BILL