The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-04-29
WHY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
Asked ron RECIPROCITY.
NO PROMISE BY M'NNLEy
Bad Management by House Leaders
Responsible for Present
s~itustion.

Washington. April 27.-The true
story relating to the origin Of the
Cuban reciprocity bill is gradually
coming to light. During last October
and November, when the president
was writing his annual message to
congress, he frequently called in re-
publican leaders in the senate and
house and read them extracts from
his message on the leading topics un-
der consideration.
It is 9 fact, and that statement is
made on the authority CT a senator
from the northwest, that President
Roosevelt had decided to treat the
Cul1n question in a very different
maEAer from which he did handle 1t
in a4lfs annual message.
Tie original text Of the message in
referring to Cuba proposed liberal
treatment, the purport of which was
to first give the local self-government
full recognition, and then, II the terms
Of the Plat amendment were CARRIED
out, to withdraw our forces from the
island and treat Cuba the same as
any other independent government.
One Sunday evening shortly before
congress convened, Secretary Of War
Root called at the white house and
showed the president a letter from
Governor Leonard Wood, In which he
strongly urged specific reciprocity
with Cuba. The president is rather
impulsive, and he then and there
promised to incorporate such a rec
o~mmendation in the message.
It Is well understood that the So
cial and political affiliations between
New York and Havana are rather
strong. The personal friends Of Sec
Rotary Root are large sugar planters,
and some Of them are largely inter.
ested in the American Sugar Refining
company. All things being equal, 1t
was but natural that these men
should ask for concessions. And 1t
was just as natural that the president
should consent to aid them by making
recommendations for Cuban reciproc-
ity.
Did Not Look for Trouble.
At the opening Of the session of
congress all was fair sailing. There
was no cloud on the republican hori.
zon, and there was a general under.
standing that the wishes n recon.
mendations of the president would be
Endorsed so far as Cuba was concern.
ed,
The president also Endorsed reel.
procity as a general proposition, and
recommended that pending treaties
with other nations be ratified.
But the republican leaders of the
house and senate would not consent
to 1t. Neither would they listen to
any proposition contemplating a
modification of the tariff.
The western members were moder.
ate In their requests, but Payne, Dali
cell and Groesvenor gave them no en-
couragement. Then the western men
became bold in their demands. They
went into q conference and had the
votes to carry the rebate proposition,
which now seems to be in favor in
the senate. But Speaker Henderson.
Chairman Payne. Dalzell and 'Gros.
venor would make no terms. And
when they succeeded In getting a
majority Of republicans with them,
no quarter was shown to Minnesota
and Michigan members. Then the re.
volt grew into q revolution, which re.
suited in a Waterloo for the house
republican leaders.
No Pledges From Mckinley.
It has often been said that the
Cuban reciprocity question was an
inherent problem from President
McKinley's administration.
But Senator Hanna. since the house
bill went to the senate, has positively
stated that Mr.. Mckinley had made
the Cubans no promise other than
to state that when local self.govern.
ment had been fully established the
United States would deal as fairly
and literally with Cuba as 1t had here
tofore dealt with the people OF the Is.
land.