The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-13
TROUBLE FOR
ROOSEVELT
The Senate, After Election,
Would Not Be So Plant
as Now.
The Rise of a Cuban Annexa.
tion Party May Cause
Complications.
New York Sur, SDecEaS Service


Chicago, Aug 1s.-In discussing the
probability of President Roosevelt cal3-
ing an extra session of the senate to act
on Cuban reciprocity, Walter Wellman in
q Washington special to the Record-Her-
aid, says:
Notwithstanding President Roosevelt's
confidence that the senate will do as he
wishes, there are senators who do not
feel so sure about it, Just now it Is the
rcsentatlves to go about the country say
ing that OF course the president must
have his way and Cuba be given some
concession in our market. But this is be-
fore election. The congressional pol1ti-
clans are on their good behavior. This
Is their time for having harmony.
A Tariff War in Sight.
After election there may be another
story to tell. While the probabilities are
that Cuban treaty will be ratified, there
is chance that the old fight will be re-
newed. The tariff question is. coming to
the front in an acute form and complica-
tions may arise. Some of the western
republicans, realizing the hopelessness OF
their demand for an early revision Of the
tariff, are likely to be as ugly as they
were last spring over the proposition to
have tariff reduction confined wholly to
articles produced in the west. The alert
and agile Mr.. O1nard may be heard from
again.
Men who are. watching the larger game
Of national politics say the outcome OF
President Roosevelt's campaign for Cuban
reciprocity will probably settle the ques-
tion whether or not he is to have oppo-
sition for the party nomination in 1904
If the senate permits his treaty to go
Shrnnph In nllick event
will signify the abandonment of all hope
OF the senatorial coteries Of beating the
president out Of his much-desired nomi-
= nation.
; Senate Dislikes the President.
It cannot be said with truth that the
president Is popular in the senate. Grave
and reverend senator's who, in interviews
pronounce for Roosevelt's nomination,
have been known to damn him most wig
orously in private conversation. One
senator who recently said in an interview
that there would be no opposition to the
president, who had earned the approval
OF the party and the country, privately
declares that Mr.. Roosevelt is ''pernic-
tous young upstart." But senators are
d, always growing in this way, and as a
rule their bark is worse than their bite.
Moreover the senate has for years been
trying to make president and has never
succeeded. The present outlook is that
the senate will humbly fall in with the
: Roosevelt procession, swallow Cuban rec
iprocity with a wry face, and offer no
opposition to the presidents policies or
to his selection as the next party stand
ard bearer. Should this expectation not
be realized-of which there Is about one
chance in ten-there will be some lively
doings on Capitol hill next winter.
Rise of an Annexation Party.
One danger to the presidents program
lies in the possible rise of an annexation
party. A large number Of public men Of
both parties are convinced the Cuban
questions, political and economic. can
never be settled except by incorporation
OF the island within the great republic.
A reciprocity treaty would postpone an
nexation, and for this reason the annex
ationists may attempt to defeat the pro-
posed treaty.
Colonel Huston of the army, who has
Just returned from Cuba, says there is
great distress there and that all the busi-
ness interests are clamoring for annexa-
tion to the United States. II annexation
does come to the front as practical
question, then will arise a great conten-
tion over the form that incorporation IL
to take. The conservatives will stand
out for limited annexation-that is to say
q colonial form Of government, with Cube
having her own tariff system, while the
xentimentalists will stand for complete
annexation and the starting Of Cuba or
the road to ultimate statehood.
Senator Elkins has avowed his inten
tion to resume his annexation agitation
next winter, and he is likely to find re-
cruits.
Cuban Bond Scheme.
It Is understood that the Cuban govern
znent has no serious intention to issue
$35 200, 900 In bonds, but that this propo
sition was brought forward in the hop
that 1t would aid in convincing congress
OF the urgent need Of doing somethin,
for Cuban prosperity. Our government i
expected to frown on the bond schem
abo,,ld the Cuhans DorSist with IT,