The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-09
M'CLEARY'S DEFENSE.
Opening Address Of the Congressman
Devoted to the Cuban Reel
procity Bill. ~
President Never Endorsed Tits a
Bad Bill, Says Mr.. McCleary,
and Will Not Pass.

Bingham Lake Mimi, Oct 9.-Con-,
gresham McCleary opened his campaign
here last night, addressing the largest
crowd that ever assembled in this town.
The congressman said that at this open
Ing meeting it might be well to devote q
little time to removing some Of the rub
Dish that had been thrown into the path
to obscure the way. SO he took up a
discussion Of the Cuban bill against
which the Minnesota delegation voted last
winter
'"The question u.s." said Mr.. McCleary,
did the delegation do right wrong in
voting against that bill? The delegation
thought then and think now that they did
exactly right. In that opinion they have
never waVered."
him and explained it's provisions fully
and carefully, the audience following with
evident interest.
But" said Mr.. McCleary. ut has been
claimed by many advocates Of the bill
that 1t has the Endorsement of the presl-
dent and that he desires and has urged
its passage. This is simply a bold at
tempt to bolster UP a bad bill by the USE
OF good name. I have no money to
throw away, but I have 500 that I will
donate to any charity to be named by
the first person who will find one authori-
tative utterance Of the president indoors
ing that bill. 1t will not do to say that
the president favors Reciprocity with
Cuba Has he ever Endorsed that bill {?
That is the question. And it is time those
who have been saying he has Endorsed 1t
either prove that he has or quit making
such assertion.
The Presidents Position.
"All intelligent Americans understand
that under our system of government the
president does not make the laws; that
Is the work Of congress. The president
Is authorized to send to congress from
time to time recommendation as to re-
suits desirable to attain, but it is for con-
eress to frame the legislation in the mat :
ter In all his utterances the president
has steadily kept before the people two
general ideas in this matter: First that
we should treat Cuba with special kind
ness and consideration; second, that we
should have from her special cOnsiderl-
ton. When the committee Of ways and
means framed it's bill on the subject the
Minnesota delegation opposed the bill on
the very ground that it would utterly fail
Of accomplishing the purposes indicated
by the president, but that on the contrary
It's benefits would go chiefly to the Amer
lean Sugar Refining company, commonly
spoken Of as the sugar trust
Il purpose now to show that the presi-
dent stands sQuarely by the delegation in
that contention, and that therefore he
himself would have voted against the bill
the time. On July 10, 1902. shortly be-
fore the adjournment Of congress, the
president. fearing that congress would
adjourn without devising some plan to
help Cuba. sent to congress special mes
sage on the subject. Speaking Of the
proposal to reduce the tariff on Cuban
sugar coming into the United States, as
provided in the pending bill. he said:
Objection has been made to the grant
Ing OF the reduction on the ground that
the substantial benefits would not go to
the agricultural producers Of sugar, but
fneries. In my Judgment, provision can
and should be made which win guarantee
as against this possibility.
Significant Words.
1T is worth while to read that last sem
tence again and to ponder on it, In my
Judgment, provision can and should be
made which will guarantee us against
this possibility. Those words signify be-
You'd question three things: First that
such provision has not yet been made
and that the objection to the bill raised
by the Minnesota delegation is a valid
one.
In the second place, they signify that
In the Judgment Of the president such
provision can be made, again indOrsing
the position of the delegation. And in
the third place, they show that the pres
ent desires tnat Such provision be made
before the bill comes to him for consid-
Grafton. In other words, the president
condemns the bin as it stands on the
very grounds on which the Minnesota
delegation voted against the bill. The
president, In his specitl message, takes
the identical position regarding the bill
which the delegation has coupled from the
beginning.
when the committee having charge OF
such matters shall frame a bill which
shall measure up to the standard set by
the president and the Minnesota delega
ton. bill which shall give it's benefit:
to the agricultural producers Of sugar
and whose benefits shall not 'inure to the
American sugar refners,' the Minnesota
delegation will support that bill as Wig
orously as it has opposed the pending
bill The delegation has not changed it
position in opposition to this bill. And i
does not propose to. The delegation will
do Its clear duty in the matter and will
calmly await the vindication which i
sure to come.
Never VIII Pass.
1.-THE bill against which the delegatio,
voted is a bad bill. 1t ought not to pass
It never will pass. No real friend of tn
president will permit that honored nam
to be associated with that bill No b
will pass which does not measure up t
the high standard set by the presiden
and the Minnesota delegation. The dele
cation has no pride Of opinion as to forr
Of the bill. It will support any measur
that comes up to the standard set by tn
president In the language before quoted