The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-15
CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
Alleged Treachery Of Senators
Supposed to Favor Ad-
ministration.
fFrom the washington start

From the Washington STAR
The statement of Senator Burton of
Kansas OF the alleged cause of the de-
feat Of Cuban reciprocity in the senate
will attract renewed attention to a sub
ject which was discussed in the privacy
of committee rooms and in the cloak
rooms at the capitol before adjourn
ment. Senator Burton in speech de-
livered at Topeka last Monday made the
following assertion:
1T is a discussion between Republi-
cans and not a party question as
beet sugar Senators were in the ni-
nOrity. II any one says anything else
he falsifies. If So Republican senators
had come to us and said, We are going
to pass that BILL they could have done
so. They never came to us with such
a declaration On the other hand, they
came and encouraged us to keep up
the fight. There are not Is Republican
senators out of the "a who are in favor
OF the present bill at heart Beet sugar
is q Republican question by authority.
When the Cuban reciprocity bill was
receiving its death blow at the hands
of group of Is or Is Republican
senators there was a great deal of spec
ulation as to why a minority of the
party should be permitted to defeat q
N easure proposed by the administration
in the interests OF the country
The question was freely asked, VINO
is backing these few senators and en-
abling them to stand out against the
entire party 2?
1t was limited at that time that the
attitude of the insurgent senators was
secretly encouraged by some men high
in the party in the senate who for rea-
sons of their own regarding the impend-
ing defeat of the reciprocity bill with
perfect complacency.
It was regarded as particularly GER
tain that If the Republican senators
who were supposed to favor reciprocity
should get together and insist upon the
bill being taken up it could have been
passed There was great speculation.
therefore, as to why the leaders did
not put ON the screws and force the
bill through the senate.
The answer given at the time was
that the leaders were afraid to force
the bill, as there were decidedly weak
spots in the ranks Of the men supposed
to be friendly to. the bill The case was
carried to. the White House and 1t Is
said that the president when told OF the
uncertain attitude of some Of the men
upon whom he had been counting was
very indignant 1t was said at the time
that he used some very vigorous lang
uage in referring to at least one proml-
nent Republican senator upon whom he
had been depending. but whom he found
was secretly encouraging the beet sugar
men in their hostility.
Senator Burton's statement at To-
peka apparently was made in good
IalLQ- w uile the tIt<fCuefg dl WAktA AS
hints might be difficult of proof, It was
the general belief about the capitol that
the state OF things he refers to really
existed
His statement that there were not Il
senator's who at heart were in favor OF
reciprocity does not. it is believed. ac-
curately portray the situation If he
had said that there were few senators
of great prominence and influence In
the party who, while protesting to favos
h Tw--< frc
would have more correctly described
the case
The confidence of the president and
the friends of reciprocity IN the passagt
of a reciprocity bill at the next session
is based upon the belief that public SEN
timent will be aroused to such an ex-
tent that the knife play of the last ses-
sion will not be repeated next session
and the men who engaged in it, VIII moi
dare to try the same game over Fur
thermore they are known. although
discovered too late to save the battle
at the past session