The Washington times., 1902-07-10
West Virginian's Position
Defined and Explained.
OPPOSED TO RECIPROCITY
General Tariff Revision a Bugbear He
Was Unwilling to Stir Up-Sugges
tion of Coming Into Republic Not at
All Humiliating.

plains that his efforts at the recent ses-
sion of Congress in regard to Cuba were
misunderstood and mlsrepresented. Mr..
Elkins was one OF the leaders in oppo-
sItion 10 the passage OF the Cuban reci-
procity bill. but those close to the Sen
ator insist that he was moved to this
opposition. not because he was opposed
to granting concessions TO Cuba. but be-
cause he believed 1t would be impossible
to bring the reciprocity bill into the
Senate without precipitating a general
debate on the tariff that would have
been harmful to the business interests
by disturbing the confidence that now
prevails and creating suspicion and
feeling of uneasiness.
In presenting his bill for anpexation
ii Is urged that Senator Elkns desired
to call attention to the fact that the
annexation of Cuba, like the annexation
of Texas, Is inevitable. A close friend
of Mr. Elkins, who is familiar with his
feelings on the subject. stated yester-
day that when the facts became known
the position OF the Senator would be
appreciated by the country.
Senator Elkins." said the gentleman
alluded to, "felt that in opposing reci-
procity with Cuba by means OF bill
passed by Congress, IS was proposed. he
was thoroughly in accord with the views
of President Roosevelt and President
Mckinley, who favored the idea of reci-
procity with the nations of the world
Would Provoke Disastrous Debate. o
Mr.. Elkins represented to the Presi-
dent that TO take up the House bill in
the Senate would provoke long and dis
astrous debate. and. perhaps, lead TO
general revision or the tariff. which the
President and the leading and most
influential members OF his party in both
to avoid
He also represented to the President
that whatever financial relief Cuba
might need could be granted by means
OF rebate without injury to any do
mestic industry of this country. 1t was
his impression that the President agreed
with him at first. although later Mr..
Roosevelt stated that the rebate system
would not be acceptable. as II might Of
fend the sensibilities of the Cubans. who
would be placed in the position of sup
plicants. Mr. Elkins then proposed the
60
Executive. 20 be ratified by the Senate.
as are other reciprocity treaties This
proposition was at the time rejected.
but IT is now substantially assured that
it will be the means by which the OBJ
ject OF the President will be finally at
taned.
Handmaiden of Protection.
Senator Elk!ns took his keynote from
he annual mes sage OF the President, in
which he said. Reciprocity must be
treated as the handmaiden of protec-
tion. Our first duty is to see that the
protection granted by the tariff in every
case where it is needed is maintained.
and that reciprocity be sought for. so
far as It can be safely done, without in
jury to any of our home industries
Mr. Elkins argued. with e number Of
ether Senators. that reciprocity along
The lines OF the House bill would be in
furious 20 at least one of our home in
dustries, and he believed that he was
thoroughly in accord with the doctrine
enunciatcd in the Presidents message.
ha
after when 1t might prove injurious to
home industries, which was the same
doctrine as maintained by Mckinley,
Blaine. and Harrison.
The Senator one day pithsly defined
his stand by saying; There is no prece-
dent for increasing or lowering the
duties by legislation. except as a whole.
You cannot take links out of a chain and
still maintain the strength of the chain
or claim you have chain at all.
Was Not Parsimonious.
THE fact that Senator Eikins was
willing to donate $4,000. 600 or ss.0oo.ooo
a year from the United States Treasury
by means of a rebate plan shows 1t was
rot his desire to be parsimonious with
the people OF Cuba.
II happen to know that Mr.. Elkins Of
fered to support the House bill II It
could be brought into the Senate and
passed unchanged, but that proposition
was rejected. am under the impress
sion also that the Senator would sup
port reciprocity treaty should one be
submitted to the Senate BY the Presl-
dent.
Reason, for Annexation.
Senator Elkins has been literally
criticised for presenting resolution in
viting Cuba 10 become part OF the
United States. The claim has been
made that by go doing offense has been
given to Cuba The Senator fails to un-
derstand why weak, dependent ma
tion-for Cuba must. as long as the
Platt amendment remains in force, ne
n dependent nation--could feel in the
slightest degree Eumilatod. or could
have ground for offense. at being in
vi'ed by great and powerful nation
such rs the United States to become an
integral part OF that nation, with ali
he rights and privileges of a sovereign
state.
lie maintains there Is no impropriety
in inviting a ward to enter the family.