The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-12
RECIPROCITY
NOT IN FAVOR
Roosevelt Will Lose in
December.
SENATORS ARE APATHETIC
Interest in Cuba'S Plight Has
Been Lost.
Bill Could Have Passed the Senate
at Last Session, But Was
Held Back for Political
Reasons.


President has been tricked on his Cuban
reciprocity plans and all indications now
are that there will be no legislation on
the subject at the December session of
Congress. The President has not changed
his attitude on this subject in the slight
est degree. but the Senators who were
counted upon to support him in further
ing his policy in this direction has ap-
parently lost all interest in the measure
and will hesitate to pass treaty when
the President offers it. If he does. in De-
cember.
The first indication of this Iukewarm-
ness on the part OF administration sup
porters in the Senate was shown during
the closing days of the session. There
was never a time that the Cuban reci-
procity bill. as 1t passed the House. or
the Spooner compromise, could not have
been passed by the Senate If 1t had been
reported by the Committee on Relations
with Cuba.
Senator Plat of Connecticut, chairman
of that committee. appreciated this, and
uTSCu ENCpuDilCdE icduCtS To dftV" stHC
bill to be reported and fight 1t out on the
floor of the Senate. This plan was re-
jected and the measure was allowed to
go over.
1t is no longer a secret that the Presi-
dent listened to administration Senators
who insisted that Cuban reciprocity
should be made a Republican measure
and should not be presented until 1t could
be passed by Republican votes This
plan was finally adopted. although there
was never a time when the bill could not
have been passed by the Senate.
Politics Back Of It.
1t was made clear before Congress ad-
journed, and the President WIS aware of
facts. that the Republican leaders were
not In sympathy with the Ct,oan reci-
procity legislation and were advising. for
political reasons. that the question be
allowed to 60 over until the December
session The President listened to these
arguments and gave a reluctant assent
to the proposition to defer action.
It Is believed here now that he has lost
his opportunity to secure reciprocity re-
lations with Cuba. Senator Burton of
Kansas has strengthened this opinion by
his public speech at Topeka, in which he
declared the beet sugar Senators were
encouraged by supposed friends Of the
Presidents reciprocity policy to keep up
the fight against the bill in the Senate.
Senator Burton insists that there are not
fifteen Republican members of the Sem
ate who are in favor of reciprocity legis-
lation, and he says that he gets his in
formation from the Senators themselves.
While Senator Burton Is not in sympa-
thy with the President the Cuban
question, his utterances voice the general
opinion as to the attitude Of Senators on
that subject.
1t il believed now that the trust ques-
ton and the tariff issues will command
so much attention in the coming cam
paign that the present Cuban policy will
be sidetracked at the December session.
While the Republican conventions In the
different States are endorsing his atti-
tude on Cuban reciprocity, there is
general feeling that the people are deep
Iy concerned in the subject and that
there will he no enthusiasm for legisla-
ton on the subject.