The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-06-30
THINKS IT BEST FOR
BOTH OF THE COUNTRIES
Pointed Out That Many Distinguished
American Statesmen Have Favored
Annexation-Quest stion That viii From
Now on Be Forced to the Front
Platt Amendments Calculated to En-
barrass a Progress OF National Life.
[BY ASSOCIATED pREss.1


convened today Mr.. Gallinger (New
Hampshire), chairman Of the committee
on pensions, made brief statement Of
the work done by the pension committee
during the present session. 1t showed
that the bills relating to pensions intro
duced in the house aggregate 7,I5S. In
the senate, 2,55a. The total number passed
by both the house and the senate was I,15I.
A resolution introduced by Mr.. Nor
gan, calling OH the secretary of state,
for report on the expenditures
Of the canal commission, was adopted.
The senate insisted on its amendment to
the navy appropriation bill and the fol-
lowing conferees were named: Messrs.
Hale, Perkins and Tillman.
Bills were passed as follows:
To prohibit the killing or taking seals,
porpoises or other marine animals, or fish
of any kind in the waters of the United
States, by the use of explosive materials.
To establish regulations in the District
of Columbia during the encampment of
G. A. r.. in October, 1902.
To authorize the director of the cen
sus to compile statistics relating to irri-
CATION. and to the transportation Of du-
tis e merchandise at supports of Ia
coma and Seattle, Wash.
Mr.. Elkins' Speech.
Mr. Elkins of West Virginia addressed
the senate in support Of his resolution
providing for the annexation by the United
States of the island of Cuba.
Mr.. T. tins said his resolution had been
misunderstood. 1t had no bearing on
Cuban reciprocity and was not intended
TO have any. The resolution did not sug-
pest annexation Of Cuba in any offensive
way. 1t provided that the Cubans must
take the initiative and only aftc1 they
had asked 70 rannexation coEd, The
United States act.
He pointed out that many distinguished
and patriotic American statesmen IRON
Jefferson to Mckinley had favored annex
alton, and he thought the present was an
opportune time to carry into effect we'll
defined desires of a majority OF the peo-
pie and the United States in regard to
annexation. 1t is in the interest OF both
countries.
The environment of Cuba with the trou-
bles and difficulties that beset her on the
threshold of her national life stand in the
way Of her being long an independent ma
ton. If state in the American union
her people would b prosperous and pro-
gressive and enjoy the liberty and all
the blessings that would follow from beA
ing part of the lest, greatest and freest
government in y world.
Sugar Question.
The senator continued:
at is claimed annexation would destroy
the promising and growing beet sugar in
dustry of the United States. Not so, how
ever. The prices of products among the
states of the union always seeks an equili-
brium. With proper protection in favor OF
the cane sugar of Cuba, which she will
enjoy as state and the beet sugar Of the
United States within IS years, the United
States would not only produce enough sugar
for its own consumption, but largely COM
pete with other countries in the markets OF
the world.
"But for the war with Spain, although
so successful and glorious, Cuba would
now be part of the United States. Even
with the war. had it not been for our
declaration that the war was not waged for
conquest and aggrandizement, known as
the Teller amendment, Cuba would be
part of the United states as Port Rico and
the Philippines are. This amendment has
proved both mischievous and unwise.
"When Cuba shall become part of
the American Union and the lsthmian
canal shall be completed, which is now
assured, Porto Rico, Cuba, Hawaii and
the Philippines will be the outposts OF
the great republic, standing guard over
American interests in the track Of the
worlds commerce in its triumphaI march
around the globe.
There is tendency in all human af-
fairs in government, trade and commerce
to concentration and combination. Meteors
60 to the sun, small nations are becoming
parts of great nations, and Cuba, in her
present environment situated as she is
cannot be expected to resist this tendency
Platt Amendments Embarrass.
"The effect of the Plat amendments will
be to help bring about annexation. A ma
tion cannot long remain half free and half
dependent; such condition embarrasses
healthy progress in national life and leaves
but little room for the exercise of the
genius and intelligence of people IN the
affairs of government especially when un-
der such restrictions as these amendments
impose.
"The question of annexation forces itself
to the front and will claim from now on
the attention OF the people of both coun-
tries. Reciprocity with Cuba affords no
adequ"te remedy for what threatens her
interests. A 20 per cent reduction in her
tariff and ours will do Cuba as people, or
as government, little or no good, while it
will work great harm to the interests Of the
United States. There was long discussion
and fierce opposition to the annexation of
Texas; much more, think, than there viii