The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-30
LOREN's OF FIRST GUN
Page Morris Talks About Insur-
gents and Opposition to Them.
E PRAISES LOREN FLETCHER

he PRAISES LUKEN FLEICdEh
The Address a Leading Feature of
the First Fletcher
Rally.
Page Morris of Duluth, retiring con-
gressman from the sixth congressional
district, spoke in defense of the Minne-
sofa delegation last evening at the Fourth
ward wigwam. 1t was the first Fletcher
rally Of the primary campaign, and the
local congressman's friends we're much in
evidence. The audience, which numbered
about 250,: applauded the speakers with
enthusiasm. ;, &s2<e. st~} Y
Judge Morris address was the ablestpre-
sentatio Of the 'insurgent" cause that
has been heard in Minneapolis. He han
died the critics without gloves, and In his
whole review. of Cuban reciprocity legisla-
tion kept before the audience "the over
shadowiag epecters of the sugar trust.
The burden of his argument was that the
course of Minnesota s congressman had
been directed from first to last against
the Hayemeyer octopus, which was now
seeking vengeance by their defeat. -
| In opening, Judge Morris told OF his
Friendship and admiration for f"Uncle Lor7
/ en-, and ylauded him for his devotion to-
the interests, of his district :~~s<... i ses
There had been much misapprehensio on
| the Cuban reciprocity question, he said,
| and 1T was largely due to mistakes and
Misrepresentation. The delegation had
been surprised to see in the newspapers
articles sent by correspondents which
| they knew to be at variance with the per-
sonal views of the men, and they, reasoned
| that such articles must be sent on In
structions from home. Why those instruc-
tions We're sent they could only guess.
The inference, carried all the way
| through the address, was that In. all scrltl- ;
cism an opposition the fine hand OF the
sugar trust was revealed :. =. i.a.- ss - 4:
| The: delegation, he said, was not op-
posed to President. Roosevelt. He con-
| tinued:
| go further, and say that on the main
! question as to whether there should be reci-
| procity with Cuba, which would be first and
| foremost Of benefit to her and her people
| and next of benefit to ourselves, we have at
| all times been in harmony with the president.
| Il think we have and do now differ with
him, but only as to the method by which
| reciprocity should be secured and as to the
| method believe If the matter could be lef!
| to us and to the president, without let or
| hindrance from others, it could and would be
settled in few uninutes-this i shall try
| to explain
No Obligation, No Emergency.
| Judge Morris then reviewed the recip-
rocity from the first. He said the Mime
! sofa delegation did not feel that we owed
| any duty-to Cuba, and that the only pos
| sible obligation was in an, indifntte state
ment made by President Mckinley to the
| Cuban representatives. Further, they DID
not believe Cuba needed the help, any
more than the farmers of Nebraska or
Dakota. However, they made up their
minds to support some measure for the
assistance of the people. They considered
it significant that the plea for Cuba was
being made by representatives of the SUI
gar trust, and that but one remedy was
, urged the reduction of duty on Cuban
1sugar-that is, the raw product They
found that the trust was the only buyer OF
sugar and fixed the prices, that the trust
had nbt bought heavily, and was evidently
waiting to profit by the reduction of, duty.
When congress met, they had insurgents
! enough among the republicans to block
this program. They had a counter propo-
sition Of rebate. Judge Morris intro
duced a bill for refunding 39 per cent of
the duty. to the Cuban government, to be
distributed in bounties or used for public
Ipurposes. The ways and means commits
tee; however, brought In the bill reducing
the duty 20 per cent until Dec. 1, 1908:
I5 One by one the insurgents s were picked
off, until it was evident that, with the aid
of democratic votes, the bill would pas
| So the insurgents concluded that they,
too, would make use of democratic votes
ITO draw the fangs of the sugar trust
So Judge Morris introduced his amend
ment removing the differential on refined
sugar. The democrats had to vote for
this, and 1t passed. Then the bill as
amended went through. ..ss$ = 80
-. why They Voted ssNo."s- -;
"Now it has been asked" said Judge
Morris, why we voted against the bill
! with this amendment on. Well, that Is
a fair question. We still did not approve
of the reduction in the duty, and we
wanted to express our disapproval Of It
We believed that on account of the infiu.
ence. the sugar trust has in the senate
they would not pass the house bill, ant
that we would force them to our. rebate
Eplan. Some thought the amendment
would kill the bill. II did not think SO
We did not hope for that. But the bill
went to q committee, and it never got
Eout, :. They. did not dare to bring it int
the open body. of the senate. Senator
that he intended to move to discharge the
committee and bring the bill In, but hi
was headed off by adjournment ;. s~7's "a
r : Evidently. the senate Will not adop
our plan. but I helieve at the next ses
sion of congress the bill will be adoptet
by the senate substantially as it passet
the house. For my part, I hope the presi
dent will cali a special session and hayt
this whole matter over with. The bill
would then go through as. both houses ant
the president want it, with the differentia
in refined sugar removed E..
f. Judge Morris said the presidents. rnes
sage somewhat changed the feeling Of th
delegation. 1t was evident that the. presi
dent did not want the rebate plan, but i
was also evident that he swilling to SCI
the >diferential: abolished. The delegation
then made.up their minds that they woult
EyoteY for the bill it.. it. came back from
thersenate in that shape, but they dit
tnot alave the opportunity. 80 & Il.
f=&.sa- =l&:.sta-2s5. 4. Retorts TO HentwoIe. ss6
Judge Morris then. digressed to make, al
exception in the case Of Congressman
Heatwole, referring to Mr.. Heatwole'
letter to Eugene Hay expressing surpris
at the delegations vote against the bill
MT: HeatWole's statement. No man stoo
fnmer than MT. Heatwole, and no man di
more patting on the back than he di
when he returned. n
J Mr., Heatwole: was not there when tn
vote was taken said Judge Norris. III
was up here in Minnesota on some :politi
cal business, congressional or guberna
tttorial, 1 don't know what. He was paire