The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-11
the Ratification.
By R. NJ. Larner.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. rOrces Arrayed
Against the Ratification.
By R. NJ. Larner
Washington, March 10.-The fate of
the Cuban treaty is worrying the ad-
ministration leaders much more than is
the fate of the canal treaty. The Gu
ban treaty has already been amended
in one or two particulars, and unless it
is amended so as to provide that it
shall become effective only upon action
by the Congress, it is doubtful if it
can be ratified at all.
There is much more general OPPOSE
ton to this treaty than to the canal
treaty. Some of this opposition is very
strong. Indeed, it can be said, in all
truth that this opposition is stronger
than any of the support which the
treaty has.
There is general lukewarmness on the
part or Republican senators toward this
treaty. This is based on the belief that
conditions in Cuba have improved very
materially during the past year, and
that there is no such emergency as
would call for special consideration on
the part of this government. This re-
lief feature being in a sense eliminated
senators are considering the treaty
purely as a business proposition, with
out permitting sentiment to influence
their decision.
Looking at the question in this light
the protests which have been made by
Great Britain and other foreign gov
ernments, and particularly the posi-
bic effect of our taking action without
regard to these protests, will be given
full consideration by the Senate when
the Cuban treaty is reached.
Sugar Senator'S Against 1t.
The senators from the sugar. produc-
ing states are strongly, against the
Cuban eaty-some of them open in
their opposition, others not so pro-
nounced in their talk. More Republi-
can senators would like to see the
treaty defeated than will vote against
it when the test comes.
Strong influences are at work to-
ward the defeat of the treaty. The
American Protective Tariff League
continues it's opposition to any and
all reciprocity treaties, including this
Cuban treaty with the rest Senators
Burroughs and Elkins, who were the
leaders of the element which prevent
ed the passage of the Cuban bill when
it came to the Senate from the House,
are still at heart opposed to the entire
reciprocity programme. Both of these
senators gave the President their prom
Use that they would support a treaty,
though they would not support the
tariff bill Just what attitude they
will take at this special session has
( not yet developed, but it is claimed by
their friends that their promise to
the President expired with the end of
the last Congress. r.
Policy BeckOns Burroughs.
Senator Burroughs finds himself on
the verge of a hard campaign for re-
election. Up in Michigan there is no
question that there still remains a
strong element opposed to reduction on
sugar, whether this be provided in the
shape of a treaty or in bill, and
Congressman William Alden Smith,
who was one of the leaders who were
instrumental in the defeat of the Gu
ban bill, has announced his candidacy
for the senatorial seat now occupied
by Senator Burroughs. If, therefore,
Senator Burroughs takes a stand for
the ratification of the treaty, the
chances are that Smith and his friends
will endeavor to use this against him
with the sugar beet growers, who are
so strong in the agricultural districts
of that state.
Senator ElSins opposes the proposed
concessions to Cuba on the ground
that the United States owe nothing to
Cuba and that it is dangerous for the
Republican party to strike blow at
the domestic sugar interests. Senators
DIETRICH and Malard of Nebraska, Sem
ator Burton of Kansas, Senator Foster
of Washington, Senators Teller and
Patterson of Colorado and the two
senators from Louisiana are all pro-
nounced in their opposition to the
treaty
NewIands Busy Against 1t.
Senator Newlands of Nevada is
strong opponent of all reciprocity
treaties. AS a member of the House
he took a strong stand against any
concessions to Cuba, unless they were
made in such a way as would contrib
ute toward the annexation of that ISL
and to the United States. He believes
that If any conces sionS are made they
should be accompanied by formal
offer of admission to the United States,
so rendered as to give the Cubans
reasonable period say ten years, in
which to~make up their minds.
One respect in which the treaty will
have to be amended before it can be
ratified is by an amendment settling
forth that the provisions of the treaty
shall not become operative until en-
bodied in an act of Congress. 1nas-
much as the treaty had been amended
already, lit cannot be claimed that TO
change it in this regard will endanger
it in any way. There is a strong ele-
ment in the Senate which holds that
without such a provision, the treaty
would be unconstitutional. The Consti-
tuition of the United States clearly
10 l.