The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-31
THE " SLAVE TRADE

Subject Came up Under Discussion oi
Bill Revising enc Criminal Code ol
! the U. S: Paragraphs Relating tt
Slavery Passed Over i'm Order That
| Full Inforrna ton Night be Re-
| ccived-Wetrnore Takes Oath oi
Office as Senator
Washington, D. c., January 81
Greatly to the surprise OF every one
the subject OF slavery was introduced
in the senate today. Secretary Taft
was directly charged with having a
knowledge of slavery in the islands.
The debate was made pertinent by the
sections of the bill revising the crimt-
nal code of the United States which
provides penalties for dealing in slaves.
The old law against the slave trade
has been retained IN Il.e code by the
committee reporting ii with change
by which the word persons" is sub
stituted for the words, negroes, nui-
| latoes and colored persons"
Mr. Hale declared that, slavery be-
! ing a thing of the pasC, all reference
| to it should be taken out Of the code.
| Mr.. Hepburn, In charge of the bill,
! contended for the retention of the
provision saying that there are forms
of slavery other than those that were
abolished by the civil war He cited
coolie slavery, and slavery for immoral
I purposes which he said exists in this
country, and said the prohibition would
apply to sue j practices. He added that
| he had heard it charged that slavery
; of the old fashioned kind still exists
| in one of the islands in the Philippine
group
Mr. Hale said he was glad the SEN
ator from Idaho, had in his researches
found so good a reason for continuing
this prohibition as slavery. He de-
/ clared, however, that he had never
supposed slavery existed in the island
after the American occupation.
Il am surprised" asserted MI. Till
man, ito hear any senator on the re-
publican side disclaim knowledge OF
what has been notorious since we took
possession in the Philippine islands
: and known TO exist tnere.
Mr. Tillman said he was still more
surprised that 'the party which had
gathered so much glory from the de-
struction of slavery in this country"
and which has absolute contcol OF our
foreign affairs, had done nothing TO
put an end to slave trade inthe Phil
! ippines Why don't the men, he
asked, who are responsible for The
Philippine government enforce sha
law?"
agreement made by General Bates with
the sultan of Zulu for continuing sla-
very and polygamy.
1--WE have even gone further" Mr..
Tillman said, ''and given salaries to the
sultan and his datos."
Mr.. Hale again said that if these
monstrous conditions exist in the Phil
ippines and receive the sanction of
this government or of the senate the
fact had certainly not been appreciated
by him.
"It may be-" he added, that in our
verting these people and building up
the Philippine islands we have consid-
cred necessary as one Of the necessary
steps in this march of benevolent and
benefcience to recognize human slav-
cry and polygamy."
Mr. Tillman suggested that the Phil
ippine islands are governed by Secre-
tary Taft, under the president of the
United States.
Mr.. Hale said he did not think that
relation toward the islands would keep
the secretary of war from reporting
actual conditions in the Philippines is
lands. Il am not prepared" he said,
ito say that the secretary of war has
suppressed important facts concerning
the Philippines. The presumption is
we have been told the whole truth.
I think he has always realized the
fact that every condition in these is
lanGs are to be reported fully"
Certainly" declared Mr.. TiIlman,
"'the secretary of war we'll knows Of
onditions of slavery there. am ready
to make oath to the best of my knowI-
edge and belief that slavery does ex-
ist there"
Mr. Hale then asked that the para
graphs relating to slavery be passed
over in order that full information
might be received and Senator Hey
burn agreed.
Senator Sutherland spoke in favor Of
retaining the sections against slavery
saying that on the Pacific coast it had
been shown that Chinese women had
been actually sold into slavery.
Mr.. Lodge declared that it was well
known that in the islands of Bolo and
Moro, what was known as debt slav-
cry had existed. 1t was also a fact
that General Bates made an agreement