The Washington herald., 1912-06-09
Minnesota Senator Wants to
Know Who Is Responsible
for Rebellion.
DESIRE ANNEXATION
Senator Bacon Would Stop the
Use Of the Army Without
Authorization.


yesterday to deal with the Cuban insur-
rection and the Mexican rebellion. Reso-
lutions embodying provisions aimed to
enable the United States to act in these
matters were introduced by Senators Ba-
con Of Georgia and Nelson OF Minnesota.
The Bacon resolution proposes to COM
nit the Senate TO the opinion that there
is no authority for the use OF the army
or the navy Of the United States in
foreign nation unless the same Is ex-
pressly authorized and directed by Con-
gress
The Nelson resolution directs an inves-
tigation by the Foreign Relations Com
mittee Of the Senate to ascertain
whether any persons or corporations in
the United States are !fomenting, incit-
ing. encouraging, or financing rebellion
or insurrection in Cuba or Mexico. Each
resolution was referred to the Foreign
Relations Committee.
The explanatory statements Of the SEN
ators attracted close attention Senator
Nelson told the Senate that for a long
time he has been impressed with the idea
that the recurring troubles in Cuba and
Mexico had their origin in the United
States.
FOmented in United States.
Il protest plainly that the people
who are interested in sugar plantations
and who have other great interests in
Cuba are to a large extent instrumen-
tai in stirring up trouble in Cuba" he
said. Their evident purpose is to get
up such a condition there that they
can move for the annexation OF Cuba |
to the United States and thus get rid
Of the so per cent sugar duty which |
they are now paying on the product |
of their sugar plantations.
You remember, Mr.. President, that !
in the Spanish treaty OF Paris provi- |
sion was made for the liquidation and |
adjustment of a large number OF |
claims. II turned out that the commits |
sion appointed for the purpose had |
passed upon those claims and allowed |
a small portion OF them. but II Sena- |
tors will recall the fact they will re-
member that most OF those claims were
presented by Cubans, men who owned
property in Cuba, sugar plantations.
and had moved to this country and be-
come naturaliZed. claiming the immu-
nifty and privileges of our country in
respect to their property in Cuba. re-
peat most OF those claims were pre-
ferred by those men and II Is a matter
Of history that to a'large extent those
same gentlemen financed the insurrec-
tion that prevailed for many years in |
Cuba.
Same Applies to Mexico.
The same thing to my mind has oc-
CURED in Mexico. The mining interests of |
that country, the great mining corpora |
tiOns and promoters, have found in many |
instances valuable mineral resources in |
northwestern Mexico. in the country Dor |
dering on New Mexico. Arizona, and Calf |
fornia. Copper. oil, silver. gold, and other
minerals are there in abundance. These |
people are very anxious to have that ter
ritory annexed to the United States. In |
fact. some Of those gentlement have ex-
pressed the idea TO me that there are por- |
tions OF Mexico that ought to be part OF |
the United States. l have been impressed |
with the idea that the disturbance in Cuba |
and Mexico swere inspired and financed |
in this country"
Senator Nelson said it was a very easy
matter to induce a few leaders in a mixed
race Of people to gather a crowd around |
them and burn a few cane mills and de-
stroy a few plantations. The distribution
Of few thousand dollars would accom-
plish this result, he said. and enable the
persons TO raise a hue and cry
for Intervention and annexation.
In conclusion. Senator Nelson declared
the root Of the whole matter lies in the
question as to what persons or interests
-
tions and rebelllons.
"Ascertain the Origin"
Let us ascertain the origin Of these
revolutions and then We shall know how
to deal1 with the situation" he said.
Senator Bacon declared that he was
not opposed to granting whatever au-
thority or power there may be in order
that the army or navy may be used
whenever circumstances or the public
Interest require It. He said his resolu-
ton indicated that his personal atti-
tude is unalterably opposed to the as
Of authority by any officer to
use either the army or the navy except
where authorized by law.
This is, or should be, a government
Of laws. and not Of men," he said
Whatever law is required should be
passed to meet the requirements: but
should be done unless authorized
by law.
TT is not necessary to be more ex-
plicit at this time. The papers are fl-
ed with reports OF fleets and armies
about to be moved to a foreign country
and no word was said to Congress re-
yarding 1t. It is a matter which re-
luires, in my opinion, action on the
part of Congress to clearly define under
what circumstances the army and navy
of the United States can be used in ,
foreign territory, and under what cir
,umstances it can be properly and law