The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-31
REASON By Ff HASDIs

TT is strange how nations interest in particular
4 matter GIBBS and flows
Take for instance this present proposition to grant
the PhlIlpplneS their independence because their
products notably sugar and cocoanut oil come into
resented competition with producers in the United
States.
Back in 1900 the country was at fever heat over
the Philippines Mckinley making his campaign for
reelection a platform which promised the in
definite retention of the archipelago while Bryan ad-
Vocated immediate independence and denounced the
Republican position imperialism
The fur flew over this proposition twenty-nine
years ago, but now there's not enough interest it
to turn single hair
When Dewey sailed into Manila bay and slammed
the Spanish fleet, he added our assets or liabilities
this group of islands which hitherto had remained
outside the orbit of American concern in fact those
OF us who were some distance from our biographies
were not keenly alive to the fact that the Philippines
were decorating our local planet
XTE distinctly recall that when first the PROPOSE
w ton was made to add them to our national in
ventory, there was great commotion in the land
and only two members of the national house of repre-
SentatlveS openly advocated holding the far off real
estate one of those representatives being Berry of
kentucky Democrat and an ex-Confederate SOL
der, and the other being Hilborn of California a
Republican and an ex-Union soldier.
Neither of those warrior statesmen was concerned
with the proposition of beneftng the Filipino and
neither had any use for the subterfuge of destiny
they were just outspoken members of the Grab and
Hold Association, an association which has had
branch offices in all countries in all ages Their COL
leagues looked upon Berry and Hborn as ultra
radical, as did President Mckinley.
Then Mckinley, who never got so far ahead of
the people on any issue that he had to ask police
man where they were made tour of the country
to feel some ninety million pulses the issue.
When he started out his utterances were con-
vertible, enabling him to either side out to fit
the public temper but it soon developed that the
people were for holding anything and everything
could get our hands on, by the time Mckinley
reached the Pacific coast he was confirmed an
nexationiSt.
NTHEN the matter debated in the senate ii
split both parties incidentally enabling the late
Albert j. Beveridge of Indiana, then youthful sem
ator to make his Philippine trip during the recess
of congress and return. to make impasSioned
speech in favor of annexation and incidentally give
nervous prostration to senatorial Buddhas who held
that youthful senator should remain in mothballs
for many years before opening his countenance.
That fight broke the heart of Senator Hoar OF
Massachusetts,, for while others exaggerated their
concern for liberty the venerable gentleman from
when we formally took the islands from SPAIN Hoar
most unhappy.
To one who went to him, Immediately after the
ratification of the treaty handing the Philippines
TO us to seek a contribution to- preserve Plymouth
Rock from the encroaching waves, Senator Hoar re-
piled with great emotion: plymouth Rock was
washed away this afternoons"