The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-07-13
TARIFF TALK.
OossIps About the Mills Bill and
Point as to Free Sugar.

WASHINGTON, July 6.--The Democrats
are just now devoting all Of their ener-
giles in efforts TO make 1t appear that the
Mills bill is not In the interests Of free
trade. They are making poor work Of
1t. The object OF the recent mass meet
ing at Tammany ball seems TO have been
TO attempt to persuade Democratic work
ingmen that their interests are not put
in jeopardy by this bill. Mr.. Mills was
TO-DAY called 10 task for this by the Re-
publlcans, and presented q very poor
figure in his efforts 10 extricate himself
from the embarrassment in which he
was placed by the sharp attacks of his
opponents. Mr.. Reed, for instance,
made it very clear that the degree Of
Mr.. Mills free trade notion varied a
great deal with the climate. Reed read
very pertinent passage from the tariff
speech of Mr.. Mills of four years ago, in
which Mills bluntlv said that his ulti-
mate object and purpose of all legislation
of the nature of the Mills bill was TO pre-
pare the way for free trade. The pass
age was 80 pertinent and the Mills bill
years old that Mills could do nothing
but to assume an air of bravado and call
for . vote. But the vote did not come
at that time. Mr.. Burrows, of Michi-
gan, had another passage from speech
of Mr.. Mills to read. in which the incon-
sistency of his recent speech in New
York and the hypocrisy of the Demo-
Gratis In their present claims that their
purpose is not to facilitate the ultimate
establishment of free trade were ex-
posed. The record was too clear and
the definitions are too sharp.
AS TO SUGAR.
1t was made very clear to-day that the
Republicans of the house are not united
upon the proposition to reduce or to
abolish the duty on sugar. Cannon, Of
Illinois, one of the leaders of the Repub-
licans and the chairman of the caucus,
proposed to greatly reduce the duty on
sugar. He was followed in support of
this proposition by Bayne of Pennsylva-
MIA. The proposition and the debate at
once aroused the most determined OPP
position on the part of Republicans from
Kansas and from California. The debate
showed not only that the Republicans
are not united upon the proposition, but
that there is little possibility that they
can be made to unite. The people of
Kansas, irrespective of party, it is be-
lieved, have become convinced that q
new departure In the agricultural devel-
opment of that State is to result from the
manufacture of sorghum sugar. The ac-
ton of the Kansas representatives. show
ed plainly that they will not supportsny
movement in favor of "cheap" or free"
sugar, which threatens to interfere with
what they consider no longer an expert
mental industry. The California repre-
sentatives we're actuated not by any in
terest in the manufacture of sorghum
sugar, but by the fact that Claus Spreck-
les is establishing very extensive plant
| for the culture of the sugar beet and the
manufacture of sugar from the beet. For
this reason the California representa-
tives do not intend to encourage any
movement to reduce the existing rates
on sugar. Because of this new beet su-
gar industry the interest of the Pacific
coast on the Hawaiian sugar cultivation
is said to be waning. The sharp antag-
onism of the Kansas and California rep
resentatlves to the proposition to reduce
the existing tariff on sugar may not be
without effect upon the programme
which the Republicans have outlined for
themselves in the senate. In order to
pass the tariff bill which the Republicans
of the senate committee on finance may
agree, it will be necessary to have the
votes of the Kansas and California sena-
tors, and it is doubtful whether they will
vote for free sugar.