The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-29
DON'T WANT FREE IMPORTS.
PLANTERS WILL OPPOSE ADMIT
TING PORTO RICAN PRODUCTS.

Have Nothing Against the Island,
But They Do Not Want COMPETE
tiOn with Its Rice, Truck, Sugar
and TobaccO-An Interesting Adj
dress on the Subject by Mr.. Myrick
of Springfield, SIass.-The Savannah
Rice Association and the Chatham
County Truck Growers Association
Called Upon to Take Action.
The rice planters and truck growers of
Savannah will take action TO cooperate
with their fellow planters throughout the
country who are likely to be affected by
the admission of tropical products TO this
country free of duty, in opposition 20 the
opening of the gates to Porto Rican pro-
ducts as suggested by President Mckinley
in his message to Congress.
Mr.. Lockwood Myriek, representing the
League of Domestic Producers, addressed
meeting of rice planters and truck grow
ers upon this subject at the Board of Trade
yesterday at some length. explaining the
/ effects which the proposed legislation
would be likely TO have upon a number
of industries of this country and the steps
which are being taken by those interested
/ NkAfNN-t
The meeting was called to order by Capt.
| d. G. Purse. who stated the object. and
suggested the propriety of electing a
! chairman, the meeting not being one of
| the Board of Trade. Col. John Screveu
was elected chairman and Mr.. E. G.
| Trenholm secretary. Others present were
| Capt. J. A. Huger, Col ]. H. NJ. Clinch,
Mr.. l.. w. Haskell, Mr.. W. G. Morren,
Mr.. Harry Taylor, Mr.. w. D. Simklns,
Mr.. B. s. Wells, Mr.. c. s. Howard, Mr..
| George j. Mills, Mr.. j. H. Furber Mr..
]. S. Collins, Mr.. A. r. Fawcett, Mr..
John c. Rowland and others.
Mr.. Myrick entered into a general dis
| cussion of the subject, showing that he
had posted himself thoroughly as TO the
interests involved. The subject was one
which had not heretofore received any
great attention in this section. and MIR.
Myrick's address was listened to with in
terest. The manner in which the large
sugar, rice, tobacco and truck industries
of this country were threatened by the
proposed free introduction of the same ar
ticles of production from Porto Rico, free
| of duty, presumably to be followed by
| similar action in behalf of other newly
acquired tropical possessions, was ably dis
cussed by Mr.. Myrick To offset or to
prevent any step which would lead to such
| disastrous consequences Mr.. Myriek stat
ed that an organization had been recently
| effected at Omaha, the best sugar pro-
ducers of the West having taken the lead.
| These have succeeded in allying with them
selves the Louisiana cane and rice plant
ers, the large tobacco producing interests
| of Connecticut and other states and some
of the manufacturing interests which are
likely to De affected by the proposed
| change. II is hoped 10 secure the co-opera-
ton of the large wool growing interest,
| which has proven so powerful in influenc-
| ing tariff legislation, not because the wool
growers would be affected by imports from
Porto Rico, but because they are now
| threatened with a reciprocity treaty with
! the Argentine Republic, which would adj
NIT the large wool product of that country
| at reduced duty.
Porto Rico and the Philippines Mr.
Myrick said, are both producers of rice,
| though neither country is al present pro-
ducing rice for export With the tariff
bars let down. however, the tempting op-
portunity afforded by the American mar
ket, would not be long neglected This
would be more particularly the case with
the Philippines where rice Is generally
grown and where two crops year can be
| grown under irrigation. AS Manila Cuba
and Porto Rico are all large producers of
| sugar, the opening of the American mar
lxet TO this product would mean that the
| sugar industry would be ruined the con-
sequence of which would be that the sugar
planters Of Louisian would generally turn
| their attention to rice planting. AS an
| instance of what might occur, he said
that it had been declared at the time that
| Hawaii was annexed, that the limit of SUI
gar production had been reached in that
country, and yet the year following the
| Hawaiian acreage of sugar cane was
doubled. The same results might be ex-
pected to follow the opening of the Amer
| ican market to the tropical products OF
Porto Rico and the Philippines, and the
| placing of Cuba on a reciprocity basis
| eli Ia IN that mi wit rit y,
| West India. The truck growers would
be especially effected, ne said, as Porto
| Rico is practically as near to northern
markets as Savannah, and with her more
tropical climate her planters would be
| able TO take the cream of the fruit and
vegetable markets away from the Geor-
sia and Florida planters.
| Mr.. Myricks suggestion was that every
interest or industry effected should organ
lie and arrange for joint cooperation in
opposing any change in the tariff on Por-
to Rcan products and that representa-
tives should be sent to attend a meeting
of the League of Domestic Producers, 70
be held in Washington the latter part or
January, when II Is expected to perfect
permanent organization, the present or
ganization being only temporary.
Mr. Myrick's audience evidently in
dorsed his views. On the question of or
ganization, Mr.. l.. W. Haskell said that
there were already two organizations the
Savannah Rice Association and the Truck
Growers Association, which were of n
character to take up this work. This was
agreed to, and a resolution was adopted
calling upon the Rice Associa ton and the
| Truck Association. 10 take action in the
matter. This means that not only shall
they use their influence with the members
of Congress from this state, but that
there must be active cooperation win
the associated industries affected. The
thanks of the meeting were rendered Mr..
Myrick for his address, and also to the
Board of Trade for the use of its quar-
tiers.