The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-23
A pERPLExING QUESTION.

AS already foreshadowed, the protected
American industries which are threatened
by the proposed admission Of Puerto Rican
products free to the rest of the United
States are preparing to fight the PROPOSE
ton vigorously. The two principal in
terests which think they are threatened
are the sugar and tobacco and they are
have been presented showing the extent of
the danger to these interests from the ad-
mission Of Puerto Rican products free,
but they are assuming that 1t is serious
The New England Tobacco-growers' AS
ISOLATION, which met a few days ago in
Hartford. Conn. adopted the following
without dissent:
Whereas. a condition now exists so seri-
Gus as to threaten the very existence of
the leaf tobacco interests of this country
by the absorption of large competing
islands in leaf and cigar products;
Whereas, II Is now seriously proposed to
open up at once free trade with the island
of Puerto Rico;
Resolved, That the widespread alarm ap-
parent among, not only the leaf tobacco
and cigar interests, but all others that
will be injured by free trade In competing
earnestly hope will be sufficient warning
TO honorable members of Congress to pro-
coed slowly In matters of legislation in
volving as 1t may not only the happiness
and prosperity of thousands of American
citizens, but the possible ruin of large
American industries. the building up and
preservation of which has been the chief
concern and greatest value Of legislation in
the past.
In other resolutions the association de-
clared in favor of keeping the island I'M
der military government for at least five
years, the period of residence required of
foreigners before granting them citizen
ship. The logic of this demand is not quite
apparent. Foreigners can vote after being
in the United States one year, and the
treaty of peace by which Puerto Rico
was coded to the United States was signed
Dec. 10. 1898. The tobacco growers of Wis
consin and Ohio, Kentucky and other South
ern States, are making common cause with
those of New Englenu and are sending
representatives to Washington to work
against the open-door policy in Puerto
Rico.
The beet sugar interest Is preparing to
| pool ISSUES Will the tODdCCO interest. n.
]. Oxnard. president of the Beet Sugar
Association and the beet sugar king of the
United States, is in Washington. using all
| the influence he can bring TO bear with
Congress against the proposition. Mr.. Ok
nard is reported as saying:
II President Mckinley is going to drop
protection to our own people, who are en-
titled 10 IL, in order TO give IL TO carpet
baggers and spectators. we want TO know
what has caused the change OF front. We
propose to conduct hard a fight as We
know how TO make against the enactment
of the Presidents recommendation re-
garding free trade with Puerto Rico. We
are coming TO Washington 10 carry this
| fight to the end. and we propose TO call
| the attention OF the country TO the injustice
which Is offered 10 a worthy and extensive
American industry by the Presidents rec
| ommendation.
| The Presidents recommendation referred
to is that In his last message. In which
he urged the establishment Of free and
unrestricted trade with Puerto Rico This