The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-19
THE PORTO RICAN TARIFF.
why Herbert Myriek Believes we should
be "Pretected" Against Our Wards.


urEcrAL TO THE fRKss.l
Springfield. Mass. March ls.-In al
Interview Mr.. herbert Myriok, chairman
Of the League OF Domestic Producers
charges that the sugar trust 10 NJ the bot
tom OF the attempt 10 grant frsa trade
between Porto Rico and the United
States.
Mr. Myrick said: '"rhe sugar refiners'
trust depends for Its very life upon Inn.
ported raw sugar. It's death knen 10
sounded By the devslopmspt Of domestic
beet sugar production, as we'll % by other
competition. The trusts have shrunk al
most one-half In market valus. But II
the sugar rsfiners' trust car get raw cane
sugar admitted duty free from the tro pics
10 can throttle the domestic best sugar
industry and realize profits beyond she
dreams Of svarice. The same Is true Of
the tobacco and cigar trust; alec the
tropical fruit trust. These powerful In
terests, tossther with the Spanish land
lords and speoulators who have acquired
lands In Porto Rico. Cuba and the
Philippines, are the influences that nre
concealed pressure In behalf Of free trade
with the tropics. II they suocssd, vast
syndioatss will be perfected to employ
coolis labor on the unlimited fertile soils
Of thoss Islands In producing sugar. TO-
haooo, fruits, veg stabiss. rioe, cotton,
eto, % we'll ~ cigars. cotton cloth and
other manufacturer ct prices that win
greatly underseli domestic prod uoers
unless wages and living in this country
descend to level with the tropics"
But are the domestic Industries
threatened of any particular consequence"
MIR. Myrick was asked. "Thsy certainly
sre", he replied, ''cigar leaf Is grCwn on q
large scale in New Hampshirs. Vermont
Massach usetts. Connecticut, New Jersey,
New York. Pennsylvania, Ohio wiscon-
sin, Florida, Georgia and Texas.
Under tropical free trade this vast
iomestio industry would be largely
to Havsns and Manila where
wages are but fraction Of those earned
by American oigar makers.
The oitrous fruit, Industry Of California
'lone represents $50. OO0 900 and thous-
,SSs .sss. Of naHps,s aHpssrs SSssgstsbls indgstEy
rome market. Csba, Porto Rico and
Jamaica can pay foll duties and stlil
undersell domestic producers.
The culture OF sugar bsets ct the
North and West and Of sugar cane at the
South, and the manufacture OF sugar
would bs wiped out by tropical
free trade.
To-day therefore the American farmer
says 20 Congress: al have Supported
protection for other interests. now want
them to support protection for the
farmer, II fruits, sugar, tobacco, vege-
tables, sto,, are to be q admitted free from
Porto Rico, Cuba or the Philippines, then
admit free manufactures from England
and Europe"
be excluded II it is part OF the United
"Domestic producers bitterly resent
q precedent for Porto Rico
that must inevitably be sppl led to Cuba
and the Philippines later. We prefer 20
avoid the constitutional iasue for few
years by leaving Por to Rioo as military
the Prssidsr 9 direction. A joint reso-
lution authorizing the President to re-
duce somewhat duties on Porto hican
products shipped into the United States,
is all that 10 now needed, since the Dig
for Porto Rican relief has
passed. This would sfford the islanders
every facility for getting. on their feet
again. As a matter Of fact they cnn
pay full duties to get into the Unitsd
States and still make more money than
American farmers and not work half 30
hard"
"What IL the attitude OF domestic pro-
ducsrs toward Cuba and the Philip
pinssf' a..
threat them alike" replied Mr..
Myrick, "help the Filipinos to self gov
ernmept and nominal Ind ndspendenoe
under 3ur tutslags, as the United states
Is doiug in Cuba. This will be vastly
be ttsr for our foreign trade as we'll as fol-
our domestic interests. When tbi, Is 40
oompli shed, Porto Rioo might come in as
a tsrri tory, but net before. Our inoreas-
ing number Of Senators and HeprsssntA.
tives Of both paTiiss favor this proposi
ti5n. telisve ID will yet be carried out. !"
"Witl the people approve!
''phe party that walks this plank VIII
win hands down next November, " replied
Chairman Myrick.