The Mankato free press., 1900-02-23
FREE TRADE.
Give the Porto Hcans a Chance
to Prosper.
Such Is the Concensus Of Opinion OF
Mankato Republicans Interviewed
on the Subject.

The Republicans ii Mankato seem u
be unanimously back of President NC
Kinley in his stand in favor OF free
trade between the United States and
its new possession, the island OF Porto
Rico. If the question were to be left
to the Republicans of this city, il
would be quickly settled in favor OF
the little island which Uncle Sam
annexed year ago.
A few of the prominent Republicans
of the city were seen Monday and asked
this question: care you in favor OF the
Porto Rican tariff bill now before con
gress, providing for duty on products
coming into the states, or do you favor
free trade between Porto Rico and the
statesP" Two of those interviewed
were unprepared to answer the ques'
ton and the following replies were
given by others. Several whom it was
desired to see were out of the city OF
could not be found:
Geo. M. Palmer Il would extend free
trade to Porto Rico. If it belongs to
this country it ought not to be shut out
by tariff wall.
w. D. Willard am in favor Of free
trade, unqualifiedly. SO far as I can
tell from what l have read, the pro-
posed duties would largely benefit the
tobacco and sugar trusts. We owe the
Dorfo Pioo no froa trada
B. @. Taylor-Questions of tariff are
for experts and those in a position to
know the effects, but my judgment is
that the best results would be obtained
by free trade between the colonies and
the home country.
M. B. Haynes-We had better let the
island have free trade 1t wont hurt
anybody. President McKinley's head
is level on this point.
w. N. Plymat-On the face of it, l
favor free trade between all of our pos
sessions and the states. have not
studied the matter much, and we must
analyze it very carefully before finally
acting.
w. R. Geddes-Free trade between
all the states, territories or dependen-
cies of the United States is my answer.
don't see why Porto Rico should not
have the right to ship its products into
Minnesota on the same terms as Wis
consin enjoys.
Thos. w. Hart-I am in favor of free
trade. We might as well favor protec-
tion against Iowa as against Porto Rico
in my estimation.
l.. A. Linder-I am for free trade
with Porto Rico, because believe it is
entitled to it.
w. A. Funk-I am not in favor of a
tariff on products of Porto Rico any
more than am in favor of one on the
products of California There are two
things in this country that do not need
protection, and they are the sugar and
tobacco trusts.
Rev. Lee w. Beattie- 4 am in favor
Of free trade, because the island is a
part of the territory of the United
States. do not believe in favoritism
toward any part of our dominions.
A. G. Meyer-If Porto Rico is part
of our country, 1 should treat it as if it
was. favor free trade.
P. s. Thomas-While I have not paid
much attention to the subject, it seems
to me that we ought to have free trade
with the island.
Geo. T. Bari favor free trade. ]
would treat the Porto Ricans just like
we treat ourselves, for that island is a
part of our country now.
John G. Noe-My tendency would be
toward free trade, although am hard
ly prepared today to express decided
opinion. I would treat the Porto Ri
cans as one of our family.
81. l. Parry-I favor free trade. ]
cannot see why we should impose du.
ty on the products of Porto Rico any
more than we do on those of Alaska,
Washington or California. On general
principles am in favor of tariff, but
Porto Rico is the same as one of our
states.
J. B. Richards-I say free trade. II
is our duty to stay by the president.
D. Richards-Free trade. I don't see
any more right in taxing the. products
of this island than in taxing the prod.
ucts of one of our states.
L. g. M. Fletcher-Giv the Porto
Ricans the same conditions as ourselves
the same tariff. I don't see why we
should place tariff on their products
D. L. Clements-I am in favor of free
trade, surely. 1t would be outrageous
to put tariff on Porto Rican products
John Nyquist t-Free trade If the
island belongs to us, its people should
have the same privileges that we have
Paul Iverson-Put me down as in ia
vor of free trade with the island. II
should have the same privileges as the
United States, as long as it belongs te
us.