The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-31
NOT A PARTY QUESTION.
Annexation Of Cuba Too Complicated
for Partisan Alignment.

for Partisan alignment.
Detroit Tribune.
Mr.. Carmack. Tennessee's new senator.
who is looked upon in Washington as a
coming national leader Of his party. is
quoted as saying thai the Democrats OF the
South Will make a fight for the annexation
Of Cuba. and that Republicans will oppose
il because they cannot ignore the claims OF
the sugar and tobacco trusts. This may be
Mr.. Carmack's view OF the case. and IL may
be that some other Southern senators agree
with his opinion that. disregarding the
Louisiana sugar planters. the interests OF
the South would be served by annexation.
But the gentleman from Tennessee is very
far from a thorough understanding Of the
situation. if he imagines that anything like
a solid South can be brought 10 the support
Of the proposition. Moreover. he Is mis-
taken if he thinks annexation is likely 10
become a party question.
He is unQuestionably right in his conclu-
sion that the sugar and tobacco interests
will oppose anything that would bring Gu
ba's products into this country duty-free,
but he fails TO take into account the geo
graphical extent OF the sugar INDUSTRY in
TINS country, and he also OVerloOkS some
other matters that viii have a determining
influence on representatives and senators
from various States. The beet sugar men,
or most OF them at least, are firmly con-
Vlnced that annexation would be detrimen-
tai. II not fatal, to their interests, and the
members of Congress from the beet sugar
districts are sure 10 oppose II. But the
American tobacco growers are. though not
logically, IN the same position. LOuisianas
cane sugar interests are certain TO be bit
terly opposed 10 the removal OF tariff bar
riers. F1orida's tobacco and tropical fruit
interests must necessarily occupy the same
position. Senator Baily, OF Texas. has de-
clared that either one OF two reasons would
be sufficient 10 make him unalterably op-
posed to annexation. His first reason is
that the country already has race problems
enough, without inviting more. and his sec
creased and aVoidable competition for the
sugar and fruit growers OF the South. Ken
lucky, Virginia, the Carolinas and other
States where the tobacco crop is an i'm
portant product, are not likely 10 form part
of that South which, in Mr.. Carmack's
view, is TO demand annexation. On the
other hand, those Northern States which
are consumers and not producers of either
sugar or tobacco, are more than likely TO
demand. with some eagernesS, any action
which promises TO abolish the tariffs. and
are quite capable of eXerting such pressure
as would compel their Republican represen-
tatives to accept the view Of the
desirability of annexation.
1t is tOlerably clear, then, that Mr.. Car
mack does not speak for a solid South. and
il is equally clear that the Republican
party, having some beet sugar States, some
tobacco States and several in which neither
is an important industry, can hardly be
held together on such an issue. In short. II
is impossible to believe that the annexation
of Cuba, which, except for race feeling,
presents none but economic problems, can
become either a party or a sectional issue.