The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-01

RAT LAX VIII 8IGaIky hJuE0 tnCh puct~ ness. This could be done only by lower ing the price of sugar to the consumer In this country. On the other hand they claim that if Congress takes on some Of find It's way, not into the pockets of the consumers through cheaper sugar, but into the treasury of the sugar trust, which controls all the sugar importatiops and this agitation and using the Cuban plant CTS as catspaws. Now I cannot see how both of these claims can be well found ed. If we assume that the trust pockets gar in this market is not lowered, and the home producers are not hurt. If on the other hand the price of sugar be reduced. that brings In the rights or the consumer. and they are worth some con- alteration"
 In its broader political aspect this prop osition raises the question whether or not is @ ready to let down wi the bars for the benefit of foreign producers and to the injury of home industries: If the Repub-- lican party Is going in for that sort of a good many Western farmers. then the question is raised how can it satisfy the West while still refusing to ratify reel procity treaties or extend the reciprocity principle for the protection of our Euro- bean market from tariff reprisals? Western Republicans argue that if Com gress Is to do something to help the Cu- ban planters out of sentiment. thereby hurting a good many of our own farm CTS, then it must for consistency's and decency's sake turn round and give such an application of the reciprocity principle as will aid in holding continental cus- toners for our Western farm exports Here is where the West is vitally inter- ested in reciprocity. And if Congress Is going into the business of helping out the poor Cubans through sympathy 1t Is further argued that some of that sort of charity might begin at home too, and that liberal cuts should be made In the tariffs on trust-made articles, for which the Western farmers are now forced to pay higher prices than those same afti-i cles are sold for abroad. '.H e.,
 Many Western members of Congress bear constantly in mind the fact that next year they must go before their constituents for reelection, and the large number of them who hail from agricul- tural district of the West are not anx- ern farmer think everyone's interest but
 his Is being carefully considered at Washington Those who hold this view think it will be very difficult to get Con- for the benefit of either foreign produc- CTS or the sugar monopoly. The inter ests of the consumers do not count
 The present form of the suggestion 3isH that Congress directly reduce the taxes on Cuban sugar and that the President, through Governor Wood. reduce the Cuban taxes on goods going from the would give a temporary reciprocity. and the argument Is made that Western farmers would benefit by an increased Cuban consumption of the products of American farms. The reply which West ern representatives make to this is that If the principle Is good in it's application to Cuba 1t is also good in It's application to European countries which buy of the TTaifa tnf hum than Cuba can ever hope to buy.s It fis further urged that Cuba needs all the revenues it is now enjoying, and that 1t cannot afford to cut down taxes on goods which 1t imports from America.
 Senators raise the objection that re- duction of tax on Cuban sugar by direct legislation might conflict with the fa- vored nation clause of our treaties with other countries and that the first thing we know Germany will come along and demand the same concession to German, sugars. As this objection would not ap-, ply to concessions made to Cuban sugar by means of regular reciprocity treaty negotiated with the island government, 1t has been suggested that the whole matter be postponed until the new gov ernment at Havana Is installed and ready to negotiate permanent treaty of reel procity. That will not be until after May, which would mean a putting on of the question for another year at least.
 On the other hand the beet and cane sugar people and their allied protection friends are warned that If they stand in the way of a reasonable concession to Cuba at this time the result will begthef 1 forcing of Cuba to seek annexation to. the United States. The protection peo- pie are asked which they would prefer, a per cent. reduction on Cuban sugar or a reduction of 100 per cent. by means of annexation.
 These are some of the complications of this most interesting situation. And with 1t all there Is the liveliest curiosity to see how the President will come out in what at this writing looks like a repe- tition of MT. McKinley's plain duty" struggle with the last Congress over