The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-08
RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA.

~ Win CObA-
Some days ago representative Hepburn.
of Iowa, took it upon himself to declare
from Washington that the late President
McKinley's last words in favor of reciproc-
ity would rot be needed by Congress. He
did not put his opinion in these words, but
what he said meant what the words here
used imply. This declaration of Mr.. Hep
burn prOvOkes the remark that a few MEM
bers Of Congress are presuming a great
deal upon their wisdom and judgment when
they tell US, with the air of those issuing
an edict, that reciprocity will not receive
favorable attention.
The country which Mr.. Hepburn singled
out as that which could receive no consid-
Grafton in connection with a reciprocal ar
rangement Is Cuba, with which, through
Spain. such an arrangement was made by
the Harrison administration. With the
highest regard for the Iowa representative
who promulgates this announcement, it
may be modestly stated, as an opinion, that
a large part of the American people are of
opinion that the United States is under an
obligation to foster the material interests
of Cuba We placed her where she is.
Practically. without her request, we inter-
fered to vanquish her oppressors and to
take charge OF the island, the people and
all other interests. Furthermore, the
chances are ten to one that before ten
years shall lave passed the necessities of
Cuba will compel the people of the island
to seek annexation, and sound policy may
dictate such a course on the part of this
government. At any rate, by the action Of
the United States the destiny of Cuba has
been taken in charge by the United States.
Consequently. for Congress to declare, of
hand, as has Mr.. Hepburn, that no trade
concessions shall be made to Cuba is to ig-
more the fact that the last Congress prac-
tically prohibited the government of the
island from entering into any treaty or
commercial relations with other nations
without our approval. If the Platt amend
ment does not mean that it does not mean
anything, and our compelling Cuba TO ac-
cept it makes US morally responsible for the
industrial conditions of the island.
Mr.. Hepburn's reasons are that such a
reciprocal arrangement will interfere with
the beet-sugar and the tobacco interests of
the United States. Mr.. Hepburn said in his
talk that the output of the beet-sugar in
dustry this year would be some 10000
tons but the secretary of agriculture, who
is enthusiastic over the slow experiment of
beet-sugar making in this country, said the
other day that the beet-sugar crop for the
year 1901 would probably reach 91.OOO tons.
The success of the beet-sugar industry de-
ponds upon the maintenance of the present
duties on sugar. which add to the cost to
the consumer at least 50 per cent. 1t is the
gre,.t revenue producer in our tariff svs-
tem-a tax for revenue-and when a tax for
revenue is not needed the duty on sugar
should not be continued at the present fig
ure. It is. therefore. to our advantage to
reduce the duty on Cuban sugar so that the
languishing industry I'm that island NAV be-
come prosperous. In regard to tobacco. the
United States is the largest producer in the
world. SO that the tobacco industry cannot
be materially affected by the Importation
OF Cuha's output. which is of a different
variety. for the most part. than is pro-
duced here.
\ reciprocal arrangement with Cuba
which would quicken her g and tobacco
interests would insure Us such lower duties
on The products we have 10 sell as would
give us exclusively the markets of that
island. Cuba raises no breadstuns and no
staple food products such as pork. bacon.
lard and butter. She has not a factory that
can produce a yard OF cotton cloth or the
scores of articles such as machinery. furni-
ture, building materials. of which Cubans
constantly need large quantities. We can
reduce the duty on Cuban sugar and tobac-
co and thus secure a reduction for our
selves OF the duties on hundreds OF articles
which we produce in abundance, and with
that reduction we can hold the markets OF
cuba exclusively. That is reciprocity. pure