The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-13
CUBA's NEEDS.

]
adopted by the tobacco growers of
Florida at a meeting held at Quincy
/ in that state, in which they take
/ strong ground against a reduction of
the duty on tobacco coming into this
country from Cuba, In the resolu-
tons the position is taken that if
it is decided that there shall be
reduction, then there shall be such
reduction on American tobacco seek
ing entrance into Cuba as will put
American tobacco growers on foot
ing equal with the Cuban growers.
At the meeting at which these resolu-
tions were adopted the belief was ex-
pressed that If our duty on Cuban
sugar was reduced to the extent that
Cubans think necessary for their pros
perity, there would be no profit in
the syrup industry in Florida and
South Georgia,
Our tobacco growers and sugar pro-
ducers are sending representatives to
Washington to protest against reduc-
tions in the duties on Cuban sugar
and tobacco, and it is already appar-
ent that the question as to how Cuba
can be helped without injury to any
of our interests is the most difficult
one to settle yet presented in connec-
ton with Cuba since the beginning
of the Spanish American war. Our
tobacco growers and cane sugar grow
ers are not the only ones interested
g,,Aa On
tobacco and sugar. There are millions
of dollars invested in the beet sugar
interest. The production of beet SUI
gar has been increasing steadily for
a number of years, and the opinion
has been expressed by those who have
given the subject attention. that-iH
the course of a comparatively few
years the cane and beet sugar grow
ers would produce all the sugar re-
quired for our own consumption. 1t is
claimed, however, that IL the duty
on sugar is reduced one half, as de-
sired by Cuba, our cane sugar and
beet sugar interests will be destroy
ed. To what extent this is true we
are not prepared to say. but there
10 lIO QOuUl lIldI ICQuCllOII VI HAIL
a cent a pound on raw sugar would
be serious blow to our sugar grow
ing interests. 1t would not be so Sc
rious if the duties on all other arti-
cles should be reduced as greatly as
those on sugar and tobacco, but there
is no probability of anything of the
kind being done. The manufacturers
are strong enough to prevent the du-
ties on manufactured articles being
disturbed.
In behalf of Cuba IL is claimed that
il we do not make a market for her
products she will have none. and that
there will be as serious trouble in
the island as there was at any time
during Spanish rule. In fact, it is
asserted by the commissioner sent by
ditions prevailing in the island, that
the revolt against Spanish rule was
due almost wholly to the inability of
the agricultural interests to carry the
burdens placed upon it by Spain; and
yet, it is said that the burden which
Spain placed on Cuba's sugar was not
as great as that which our tariff places
upon it when brought to. our mar
ket, and our market is the best there
is.
Unless Cuba can market her sugar
and tobacco at a profit there will be
troublous times in the island. There
is no doubt about that. The question
which presents itself, however. is this:
Is not our first duty to our own peo-
pie? Can we afford to injure, and
perhaps destroy great interests in this
country. in order to make Cuba pros
porous? 1t is answered of course that
we shall get millions of dollars of
trade from Cuba. but it will be at
the expense of our sugar and tobacco
growers.
beginning to grind their cane. and
they are becoming anxious about a
sugar market. II Is believed that
Cuba will have 1,0Oo.o0o tons of sugar
this year for export. That is fully
half of all the sugar this country i'm
ports annually. 1t is probable that II
we should put our tariff on sugar low
enough Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philip
pines and Hawaii would supply our
market with all the sugar 1t needed.
| That would be the end of sugar pro-
duction in this country. AS already
stated the question with which Con-
gress is confronted is difficult one
to deal with so as not to injure home
| infnrnsha