The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-22
CUBAN SUGAR.
It's Import Free of Duty Cannot
Hurt Georgia or Florida.


Hurt Georgia or Florida.
Gainesville, Fla, Dec. 21-Editor
Savannah News: My attention has
been called to an editorial in your is
sue of Dec. 10, in which you refer to
Cuba's needs in connection with a re-
cent visit made by me to Quincy, Fla,
to obtain an expression of the tobacco
growers on the Cuban question.
What you have to say in the matter
is manifestly fair. agree with you to
the extent that our first duty is at
home, but I do not think that the
granting of what Cuba asks for at this
time will in any way affect the inter
ests of Georgia or Florida. You DIS
cuss this proposition from the stand
point of prospective injury to the
Florida and Georgia sugar-cane inter-
ests. 1t must be taken into cOnsidera-
ton in connection with this question,
that the logical solution of the Cuban
question is annexation. Whatever Cuba
is asking for at present will be only a
temporary arrangement, pending the
establishment of a government in
Cuba. When that government has been
established, other steps may be taken
Tor either a permanent treaty on the
lines now sought, or an arrangement
whereby the sugar cane interests OF
Georgia and Florida, if they are ever
TO develop, which l seriously doubt
may be protected. At present it must
be borne in mind that Cuba is a de-
pendency of the United States. In her
present condition we are under obli-
cations to the Cuban people, and es-
hn
Island, TO the extent that the United
States cannot afford to sacrifice Cuba
without sufficient cause.
In subsequent issue you discuss the
question in connection with the posi-
tlon which Congressman Brantley has
assumed. L believe Congressman
Brantley is posted upon the Cuban sit
uation enough 10 know that It Is onIy
question of time when Cuba will be
annexed. Congressman Brantley made
a visit to Cuba some time last winter
or spring. / was in Havana at the
time, and accompanied Congressman
Brantley upon several excursions to
points in the interior. One of those ex-
curslons was to the Portugalete sugar
plantation. twenty-one miles east OF
havana. There Congressman BrantI ~
TOOK a deep interest in the capabilities
OF cuba as sugar producing country
Therefore he must know that the state
OF Georgia or Florida can never hope
TO compete with Cuba in the produc-
ton of sugar. With the duties on sugar
remaining as they are new he could
not nope to do so, and with Cuban an
neXation in sight it is absolute folly
Tor either to make the attempt. For
the next five years at least the states
or Georgia and Florida will derive more
benef1t from the reduction on the price
Of sugar than they can hope to by a
prospective benefit to be derived from
heavy duty on the Cuban product
Georgia and Florida will never be sug-
reproducing states. Millions have been
spent in Florida by men of capital in
making the attempt, and the result
was a signal failure. All of us re-
member the Disston sugar mills near
Kissimtmee, Fla, and what became of
them. There is absolutely nothing in
the way of the Georgia delegation in
Congress to support what Cuba. is ask
ing for at this time, and 1 do hope
that Mr., Brantley, who I know, has
studied the matter carefully, will take
a broad view of it and support what
the administration is asking for as a
matter of absolute justice to Cuba,
Georgia would certainly lose nothing
if he followed such a course.
j. o. LaFontisee.