The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-23
IL to Encourage Reciprocal Re-
lations With Mexico.
GOVERNOR PRESIDEs.
Larger Interests Represented
Than at ANY Meeting.
An Interesting Comparison by
Mr.. A. B. Hulit.
Committee Appointed to Per
feet an Organization.

This convention represents larger
business interests than any other meet
ing that ever convened in Kansas,
said Governor Stanley today in calling
to order the meeting of business men
of the state for the purpose of discuss
ing the problems of reciprocity with
Mexico and other Latin-American
countries.
There were about so representatives
of different nnes of western industry
present in the meeting, which was
largely in the nature of q conference
1t assembled in the supreme court
chamber in the state house at 1880
this morning. Among the lines of in
dustry represented were the milling,
packing, grain dealers, grain growers,
stockyards, produce. creamery, stock
breeders, commercial clubs, eattlemen,
seed, cement. wholesalers and railroad
interests.
In opening the conference Governor
Stanley explained that he had had an
informal conference with a few buSi-
ness men who were handy to Topeka
last week and had presented the ma L
ter to them, and they had advised cali
ing the larger conference for the pur-
pose of taking some sort of action
towards increasing the interest in re-
ciprocity with special reference to the
interests Of the west, and urging on
congress the Importance of action
A b. Hulit, formerly of Topeka. but
now of Chihuahua, Mexico who has
been pushing the movement, was asked
to make a statement, after Governor
Stanley had been elected chairman and
Major T. J. Anderson secretary of the
conference
'.The peon of Mexico is gradually be-
coming a consumer said Mr. rHulit.
THE old peonage system is being wiped
out Mexico can never get along on the
wheat and corn which is raised down
there, for those crops depend. on irriga-
ton on the high attitudes and they can
never be raised in sufficient quantities
to supply the demand Corn is pre-
eminently the poems food, yet it is now
from $3.50 to 81 a bushel in Mexico. and
it is caused by the high tariff. The
tariff on American wheat and corn is
practically prohibitive. The duty on
flour, for instance. is four cents a
pound.
1.-The duty on oranges imported from
Mexico into the United States is one
cent a pound, but the Mexicans charge
a duty of six cents pound on the ap-
pies which we ship into Mexico. The
duty on pork is II cents a pound, and
live hogs are today worth II cents a
pound in Mexico. Last year there was
100000 pounds of butter shipped from
Topeka. into Mexico notwithstanding
the fact that the duty is so high that
very few people in Mexico can afford
to use butter. Butter there is worth
from 80 cents to $1-25 a pound. If the
duty were removed it would be much
cheaper and there would be a far
greater market for our Kansas butter
Eastern people are advocating ship
subsidy on general principles. If there
is to be one I think it should be made
to create new lines of shipping to ports
where there are none at present. For
instance, there are now no regular ship
ping lines out of our gulf ports to any
Mexican or Latin-American countries
The only steamers that ply between
such ports are tramp" steamers and
they cannot be depended upon by our
merchants. If the subsidy bill was
m ade to new lines of shipping where
none now exist 1t would create a line
from the gulf ports to all the Latin
American countries"
Mr.. Hulit also suggested that better
banking facilities be discussed, the con-
struction of the Nicaraguan canal
urged, and that congress be asked to
place the consular service under civil
service rules that it might become more
efficient
Mr.. Hulit said that the Bank of Eng
land has good banking connections in
every principal city of Mexico and as
consequence many American sales
men travel in Mexico as Englishmen
and claim they represent English
houses. By doing this they are able
to secure information and assistance
from the English bank connections that
Americans cannot possibly secure He
also said that the German consular ser
vice is the most efficient of any in Mex
leo The German consuls learn the
language and the commercial demands
OF the people, and become practically
the agents of German commercial in
terests, while American consuls are
changed with every change of adninis-
tration, just as they have become suffi-
ciently acquainted with conditions to
be of service to American commercial
interests.
C. B. Hoffman. of Enterprise presi-
dent of the MiIlers' Export association.
Who attended the reciprocity conven-
tlon IN washington some time ago, was
caleu on Tor an address, and he urged
the Importance of the west taking an
interest in the matter. He said there
We're from forty to fifty delegates in
the washington reciprocity convention
from west of the Alleghanies. and over
three hundred from the Atlantic states.
indicating that the manufacturing in
Ieresrs OF the east are awake to the
necessity of reciprocity and are going
aIter 1t IN the interests of the things
tney produce The west, Mr. Hoffman
SAID VIII have to look after it's own in
terests or 1t win get left. and he urged
the organization of a permanent as
SoclatlOn TO push reciprocity and trade
with Mexico and South American coun-
MY firm" said Mr. Hoffman. s.sells
nour 20 large importing firm in Ven
Szueia put we have to do it through
New York. 1t costs a great deal II
snip the flour to New York and If is
Inen no nearer its destination than IL
IS mere II we could ship to Galveston
py ran and from there to Venezuela il
not do that now go
NJ NJ Sherman. of Geneseo. who has
one OF the largest ranches in the west