Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-20
RECIPROCITY SENTIMENT
MR.. THURRER RELIEVES 1T Is
GROWING AMONG THE PEOPLE.
Says Where We Take We Must BE
Ready to Give I'm Return-Con-
cessiOns to Cuba.

Il believe that the time has come when
the consideration of reciprocity cannot Ion
ger with safety be ignored by Congress, "
said Mr.. f. B. Thurber, formerly chairman
OF the foreign committee of the New York
chamber of commerce, to a Star reporter
this morning at the Raleigh.
Il am protectionist and believe in the
principles of protective tariff, but If the
needs OF the hour in this direction are not
needed along the line of Mr.. Mckinley s
speech at Buffalo there will be a ground
swell of reaction from protectionist prin-
ciples which will endanger the whole fabric
of protection, and may result in the over
turning of the tariff and the triumph of
free trade.
No other country in the world has the
great natural resources that we have, and
the remarkable capacity for their develop
ment But we are a people of only 50, 0o0,-
0O0 out of 1,5O0,000,000 These people have
needs which We can supply and which we
must assist in supplying. Once we meet
our own demands there arises the question
HOW shall We dispose of our surplus pro-
ducts! Unless they disposed of, stag
nation In trade, congestion of output, low
erlng OF wages, and all the attending dis
asters and dangers which would flow as a
natural result of over-production with no
markets for it's disposal would follow.
Serious Consequences.
1T is condition fraught with the most
serious consequences to all branches OF
trade l am satisfied that the question will
soon develop into burning one, and one
which will force itself upon Congress as
reluctant as may be that body to meet it.
1t should not be lost sight of that where
we take we must be ready to give in re-
turn. and l will cite an instance which Will
answer for many,
Il asked a jeweler what protection the
tariff gave him under the Mckinley act.
de replied, % per cent. Under the Wilson
bill this was lowered to IS per cent The
Dingley act gives him 60 per cent The
kasson treaty with France proposed to
lower 1t 10 per cent, to which he was OBJ
posed But reminded him, You will re-
celVe as much as you got under the Nc
kinley act, and you thrived under that
While he admitted this to be true, he an
swered the question by saying that his for
elgn competitors We're in a better position
today to compete with him than then and
he wished the highest rate maintained
Now, my jeweler friend could well have
a1orded to have made a concession in re-
turn for a counter concession. Yet he not
only declined to do this but complained
that 65 per cent Of the jewelry sold In
Cuba was purchased abroad and thought
that the people of Cuba should purchase
their Jewelry of u.s. forgetful that we I'M
pose tariff of 100 to $50 per cent against
their chief products, tobacco and sugar
Reciprocity With Cuba.
We should have reciprocity with Cuba
which is practically ward of the nation.
Foreign manufacturers have made success
ful bids for the trade of the island, when
that trade ought to flow in natural chan
nels to u.s. We cannot expect them to buy
their goods of a nation which imposes a
high wall of from 100 to $50 per cent against
their own outputs.
The great obstacle in the way of the
success Of reciprocity is the fact that none
seem willing to make concessions in their
own line, but cheerfuHy point to the other
Fellow. The pressure for an outlet for our
surplus products, however, will in time be
SO great that the present barriers Of oppo-
slt1on are certain to be swept aside. An
active minority is often more assertiye and
powerful than passive majority, and the
greatest noise is often made by this active
The attitude of the farmers is indicated
by the resolutions passed at the recent
in Sioux City, in which fine
speech Of Mr.. Mckinley at Buffalo was
warmly commended. These resolutions
strongly urged our own manufacturers TO
make reciprocal concessions
MI. Ihurber added that the sentiment in
favor of reciprocity was steadily growing
among the people, and that he looked for
much agitation OF the question this winter
both In and out of Congress.