Evening star., 1901-12-06
Economic Condition Worse Than
During the Revolts.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE EXTENT
The Only Relief, Which Should Be
Given at Once.
FOR OUR OWN BEN EFT

The situation in Cuba today is worse
than at any time in the last century out
Of which came the Cuban revolts.
This statement was made TO Star re-
porter today by Mr.. Albert G. Robinson. the
weIl-known newspaper correspondent who
has made careful study of economic con-
,iitiOns in Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philip
pines. South Africa and the orient. He visit
ed Cuba directly after the war. and then
went to the Philippines. Recently he spent
several months in Cuba and was very much
Interested in the situation as he found it
ON returning
Every revolt in the history of Cuba has
grown out of oppressive economic condi-
o tiuas" he continued, not out of politics
nor the exigencies of personal ambitions. I
repeat. the situation, economically. is worse
now.
Real Extent of Danger.
e. General Wood. Secretary Root and Pres
ident Roosevelt have called the attention
OF the country to the state of affairs. but /
am sure the people of the United States do
not understand the real extent of the
danger that menaces Cuba, and which will
eventually react upon the United States
The Cuban economic question divides
itself into two parts: The future CONNER
.ciaI arrangements between the island and
the United States is one, and the present,
immed eXigent necessities of the exist
ing commercial situation is the other. 1t Is
with the latter thai | now deal and which
should be considered apart and separate.
30 Whatever this government may decide
to do in the future when Cuba has an es-
tdhliShed government is one thing. What
Congress may find absolutely necessary to
10 AT once. as an act of grace that it will
in the end prove act of wisdom and
Seif-proteCtion. is another
Seriousness of the situation.
The seriousness of the present situation
IN Cuba is matter of figures The plant
now have approximately 100000 tons
of sugar in the process of cutting. At the
prevailing price of sugar. three-fourths of
that crop will be harvested at a loss of
from l, to 81 cent pound. That will mean
rUinatinn To the planters and will, in turn,
affect every industry and every class of
citizens the island.
The planters have put in their crop with
borrowed money. on which they are paying
from l. to ~ per cent If they cannot
realize the crop the merchants who
loaned them the money and advanced them
supplies will suffer Even the field hands,
, who get their supplies this way and de-
pend upon the harvested crop for their pay,
will ne destitute. and there will be an i'm
mediate outbreak of brigandsm.
The real estate of Cuba is mortgaged up
TO u, or ~ per cent of it's assessed valua-
tion. II this crop goes begging the entire
economic system of Cuba disintegrates-
only HeI1ef Possible.
. The only relief possible is the reduction
of the American tariff on sugar for this
Sc eason. The difference in the price that
the tariff makes will furnish the margin
of profit to pull the planters through the
present difficulty.
~ ''But this action must be taken at once. if
az all. The cutting and grinding season Is
now coming on, and unless assurance is
given before February that relief will be
afforded the disaster will fall
As | said at the outset, the question is
rot altogether of charity to the Gu
bans. but concerns our own welfare What
| mean. in a word is this: Shall We. when
we give over the island to the new Cuban
government. deliver it in demoralized con-
.ditiOn. worse than when we took it? Will
that rebound to the credit of the American
people and the administration?
Il know 1t has been alleged that the
sugar trust would be the principal bene-
fciary of the tariff reduction. That is an
error The planter will get it in the in
creased price of his sugar. 1t has also
been stated that no reduction should be
made. because it would operate to the dis
advantage of the American beet grower
The relief asked would not affect in
any way the beet growers interests