Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-22
70 CUBA
Indications That There Will Be
Lively Debate on the
Subject.
Under Existing Conditions Moth
ing Can Be Done by the
Congress.
Cuba Very Backward in Its Or
Cuba Very Backward in Its Or
ganization of an Indepen..
dent Government.

Washington, Nov 22.-Indications
multiply here that there will be lively
debate over the matter of concessions to
Cuba Some Of the strongest elements
in congress favor making concessions
which will assist materially in Develop
ing the island. There has been some
recent talk among members of congress
of the president exercising his war and
military power and granting tentative
concessions to the island until congress
can take action.
Under existing conditions, nothing can
be done by congress. Legislation Will
have to deal directly with a government
in Cuba. There is little prospect of the
establishment of a government there
before June or July. From the rate OF
progress made thus far 1t would seem
that the organization of an independent
government is even more distant.
Some senators who have heretofore
been recognized as the stanchest advo-
Gates of the protective tariff system
favor concessions. They declare their
attitude In this case to be consistent,
however, and explain it on the ground
that present concessions would be the
lesser of two evils-that IL something is
not done for the Cubans, annexation is
Inevitable and free trade would follow;
a contingency that is intolerabe to the
protectionists.
The American Protective Tariff
League, and the high protectionists
generally, are absolutely set against any
concession to Cuba. Their opposition Is
conferred against reduction of the sugar
tariff and the duties on Tobacco, but
they claim, that the principle Of protec-
ton is the main stake. They do not be-
lieve that concessions are necessary to
obviate possible annexation; they think
the spirit of protection to home produc-
ers prevailing in this country will keep
Cuba out of the union.
They have won over to their side the
friends OF the beet sugar growers of the
west and the tobacco raisers of every
section. and are prepared to make stiff
fight in the house and senate against
any proposition to let down the tariff
bars to Cuban planters.
Opposed to them will be the strong
sentiment Of charity that will be
Several prominent republican senators
have said recently that IL the Cubans
are not given partial relief they will
soon be in such state that the whole
people of the United States will be
aroused and annexation OF Cuba VII be
the outcome.
The high protectionists and the beet
sugar men raise the cry that conces
sions to Cuba will rebound mainly to
the benefit Of the sugar trust of this
They demand that Cuba shall
be given her independence and left to
work out her own economic salvation
along with the other nations of the
world.
There is still another factor in the sit
uation, however, which Will be repre-
sented IL the fight opens in congress. as
some expect. American manufacturers
who want to sell machinery, clothing
and footwear to Cuba; wholesalers who
want to dispose of lard. salt fish, dairy
products aud bacon: the steel and iron
men who want to ship rails. locomo-
tives, nails and wire-all these will ac
auiesca in the proposed tariff conces-
sfons on sugar and tobacco, assuming.
If course, that similar advantage will |
-. A IL. As