The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-01
BIG PROBLEM IN CUBA
A MOST PERPLExING QUESTION BEFORE CONGRESS
"Plain Duty" to the Island and In terests of Home Producers Like ly to Clash-Issue Lies
 in Tax on Sugar.

ly to Clash-Issue Lies
 in Tax on Sugar.
 Walter wellman Washington Special to
 Chicago Record Her aid.
 Shall plain duty to Cuba, our ward, or regard for the interests of our home producers control the action of Congress? This is the most perplexing problem now before the National Legislature. The problem of what to do or not to do for Cuba has come to the front as the most urgent and difficult of all the problems arising out of the war with Spain. It presents questions which strike at the very roots of the relations of a republic with a written Constitution to a depend- ent people.
 No one pretends that Cuba occupies any other relation to the United States than that of ward While the island is to be nominally independent, It is to this coun- try that it looks, not only for political support but for such generous treatment economically as will enable 1t to regain its former prosp rity. The proposed re- duction of the tax on Cuban sugar com Ing into the United States is advocated not so much on economic grounds as because it is the duty of the United States. according to the champions of the idea, to treat Cuba so generously that she shall be able to stand alone.
 Secretary Roots forceful plea for the extension of this generosity to Cuba, made in his annual report the knowl- edge that President Roosevelt will quite as forcibly echo that sentiment in his message to Congress, as has already been pointed out in these dispatches to The Record-Herald, and the presence here of Cuban delegation, who are appealing to American public men to give the island a chance for its economic life, have serv- ed to bring the question forward in most acute and pressing way. Little else Is now talked of among Senators and Representatives.
 It is regarded as noteworthy by some observers that this Cuban case comes to the front under circumstances which strongly suggest the Porto Rico agitation. which was the distinguishing feature of the late Congress Then Secretary Root took the lead in making recommenda- ton, and President Mckinley followed with his famous plain duty message, just as Secretary Root takes the lead now and President Roosevelt Is prepar- ing to echo him. Then as now the beet sugar and other American producing in- terests were on the ground protesting
 
 home industries and prepared to carry their war to the bitter end.
 In the Porto Rico affair it Is now we'll known that the late Prs sident soon per- ceived he had made a mistake and in a quiet way brought his influence to bear upon Congress in favor of a compromise that should levy a small tax upon Porto Rican goods for the sake of saving the principle involved. By virtue of that compromise, so skillfully put through by Mir. Mckinley the question of the power of Congress to rule territory without in- cooperating 1t for revenue purposes with in the United States was brought before the Supreme Court. and 1t was on a Porto Rico case that the court decided the Constitution did not in that respect follow the flag and Congress could rule with the free hand. Following that Porto Rico secured free trade with the United States. so that in the end both sides to the original controversy were we'll con- tent.
 The suggestion has been made that in this Cuban problem may come the first test of President Roosevelt's courage in standing up against an adverse opinion in Congress. At the present time tbe un- derstanding is that Congress is much more likely to pay heed to the beet sugar growers and their natural protectionist allies than to the plaints of the Cubans, who have no votes or influence in this country. If President Roosevelt puts his hand to the Cuban blow. as he now in- tends to do, will he turn back when he finds that Congress Is against him? In the greater part of the message the President Is careful to avoid such defn- ite recommendations as might seem to put him in antagonism to Congress. But in this instance 1t is understood he speaks in the most. positive terms Secretary Root has thus spoken. And General Wood Is now en route for the national capital, with the Presidents knowledge and consent, of course, too add his voice to the Cuban side of the argument
 What Congress will do no man pretends to be wise enough to foresee. The prob lem Is a most embarrassing one in many ways. Leading Senators who had much to do with the Porto Rican legislation and with the Platt amendment defining our relations as a sort of guardian of they are sorely perplexed az to what their duty Is. One of these Senators, whose name is linked with some recent important legislation bearing on this sub 1ect said tonight:
 T confess that I am in one of the greatest quandaries of my whole public career. It Is true that we are in a cer- tain sense responsible for Cuba. Secre- tary Root Is right when he says that we have guaranteed Cuban independence and that 1t is our duty to maintain it, not only by force, if necessary. but by such economic dispositions as will enable Cuba to prosper. I easily perceive the force of the argument that Cuba cannot stand alone and maintain a peaceful status that will do credit to our handiwork in the upbuilding of that young State unless the Cuban sugar growers can have a fair market for their produce in this country. I further believe 1t to be true that unless we make concessions to Cuba peaceful conditions may come to her. the annexation movement will gain such headway that 1t will be almost impossi- bie to stop it. have no sympathy with the idea that 1t would be our duty to annex Cuba if the Cubans were to ask it. and I have no hesitation in saying that the Senators who joined with me in putting through the Platt amendment to the army bill were largely conserva- lives who want no annexation of any of our outlying terrAtory. The best way to prevent annexation is to give Cuba in- dustrial prosperity, and that can only be done by means of taking off at least d part of the tax on Cuban sugar com ing to this country.
 But here come our beet sugar farmers of the West, our cane sugar men of Louisiana. the tobacco growers of Con- | necticut Wisconsin and other States, de- | claring that 1t Is all very well to talk 1 of heinz generous to Cuba, but that char | ity should begin at home: that the Cubans have much less right to consid- ! eration at the hands of Congress than | and who in many instances under the | leadership of the United States Depart | ment of Agriculture, have built up a | new industry for which they were prom | ised the protection of our tarin system. They have right on their side, too, and
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