The age-herald., 1902-03-15
How Roosevelt Changed Congress on the Cuban Tariff Question.

party in Congress, aided by some Louis- iana Democrats have endeavored to be- tray tue national honor and to impose taxation but every inhabitant of the country.
 The folly of 1t all, from purely busi- ness standpeict, has been graphically stat d by the young Congressman Will liam Gordon Brantley of Georgia, whose speech in favor of Cuban reciprocity is declared by men who have been fifteen or twenty years in Congress to be the greatest speech heard in the House in moro than a dt zen years"
 Less than 1 per cent, probably less than one-half of per cent of the Ameri- can rccple are interested in the produc- ton CT sugar." declared MT. Brantley. eve s,lould ray some attention to the righ;s of the other 99 per cent. The ques- ton grows more interesting when we find that uAe per cap.ta consumption of sugar in the United States last year was 6S.4 pounds, while in Germany 1t was SS9. in France 366 in Holland 92.4, and in Rus sia II pounds We are the greatest su- gar consumers in the world, and only produce one-third of what we consume, while .1ermany produced and exports two- thirds of it, an1 Frante, Australia, and Belgium are al exporters of sugar. This indicates the interest of our sugar con- sum CTS in this question"
 "Cvba total imports for the last year weTe in round numbers s65OOo,ooO and of this the United States furnished, s2SoO0,- 900. leaving about s37,0O0OO0 from other countries. All this Cuba proposes to give us by discriminating tariff in our favor in exchange for a discriminating tariff by us In her favor. And if the Cubans have not hy many many times overstated what they can do under favorable conditions, then these figures of $37,0OOOoO represent but part of the commerce that is to come to us in the future"
 "A reduction of one-third of the tariff in favor of Cuba would not hurt the Louisiana cane growers because our pro- ducers are still protected against the bal ance Of the world, and are still protected against Cuba, and would be even under 50 per cent reduction; and with the de- mand for sugar in this country unsatisfied Dy OtH-tnlrd, even when all the CuDan sugar has come in.''
 "In the section of the country from which I come the opening of the Cuban market would be felt in every branch of industry.
 There is another consideration that is lost sight of by those who propose a money donation. The fifth provision of the Platt amendment provides that Cuba will execute plans for sanitation, to the end that the recurrence of epidemics may be prevented, thereby protecting commerce and life, not only in Cuba, but in the Southern ports of the United States. This provision Cuba must live up to; we shall demand it of her. But before we can demand 1t we must see to it that she Is provided with government of suf- ficient means.''
 MT. Brantley's speech was most able and convincing and it puts him well to the front of the Democratic side. He had the undivided attention. of the House, .a tribute rarely accorded any member. and at the conclusion of his speech all the leading Democrats as well as many Republicans who disagreed with him, went to his seat and cordially congratu- lated him. -t
 LUCIEN JULIEN WALKER.