The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-03-28
DISCUSSED CUBAN AFFAIRS.
Friendly Conference at the white HOUSE
over tn. Question of Reciprocity
with Cuba

Washington, MdfNh -P.--N c'ni''
ence was held At the White House.
Yesterday afternoon, between the
president and seven ~ the republican
members of the house ~ representa-
tiyes who have been foremost in OPP
posing the plan of Cuban reciprocity
urged by the ways and means COM
mittee and understood 10 have the
support Of the administration. The
members who called were Represents
tives Tawney and Norris, Of Mime
sofa: Dick. Of Ohio; William 4. Smith,
OF Michigan. Minor. of Wisconsin.
Metcalf. Of California. and Dayton. IT
West Virginia.
The call was at the request OF the
president. who desired an exchange
of views to the end that harmonious
action might he secured in such steps
as are taken in behalf Of Cuba.
As Gen. Wood has arrived here
from Cuba. and as several members
Of the cabinet were at the White
House while the congressman were
there. report gained circulation
that Secretary Root and Gen. Wood
were present during the conference.
This. however. was not the case, as
the president and the congressman
remained alone in the cabinet room
for the hour and a half that they
were together.
The talk took a wide range. cover
ing the conditions. and also the ques-
esis so that there might hc nnanimitv
Of action on the part of the repup-
licanS in congress. IL was stated
afterwards hy those who had partici-
pa;ed in the conference that il was
Of the most admirable and pleasant
character. and that there was not the
rcmotest suggestion on the part of
the chief executive which could he
construed q seeking to urge
them to yield their personal
convictions. On the contrary. il was
stated. the president listened 10 the
recital of difficulties which had been
encountered by those who opposed
the reciprocity plan. and also heard
from them the various plans by which
they had hoped to reach an agree
n,ent.
The callers We're frank to conceie
that they found the president de-
sirous of extending effective relief TO
Cuba by the reciprocity plan. In this
connection. il was stated. the presi-
dent drew attention 10 the fact that
the Sibley amendment limiting the
reciprocity period 10 December /.
1909. gave the Payne bill a rather
one-sided aspect. a. il asked Cuba 10
adopt our naturalization and immi-
grafton laws and give Us tariff con-
cessions. without limit Of time.
and in return gave to Cuba tariff con-
cesSions limited 10 about year and
a half. Some of the congressman
present were inclined 10 admit that
we were asking a good deal from
Cuba in return for the little we would
grant 10 her
The interchange If views became
quite general. there being nothing in
the way IF definite propositions one
way or the other. but merely an
agreeable expression Of opinion as 10
what was best to he done under all
the circumstance, III the situation.
In the course az this general talk
the suggestion was made that II the
] PAYNE bill had been modified so a
TO take Oft the differential on refined
sugar some ~ The grounds Of oppo-
sition might have been removed.
However. there was no request. so far
as can be learned. that the bill he
amended in this particular at the
present stage. The plan Of rebate.
which was urged AZ one time. also
came in for discussion ana explana-
I ton.
At the conclusion Of the confer
ence the general understanding was
reached that any statements made to
the public would be TO the general
effect that no conclusions were
reached. and that the conference was
confined TO a general interchange IF
views. 1t is understood that the
president will see some of the mem
bcrs Of the ways and means commits
tee to-day. thus familiarizing himself
with both sides of the issue which
has recently arisen in the house. He
hopes that this general interchange
with the leaders from both sides may
bring about unanimity Of action in
whatever is done in behalf of Cuba.