The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-15
LONG AND REc1PRoc1TY.

That Congressman Long, of Kansas,
has achieved the leadership of the
Cuban reciprocity movement in con-
gress is noteworthy. 1t is doubly so III
view of the fact that Mr.. Longs dis
trict is the only one in Kansas in which
there is the slightest Republican oppo-
sition to allowing concessions to Cuban
sugar.
Mr.. Longs position that reduction
should be made in the tariff on Cuban
sugar is upon the moral ground that
the United States owes it to Cuba to
assist in establishing her financial pros
perity as well as governmental inde-
pendence. In this he should have the
support of every lover of justice. Cuba
is largely dependent upon her sugar
crop for the support of her people, and
it is claimed that the present tariff inn
posed by the United States compels the
Cuban sugar raisers to sell their prod
uct below the cost of production in
order to compete with the beet sugar
imported from European countries
which pay their sugar producers a
bounty. If the present high tariff is
maintained against Cuba the people of
the island are bound to become still
further impoverished, and it is only
right that the United States, after CIV
ing the island its freedom, should as
sist in its becoming at least self-sup-
porting.
The proposition of Mr.. Long is not
to throw off the entire tariff on Cuban
sugar, but to make reduction of only
20 per cent. This, it is alleged, is suffi-
cient to allow the Cubans to sell their
sugar in the United States at a slight
profit. AT the same time Mr.. Long asks
for concessions from Cuba on products
of the United States which the island
does not produce, thereby putting the
proposition on business basis.
The opposition to any concession to
Cuban sugar comes from the beet SUI
gar manufa cturers and from the ultra
protectionists. The. beet sugar men
claim that the admission of Cuban su-
gar will ruin the beet sugar industry of
the United States, which is just getting
we'll started. If this We're true it might
be a reason for opposition. but an in
vestigation of the situation leads one
to believe the beet sugar manufacturers
are ''bluffing." The United States con-
sumes little less than 100000 tons of
sugar a year, and 1T produces only
about 100000 tons sof both beet and cane
sugar, or less than one-fifth of its con-
sumption. Cuba produces $4,000 tons
If all of cubas sugar We're imported in
to the United States, this nation would
stin have to import more than one n il
lion tons year, so it is not likely that
the admission of Cuban sugar will de- |
crease the price to any noticeable ex-
tent. Furthermore the consumption is
increasing faster than the supply in the
United States. In addition to this it is
noticeable that the beet sugar manufac-
turers are not making any preparations
to close their factories because of the
admission of Cuban sugar. The factory
at Rocky Ford, Coll is making contracts
to take the crop of a largely increased
acreage in southwestern Kansas at the |
same prices as heretofore.
The opposition of the ultra projection |
element in congress is because they !
fear the reciprocity movement in gen |
eral They regard the concession to |
Cuban sugar the opening wedge |
which may take away the high tariff !
wall which has been built up around
the industries in which they are es- |
pecially interested, and for this rea- |
son they are joining hands with the |
beet sugar manufacturers in opposing |
any reciprocal concessions.
But reciprocity is bound to Gomez 1t |
is a policy laid down by President |
Roosevelt and it is demanded by the |
commercial growth of the nation. 1t is
indeed compliment to Kansas that one |
of her young congressman should have |
the honor of being the recog- |
nizAd head OF the movement and the |
representative of the administration in |
pushing the policy through congress
> And while the concession to Cuba is |
in payment of a moral obligation, it +
may result in the financial benefit to t
Kansas. Cuba raises no wheat and pro- /
duces no flour. 1t is therefore natural 1
market for the Kansas product, and |
there is no reason why, with Congress
man Long as the leader of the Cuban
reciprocal movement, the United States |
should not secure such concessions from
Cuba as win open Cuban ports to Kan |
SaS flour. Kansas can reach Cuba, by
way of the gulf ports, more easily than |
any other wheat country, and there is
no reason why a reciprocal arrange
ment should not be arranged which will |
be to the advantage of the Kansas
wheat growers as well as the Cuban
sugar growers. and at the same time /
will not injure the sugar beet growers
of the west.