Evening star., 1902-02-21
THE SPEAKERS VIEWS.
ATTITUDE ON THE CUBAN CUES
TON DESCRIBED.
Says He Would Help the Island, but
Not at the Expense of Domes-
tic Industries.

The letter which Speaker Henderson re-
Gently wrote to former Speaker J. H Funk
of the Iowa legislature in reply to re-
quest for his views, and a portion of which
has been made public in the west as
throwing light on the Speakers position
on the Cuban question, is in full as follows;
The Speakers Letter.
February 6. 1902.
Hon J. H. Funk. Iowa Falls. Iowa.
My Dear Mr. Funk: / am just in receipt
of your letter of February 3, which have
read with care and interest. 1t seems to
me that you do not segregate the question
before Congress. There are three theories
questions pending or pressed upon u.s.
First, the wiping out of all war taxes
which the party promised to do when We
put them upon the people to carry on the
war with Spain. and no one OF any lntelll-
gence can say that the time has not come
for wipins out those taxes. since we have
$176O0o00o surplus in the treasury with
working balance of about Sa00eo.UOo IN the
hands of disbursing agents for current
work If this pelge is ever to be fulfilled,
it seems clear that 1t ought to be now
This first question stands alone without
reference to any ether.
The Cuban Question.
The second question is what are we going
to do for Cuba? 1t is a separate and dis
tinct proposition, and this is the situation:
Those conteniing for Cuba want reduc-
ton Of - per cent or clean sweep OF du-
ties between US and that country. Contend
ing for this doctrine is, first, the American
sugar trust which is here in the person of
its ab!eSt managers. Second. the money,
the capital. that las been put into the CON
struction Of railroads in Cuba. where a
system of railroads extending along what
may be termed the backbone of the island,
with arms extending from tie backbone into
each part OF it, is in process of construc
ton; all the money in this enterprise. of
course. is anxious to build up the commerce
of Cuba. Third, there are millions OF dol
lars that have gone into Cuba, buying up
plantations, cheap lands. ard. with large
SNnd!cateS formed. are seeking to make
fortunes out of the sugar industry. Then.
again. there are Americans over there with
vast sums Of money in various enterprises
who all anxious for this. Then. again.
the CuanS themselves who have the capi-
tai are anxious to have flee-trade relations
with the United States. These ali touch
elbows and are working together.
Sugar-Growirg Interests.
On the other hand, the beet sugar indus
try of the United States and the cane
sugar industry are fighting most vigorously
against any reduction. The beet sugar in
dustry has developed to a wonderful eX-
tent and so much SO in the states of Cali
fornia, Colorado, Nebraska Wisconsin and
Michigan that the delegations from those
states have their faces set vigorously, firm
" and most determinedly against any re-
duction, their contention being that for the
first time in the history of the country the
farmer finds a most direct interest in pro-
lection. They stand upon the doctrine of
protection. The Secretary of Agriculture
tells me that every acre of land in Iowa is
capable Of raising the sugar beet and this
is true of every state throughout the west
n fs, fl,fl -iCy- i.tYni
The Speakers Position.
Now. In regard to my own position. You
have accepted the lies sent out by the press
which is being manipulated in the interest
of free trade with Cuba. l have never ex-
pressed an opinion against doing something,
whatever we possibly can, to strengthen
the hand of Cuba. l have stood side by
side with the President and the ways and
means committee trying to devise some
plan to do this without injuring the farmers
of our country and at the same time give
encoura cement to Cuba. The contention is
brought to US from our own people that We
have shed blood and money enough for
Cuba now, an independent government so
TO speak, without slaughtering the farming
interests OF our country, and the most in
tense feeling exists. | doubt if, with all the
combined influence have to bring to
bear. we can dislodge or change the views
of the states that ] have named that are
operating in the beet sugar industry, with
out sufficient force to carry the House. 1t
may be that We can hit upon some other
plan and harmonize matters. but ! beg of
q man of your intelligence and experience
not to accept the flying reports and dis
patches sent out and stimulated by the con-
crete organization as have indicated who
Indifferent to our farming interests in this
country, want to break down all the bar
riers between us and Cuba.
Revision of the Tariff
The third proposition is a revision of the
tariff You may not be aware that under
the rules Of the House we would be able
undoubtedly to pass bill that might touch
a very few items putting some on the free
list or reducing. but while under the rules
of the House this might be accomplished
the Senate has no such rules, and there it
would probably broaden out into a general
revision of the tariff. That all of us dread
and fear the consequences Of For instance
| think that We could safely make q reduc-
ton on the steel schedule and very wise
reduction, but there are gentlemen in the
Senate who say that while they live that
cannot be done, because Of the present law
enabling them to sell even at a loss to take
possession of the foreign markets, and that
this Is blessing to the laboring men and
extends the commerce and power Of the
United States into the old world. It is not
long since the tariff was reduced and by it's
friends. OF course, conditions are changing
year by year. but to say that, to reach a
few schedules like steel and glass, which /
would like to see done we are warranted
In opening up general revision Of the
tariff laws, | cannot see that 1t is a wise
thing to do. and there are very few excep-
tiOnS In either house of Congress to this
view. You know how very emphatic the
President pronounced against it in his mes
sage to Congress.
You say that / do not know the feeling