The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-09
BOOSTING THE BEET
Smith, of Michigan, Opens Up for
the Insurgent Side.
OPPOSES CONCESSIONS TO CUBA
Western Farmers, He Says, Having
Faith In Republican Promises,
Took to Beet-Growing.

Washington, April civilian Alden
Smith (Michigan) was the first speaker
on the Cuban bill in the house to-day.
He opposed the bill, presenting the ques-
tion from the viewpoint Of the republicans
who have opposed Cuban reciprocity on
account of the beet sugar interests. lie
said:
l would not for anything have you believe
that we, who for two months have been bat
thing for what we believe to be right, were
animated by any hostility unfriendliness
toward Cuba Such is far from the truth. We
have always aided and sustained her in her
struggle for independence. But we most not
forget that our first duty is toward our own
people, and everything that tends to
strengthen and develop our multiplied re-
sources at home and add to the measure Of
our national strength and independence,
should be the object Of our profoundest solicit
tude. 'tI 5
l am opposed to this measure, because
believe 1t is calculated to breed strife and
dissatisfaction with the other sugar countries
OF the world which are thus disseminated
against l believe it will have tendency
: to provoke commercial hostility among the
other West India islands and our neighbors
in South America.
I am opposed to this measure because in
order to give it effect it becomes necessary
to violate solemn promise Of the republican
party deliberately made In solemn convention
20 the American people; because believe 1t
will be harmful to the agricultural and in
dustrlal classes of the United States whose
great interests have been confded to our care;
because l believe it will be harmful in the
extreme to the island Of Cuba; because l be-
love that the principal beneficiary will be
the American Sugar Refining company, who
do not need our sympathy; because l believe
that the people of Cuba will receive no benefit
therefrom.
Mr.. Smith then entered upon discus
sion of the policy of protection which had
resulted in the upbuilding of American
industries with especial reference to the
establishment of the beet sugar industry
as rival of the sugar trust which he said
refined and controlled 92 per cent OF the
cane sugar. He predicted that the strug-
gle for supremacy would be long and re-
lentless and costly. He went on:
The farmers of the country have been en-
couraged by the republican party in their
ambition to produce the sugar of the coun-
try. 1t was distinct promise to the farmer
that he need not fear that the republican
party would permit the cheap labor and
cheap sugar of any tropical territory to be
brought in in a manner which would de-
stroy the infant industry of the beet sugar
production which the farmers Of the United
States have, under the fostering care Of the
the last few years.
The great states of Michigan, California,
New York, Colorado, Utah, Oregon and Mon
tana had faith in the promise of our party
declaration and abandoned the cultivation of
wheat and corn, developing new industry
thus encouraged. l know it is claimed that
this cut of 20 per cent will do present
factories no harm; but when the Dingley law
was passed and you invited us to engage in
hat
agtate again change in the tariff, much
less reduce it by 20 per cent.
Mr.. Smith maintained that the sugar
/ trust would be the beneficiary of the re-
duction and not the Cuban planters.
Faith of Farmers.
. Mr.. Underwood (Alabama) asked Mr..
Smith If he would vote to take the differ
entail off of refined sugar coming from
: Cuba. Mr.. Smith replied that no refined
sugar came from Cuba and in his turn
Z he asked Mr.. Underwood If his (the DEM
\ ocraticl side would vote to overrule the
. chair and join In voting to take the diff
! ferential off of the sugar of the world
After some sparring, during which Mr.
Underwood showed a disposition to evade
the question, in response to the prompt
lngs OF the democrats around him, he
finally ventured the prediction that there
would be an opportunity to vote upon the
proposition to take the dfferential off of
the sugar Of the world. &c. ~.
If there is" observed Mr.. Smith, II
a will watch your vote with great interest"
Mr.. Sparkman (Florida Followed, also
making an argument against the bill
Judge Morris Speaks 81
Mr.. Morris CMinnesota) another of the
, republicans opposed to the bill, and the
author of the rebate plan of relieving
Cuba, which was rejected by the republi-
can caucus, made an exhaustive argument
against the measure He insisted that If
any persons would receive benefit from
the concession to Cuba except the sugar
trust it would be the Cuban shylocks, -
to whom the planters had pledged their