New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-26
SHOULD NOT BAR CUBAN TOBACCO
H. s. FRYE SHOWS THE NECESSITY FOR
TARIFF CONCESSION.

II. s. Frye. who recently resigned the presidency
OF the New FL gland Tobacco Growers Association
because OF that associations opposition TO COM
mercial concessions 10 Cuba. has written the fol-
lowing open letter on the conditions OF the Cuban
tobacco trade:
In the attempt TO prevent any concessions to
Cuba or reciprocity with the island by reduction
OF duties her chief products sugar and
roDaCco' the claim Is frequently made by the op-
ponents OF reciprocity that, however bad the Cuban
sugar situation might be. there could be reason
tobacco. as those interests were very prosperous
csi mere mere any vesuse OF truth In the above
against lower rates Of duty on Cuban tobacco and
have Control of the Cuban market for OUR STodct
IN return But, unfortunately for the claim, 1t is
cuba are not prosperous the large cigar interests
slon. Inc facts are that the new crop VIII De
ABOUT ~ per cent less In quantity than last year,
season and partly to the existing restrictions in
Sd ug 1o mere Ia aava4a toDSceo The previous crop
suited in loss TO the tobacco farmers. the above
reciprocity here. and consequent stopping OF orders
Tor leaf in advance Of actual day by day con-
sumption This latter condition is even more pro-
n0u noun IN the cigar than in the leaf trade; so
10000 or $1,000 to about 900. and the manurac-
tie Of ruin financially II they keep their factories
10000 men out Of employment IN Havana alone.
come" why Cannot the Havana and other factories
go on manufacturing and accumulate a stock on
hand, awaiting the time when the
United States market will again be opened them
at perhaps 80 per cent reduction in duty? The
answer is that long before such legislation can be
passed by Congress all OF this accumulated stock
of made cigars would be absolutely ruined by
Cuba's great pest the tobacco worm. At no time
do the manufacturers dare to have days
or two weeks stock OF cigars hand, and any
one can easily figure out the immense loss
hundreds OF thousands OF cigars costing to make
from $50 TO 800 and even $500 a thousand Besides
they would have none over ten days 10 two weeks
old ht TO sell The absolute alternative is forced
upon the manufacturers OF shutting down the fac
tories or largely reducing the number OF operatives
In all this matter the Cubans absolutely help
less; they have done all that men can do; they
have stated the facts backed up by such unques-
toned authority General Wood, Colonel Bliss and
other American officials the island: they have
begged and implored Congress and act
promptly, as they know only by prompt action can
ruin and disaster to both the sugar and tobacco
interests be averted.
How much longer must the nations honor be
teopardized much grieVously must the
cause of protection be wounded in the house of It's
professed friends by qubbling splitting CON
tentions in Congress over imaginary dangers that
have no existence outside the greedy, unreasoning
selfshness Of beet sugar and tobacco interests?
And neither Of these, IL has repeatedly been
monstrated can be appreciably injured by 30 per
cent reduction in duties on Cuban sugar and to-
bacCO.