Evening star., 1902-03-12
AS TO CUBAN SUGAR
House Leaders Accomplished
Their Object Last Night.
HOPE FOR HARMONY
EFFORT TO ALLAY FRICTION IN
PARTY RANKS.
Object is to Pass Some Measure En-
tirely by Republican Votes
Probable Compromise.
HOPE FOR HARMONY Y


delay.
A great deal can be accomplished in
week as has just been proven. Less than
one week ago the beet sugar protectionists
were in a decided ma ajority. If they had
taken a vote In last Thursdays conference
1t is admitted the ways and means leaders
would have been signally defeated. But
Speaker Henderson skilfuly secured ad-
journment until last night and the day was
saved.
In the meantime pressure has been
brought to bear from many quarters on the
republican representatives in favor of the
reciprocity plan. Results were becoming
apparent and there were many defectons
from the ranks of the beet sugar protec-
tionists.
Party Harmony at Stake.
But the House leaders did not want
mere majority for their cause: there are
more weighty considerations than bald
victory. Party harmony is at stake. So,
the leaders concluded, that more time was
necessary, and their play last night was
confined to that object. Speaker Hender-
son again threw himself into the breach
and turned the tide.
With the coming week the leaders expect
to be able to convince their dissenting
colleagues of the wisdom of the reciprocity
plan. Gently but firmly they will be in
vited to join the procession headed by the
President and the House leaders.
Lets pass this Cuban bill as a repub-
lican measure. not requiring the aid of
single democratic VOTE is Speaker Hen
derson's motto.
The task ahead of the House leaders is
recognized to involve two important fea-
lures:
First, to allay the friction between the
administration supporters and the beet
sugar protectionists.
Second, to prevent a faction of the beet
sugar men Joining with the democrats to
force free consideration of the BILL when it
comes up in the House and cause vote
or several tariff amendments to be offered.
The House leadership is absolutely set
against tariff revision. Mr. Dalzell, Mr..
Payne and Mr.. Grosvenor together with
the Speaker, are willing to concede Cuban
reciprocity, with sugar as the main ele.
ment. But they contemplate with horror
the idea of lowering the Steel iron and
glass schedules Of the Dingley act.
A Forlorn Hope
The beet sugar men are organizing to lead
foriorn hope. They are called 1.-The las.
bitches" being men who say they are will
irg to die in the last ditch in defense of
beet sugar. The plan of the last ditchers''
is 10 get twenty-five republicans who will
bind themselves to vote against a rule pre-
venting the offering of amendments. They
assume that the democrats favoring tariff
reduction will vote against the rule With
consideration of the bill running wide open,
Mr.. Heatwo1e Of Minnesota is ready to
of1er an amendment for free wood pulp as a
DloW ht the paper trust; Mr.. w. A. Smith
of Michigan has an amendment for lower
duties on glass; Mr.. Roberts of Massachu-
sets, an amendment for free hides Mr.
Baococks contingent, which is the largest
OF all, will demand reduction Of the enor-
nous duties on steel and iron
The present nucleus of the last ditchers''
consists of six out of the nine Michigan re-
publicans. of four of the Californians and
hve OF the Minnesota delegation Others
are cla1med, out their names are not given
The House leaders will proceed now to
endeavof to dissuade the last ditchers''
from their course. Familiar tactics will he
employed, and .he leaders are reasonably
confident of their ability to prevent the
threatened disaffection.
A Possible Compromise.
The outcome may be a compromise by
which Cuba will be granted aid with a
time limitation. and some kind of assur-
ance that there will be no further reduc-
There is ground for the belief that the
advocates of Cuban reciprocity view with
FAVOR the suggestion of compromise on
the basis of limiting the tariff reductions
10 December. 1893. The agreement of the
Brussels sugar conference to abolish all
European bounties will go int effect in
September, 1903. and the claim has been
made that the abolition of the bounty sys-
TEN would raise the market price of all
sugars. thus accomplishing by the natural
Workings of commerce the rehabilitation
or the Cuban sugar growers.
What Will Confront Beet Sugar Men.
The beet sugar protectionsts are likely
TO be confronted with the alternative of
accepting a compromise along this or
similar line, or of running amuck against
their own party in the House. The alter
native will not be put to them harshly On
the contrary. every effort of the leaders
VIII be eoneiiiatory and pacifcatory. The
specter or possible party disunion that has
at times raised its head in this contest is
OF such horrid mien that there is an
earnest disposition on the part of the lead
ers TO lay the apparition.
Let's get together Is the slogan Of the
leaders = meaning. of course to get to-
gether on the administration plan.
Beet Sugar Men Confer.
The fact that the House leaders were
favorable to the suggested compromise on
the basis of limiting to 1903 the tarifY re-
auctions came to the beet sugar protection
lists in manner this afternoon warranting
the latter in taking the offer under serious
consideration. 1t was found that there
were divergent views upon the wisdom of
sgreelng 10 such q compromise among the
beet sugar protectionists.
Several conferences of the beet sugar
men were held during the hate afternoon
Some OF the most prominent Of the beet
sugar men were opposed to accepting it at
first blush. while others whose counsels
have equal weight were inclined to give
favorable consideration to the proposition
Cubans Not Discouraged.
Mr.. l.. ". Abad. the Cuban commissioner,
denied emphatically today the report that
the Cuban delegation had retired from the
sugar fight. He replied:
I'VE have neither retired nor become dis
eouraEed on account Of some opposition III