Evening star., 1902-01-09
APPEAL. OF CUBAN PLANTERS
CABLE MESSAGES To THE sECRE-
TARY OF WAR.
Want Tariff ON sugnr flowered-other'
wise, They Say, Ruin Threat
ems the Island.

Secretary Root has received a number of
cablegrams from representative Cubans
and mercantile organizations, imploring
the passage of legislation reducing the tar
If on Cuban imports into the United States.
Such ma ssages have come from President
GAMBIA of the Centre Merchants, Havana;
President Bea of the board of merchants.
MantanZas; President Ruiz Of merchants
exchange, Consolation del Sur; President
Casas Of the Santiago chamber of COM
mere, President Baldes of the local COM
mittee, Sagua Ia Grande; President Do
mingo Garcia of the committee of mer
chants of Cairbarien: President Ajuria,
Havana Planters Association; President
de la Rosa of San Domingo President AL
Varez or the Commercial Club. Pinar del
Rio, President Mer, Commercial Club OF
Whales, and President Cardona of the
Commercial Club of Cienfuegos. 1t is rep
resented that the sugar plantations have
commenced to grind and are placing the
sugar in warehouses, as it Is impossible to
sell at the ruinous prices which now OBJ
tain.
A typical message is that from President
Cardona of the Cienfuegos Commercial
Club, which reads as follows:
'The committee of the Commercial Club
or C1enfuegos, Cuba, respectfully states
that the distressed condition of the coun-
try, due to the low price of sugar, is lead
wait for the formation of a constitutional
government for Cuba to give attention to
the economic needs of the country We
urge that Congress grant an immediate
lowering OF the duties on sugar and to-
bacco in accord with the petition of the
Cuban commissioners, for otherwise Cuba
will suffer shocking distress with a terri
BILE aftermath of evils. which later will be
impossible to remedy
Jorge Ajuria, president. ETC., Havana,
said: Planters Associa ton begs you to
use utmost influence tending immediate
abolishment duties on Cuban sugar in
der to avoid total ruin and consequent dis
turbances among the plantation hands. The
acute economical crisis has been aggra-
waited by further decrease in price of sugar
which Is now much below cost of produc
tion."
Jose Garcia de la Rosa, president etc.
San Domingo. said: This committee of
merchants and artisans in representation
OF the commerce, agriculture and all classes
Of the population beg you to use your in
fiuence in order that the American Con-
gTess may make tariff concessions in favor
of Cuban products. now threatened with
immediate ruin If your government does
not grant the petition made by this coun-
try, which otherwise will see its natural
richness disappear and in place thereof
complete distress, accompanied with serious
disturbance, such as robbery, kidnapping
and constant agitation"
Ysidoro Valdes, president of the local
comnittee, Sagua la Grande, said: 1.-THE
sugar plantations in the jurisdiction of
Sagua have COMMENDED IS grind and are
placing the sugar int warehouses, as it is
impossible to sell at the ruinous prices
which now obtain. Urge upon Congress
that tariff concessions be granted in order
to evade the stopping of the grinding. The
artisans and merchants of Sagua la Grande
hope that the honorable President and you
will use your great influence SO that this
people which has abundant elements of life
may not perish. for it only needs the pro-
lection of your government"