The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-02
EANSANS Hold RENS
States Promoters at Wash
inpton are Coming to Front.
LONG, CURTIS, BURTON
All Have Taken Leading Part
Congress,
BURTON


struggle for the Initial triumph Of the
principal ofreciprocity which was recently
closed BY the action Of the Republican
members Of the committee on ways and
means, VIII not te approached by any
other struggle in the present congress,
except. and alone IN the house. trans
serred there on this subject from the COM
nitee room OF ways and means. The
Porto Rican battle OF two years ago does
not compare with It. Neither has any
other contest in congress for years A
proper appreciation OF the magnitude
OF his contest probably does not exist.
The friends Of reciprocity believed that
three things could be accomplished by
making reciprocal agreement with Cuba
First-Relieving Cuban sugar-planters
and commercial interests.
Second-Permitting tbs early with
drawal Of United States authority from
tie island and the esta blishnent OF the
Cuban government.
Third-Enlarged markets for the pro
ducts OF tbs United States
The opponents OF Cuban reciprocity
were divided into three classes.
First-The ultra protectionists who re-
garded reciprocity as another name for
general tariff revision They thought the
protective structure was doomed when
Cuban reciprocity was granted.
Second-Beet-sugar interests. which
tteadfastly insisted that Cuban reciproc-
ity meant the Injury II not the ruin OF
their industry. Partly through fear;
largely through selhshness. they main
tanned their point in opposition 70 the
fact quite clearly demonstrated during
the hearings and contest that thu beet
sugar industry would not materially suf-
fer
Third-Those who favored tariff revi-
sion, IKE the Babcock element, yet who
Joined with tia first and second classes
because they themselves could not secure
their point and 50 wished to prevent
others from gaining theirs.
These three clauses. through their rep
Eesentstlves on the majority side Of
ways and means hurled themselves re-
peatedly against the little handful Of the
CUBAN reciprocity advocates and defend
ers on the committee, headed by Mr.
Long OF Kansas; each time 10 be repulsed
~ fact and argument and convincing
logic
For ten days tho contest wsged. For
ten days the debate 81 the committee
room was heated and approaching the
sensational And on the tenth day the
opposition broke; the determination 70
submit the question TO a conference Of
the Republicans OF the house was reach
ed. and a young Kansaz's plan was
adopted. But words cannot tell the
story OF what happened and how the
conclusion was reached
The correspondents Of the leading sour-
nails Of The country had their revision,
however. and portions OF their comment
are given below as a part q the history
Of the mighty struggle in the greatest
committee Of congress
New York Herald. February e4-Vlc-
tory for the friends OF Cuba was won
among tee Republican members Z the
ways and means committee only fter
one OF the most desperate contests OF
the kind that ever took place in that
important branch Of the legislative SER
vice.
First OF all Il vas the direct II suit
Of persistent pressure b. President
4%llEEF EAt E-4 the LLeAt- N1EAAk LlGl4LEI5 o.
the committee and. second, Of the IN
sistence with which Representative 1song
e Kansas argued in favored OF letting
down the tariff barriers TO be sure.
culy half q loaf was given. but The fact
that the Republican members u the
committee have been forced 10 e-ant any
tariff concessions whatever IS looked up
on as a distinct triumph for the admins
tration.
Representative Chester = Long. who
comes from ths beet-sugar state OF Kan
sas and who IN spite OF Ill kinds OF
pressLre-arn ounting. II some cases. to
threats OF political extincttor-has made
q most courageous fight oor the admin
ist-ation and tie Cuban cause is looked
unon now as q factor IN legislative leader
ship.
NJ long made a personal study from
q standpoint OF = protectionist. and he
came thoroughly. convinced that a =. duo
tioa Of forty per cent which h pro-
rosed 10 the committee would not i.-jlre
any american Industry. Mr.. Long IS
now receiving coaCratulations. with the
president. for a personal triumph
Chicago tribune. February 15-The
committee has swept aside al plans for
rebates bcunries. 5inerential tariffs. and
similar shay devices. They have come
cut for absolute reciprocity. and the ac-
ton of the committee IS, therefore. an ex-
traordinary triumph. particularly Cor Afr.
l.org q Kansas. v-l1o- sock the grOund.
Is did President Roosevelt. that il vas
question Of securing for the farmers
and n,anufacturers OF the United States
the absolute control OF the whole Cuban
market.
The reciprocity resolution undoutte5-
IS means that the United states = TO
have absolute control OF the Cuban mar
ke- on every commodity produced IT this
coantiv This means undoubtedly a trade
CT cvsr eighty millions Of dollars 4 year.
This IS The exact reverse q the open
doer in China and fer this reason 5 zu
apparent fore-unner Of annexation.
The surrender on the part OF thu rock
rooted prot5cti3nists on the ways and
means committee was not accomplished /
aolcls bv the pressure Of pdbl,c l7iLion.
Speaker Henderson II IS understood. was
enc OF The 5rst 20 see d great Lght. The
letter he wrote 70 his constituents first
published 81 the Tribune, vas expected
l. him % 5ustify his position. he was
Z stonisheG n fra L copied IL every
paper II which he had assailed the news 1
paper press Of america The speaker /
wss unprepared Ser such an outburst and /
epeadlv b4rcd his head % ths stor,.
Al the same time Chairman Pavrs Of
the ways ana Weals connitcee began 10 /
turn towards straight reciprocity revi- I
II rar-r.=