The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-18
MEET NEXT WEEK
Importance of the Mexican
Reciprocity Movement.
Secretary A. B. Hulit Talks
About the Plan.
HAS BEEN IGNORED.
Nothing Done to Secure Treaty
With Mexico.
Hopes Convention Will Result
in Permanent Organization.

A. B. Huiit, who is working up an in
terest in the coming reciprocity conven-
ton to be held in Topeka next week,
tells few facts which are not generally
known by the majority of people. In
speaking of the subject of reciprocity,
Mr.. Hulit said: 1--WE had treaties under
the Mckinley law with Spain, covering
Cuba and Porto Rico, with Santo Do
mingo, Brazil, Germany, Salvador,
Nicaragua, British Guiana and British
West Indies, Honduras, Austria, Hun
airy, Guatemala, all of which we dis
continued upon the adoption of the
Wilson bill, August 81, 1884.
There are now pending treaties with
France Germany, Portugal, and Italy
which have been signed and proclaimed
by the respective governments, and
there are some which have been signed
but not ratified by the senate, namely,
Barbados, British Guiana, Turks and
Caros islands, Jamaica and Bermuda,
and there are negotiations which have
really been carried to completion look
ing to treaties with Argentine and the
French republic. which if contaminated
win be of vital Importance to US of the
vest
treaty with Mexico?'
mot thing / can hear of, and what
is more, there won't be unless some
thing happens to stir up the people"
'-What do you mean by that remark 2
''Simply this: What is the use of
negotiating treaties when eong {TisS
won't congress ratify them? Because
While there is a universal demand for
these treaties and no one questions the
wisdom of making them, it seems that
what is everybody's business Is no one
affair. OF course those industries which.
it is assumed, will be affected by these
admissions of goods from abroad are
up in arms against it, and they are,
while few in numbers, great workers.
and thus far they have blocked the
whole policy of our government"
who are they?''
'sWen / don't think it would be best
for me to quote their names but if you
will take the tariff list and find those
items which carry about rs per cent
duty which is prohibitive, upon goods
entering this country, then cast your
eye over among the rocks of New Eng
land, you may see a few of them. How
mand a prohibitive tariff on goods en-
tering this country when they sell
American goods in all the foreign coun-
tries and meet successfully the foreign
competition which they refuse to meet
here. At home they say, oh, it Is our
love for our American la Dor; we can not
think of reducing it to the level of Eu-
ropean labor but / would ask you do
they pay any more for wages for MAX
ing the goods sold at home than for
those exported? No. Yet the exported
goods coming out of the common stock
at the factory are sold abroad in com
petition with the worlds stock at no
doubt a profit to the manufacturers.
Now take the iron men-the steel rail
on steel rails has been reduced find
today that the duty g. railroad steel
rails, while comparatively low, is ample
to keep for the manufacturers of steel
rails a monopoly of this market, while
they have during the last year shipped
So, 21S, 154, divided among Al nations.
Now when the friends of reciprocity
ask that in order to secure favors with
certain countries by a reduction of GER
tain duties. men like the steel rail fell
lows rise up and howl, and they scheme
and work that their goods may not be
effected.
There are exceptions to this rule.
The manufacturers of silk goods whose
competitors live in France and from
where comes 80 per cent of our silk
goods, have gone on record favoring the
lowering of our duty on silk under re-
ciprocal treaties. However, the manu-
facturers of other knit goods, prin-
cipally those of hosiery, who seem to
be well organized and enjoy a protec-
tive tariff now of from SO to 100 per cent
absolutely refuse to permit reduction
of 20 per cent on their goods, while of
the total amount consumed in the
United States. but per cent is i'm
ported.
"Well. what should be done to secure
these treatieS2'
Simply arouse the great American
people to the facts in the case. Show
them that a few long-nosed, narrow
minded, selfish men stand in the way
and they will with one swoop of the
hand brush them away as we would a
lot of blue flies
What will this organization do after
this convention"
THAT can not answer until see the
plan, but think they will go to work
and ascertain just how every member
in congress stands on this subject and
why he takes this stand. We are as
sured the cooperation of nearly every
western manufacturer, commercial club,
both political parties, public men, mil
1ers' association, grain association, cat
tie men, and every commercial organi-
cation in the west, and all the railroads,
and when these forces get lined up on
well defined policy. something will come
of the movement. 1 do not think 1t
prudent to go into details as to how
we will proceed at this time for the
press. But the west is aroused. If you
don't believe it LOCK- at these letters
my desk"