The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-13

OF STEVENS
St.Paul Representative Says,
"save Beet Sugar."
HET,P FOR THE GITRANS
HELP FOR The CUBANS
Mr.. Stevens Says There Is No Ur-
gent Call for It. Now.
POSITION OF MINI. DELEGATION
point of the Beet Sugar
Interests.

interests.
:; Eren. The journal B4reass. Room 50. .Pess
Building, WdshtssOtosa.
Washington, March 13-In response to
request from The ournaI that
he make statement for publication ex-
planning why the Minnesota delegation is
standing solidly against the ways and
means proposition for reciprocity with
Cuba, Representative r. G. Stevens OF st.
Paul, speaking for the delegation to-day.
said:
1.-THE. delegation Is astonished that
northwestern interests do not realize that
its members are standing for the best in
terests OF the northwest and of Minnesota
in particular. Since the Spanish war
substantially all the flour, coarse grain
including corn, and hog products used in
Cuba have been imported from the United
States. Very little has come from other
countries. Substantially the same amount
Of American goods is annually Sold in
Cuba now as was sold at the time of our
greatest sales under the reciprocal pro-
visions of the Mckinley bill. It is not
possible to sell any more because Cubans
cannot use any more.
II Servile Labor Importation
1.-The only possible increase of sales
would be by reason of increase OF popula-
tion. Such increase of population to in
crease the sugar production, as shown by
| testimony before the ways and means
| committee, must be from cheap, half
servile labor from Africa and Asia which
would not consume our grain, -four or
| meats under any circumstances.
The Cubans import cattle and cattle
products from Mexico, Central America,
\ Uruguay and Argentina because these
cattle are better adapted to the Cuban
climate and grasses and because their
| jerked and dried beef can be obtained
much cheaper than we can furnish it.
| ut might be possible, under some re-
| eiprocal agreements, slightly to increase
| the sale Of some American manufactured
goods, textile fabrics, leather goods, iron
and steel products, but the amount of
I such increase. we think. would by no
/ means approximate the injury that would
| be done to the beet sugar interests of the
,Icountry.
Tariff Reduction Denied the West.
1.-THE Minnesota house members all fa-
vorg some assistance to Cuba that shall
1 not injure American interests and really
| inure to the benefit of those who may
| need help in Cuba. At the same time we
| believe that the people of the west are
] greatly interested in the reduction of some
! of the tariff schedules, especially the iron
| and steel, wood pulp, glass and crockery
schedules. The members of the ways
! and means committee have informed the
house that under no circumstances Will
they consent to any of the changes We
/ Desires
sThe only thing that they will favoris
some reduction on the sugar schedule
! that will injure western interests, and
| secure, if proper reciprocal provisions be
mod do coNi1n l..
ready highly, protected manufacturing In
| terests, which will not consent to any
| reduction for our benefit. We have Of
I fered to consent to reductions on sugar
at the same time with reduction in other
schedules They refuse, and their propo-
/ sition is best illustrated by a telegram
/ sent by Senator Quay to members Of the
Pennsylvania delegation, in which he ia
vors free sugar for Cuba. That would
ruin the beet sugar interests. but retain
! the, high schedules on other products and
! further continue the burdens on our peo-s.
pie" 'Segs
"Don't Need Immediate Relief
1.-THE testimony of those interests in the
/ not need immediate relief No distress
exists. On the contrary, all their peo-
| pie are employed at higher wages than
| they ever, have received. There is no
| need for haste. We are willing to enter
| on some plan of reciprocal action that
| shall not ruin western interests and fur
| Their increase profits to few monopo-
Lists and shall give our people a fair
share Of these benefits. The very fact
that the stock of the Sugar trust has in
creased In value $4,000, 900 since the plan
| for reduction on Cuban sugar has been
made, will show what they think would
| be the benefit to their compan(..
| Testimony Of those interests in the
Sugar trust before the ways and means
committee and industrial commission
] further discloses that they believe a large
/ part OF the benefits of this reduction
would be received by them.
No Benefit to Consumers.
"No one pretends that the United States
will derive any benefit from the proposed
reduction We cannot agree to a plan to
| further enrich this gigantic sugar mo-
nopoIy and crush its only possible POM
| petitor, without appreciably increasing
| American trade.
/ 'sThe same men who have suggested these
| Cuban concessions framed the present
| Cuban tariff schedules. II they had be-
! lieyed any changes in their schedules
would benefit Cuban interests, it was
their duty to make them when the sched-
/ ules were being prepared. The arguments
Of the sugar trust and members of the
/ ways and means committee all admit that
| sugar beet factories which are not well
! established can't hope to compete with
/ Cuban sugar under the reduced tariff
Looking Far Ahead.
/ "Well established and economically
managed factories with three years ex
tperience, we'll located, can hope to exist,
but those who, without this experience,
capital and advantage, must go to the
lwall This precludes all hope for an ex-
i tention Of that industry which the depart
ment of agriculture reports is we'll
adapted to twenty lone states and will In
time furnish all the sugar needed In this
country at prices materially below those
now charged by the sugar trust. The Min
nesota delegation believes 1t to be to the
best interests of the country to develop,
| this great industry II 1t is ruined in its
inception we fear it may be impaired for
a long time
sINsURGENTe' MORRIS