The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-11

There is no good reason why the portion
of Canada north of us should not CONNER
cially be part of the state of Minnesota
the same as the Dakotas. The cause of
1t is that a few special interests in Min
neapolis and elsewhere have blocked every
effort to get reciprocity between this coun-
try and Canada. Take wheat, which is
shipped from Canada to Liverpool If
shipped by way Of Minneapolis and ground
into flour. our millers would have the profit
of the manufacture and labor would have
the additional work. 1t would also help
the grain business in this city. I blame
our representatives. in congress because
they have, never turned their hands over
to get reciprocity between these two
neighboring countries $780,,
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND CUBA.
You have all heard great deal about
reciprocity with Cuba. How does that
question affect us? Down there in Cuba
they produce a great deal of raw sugar;
1T is their staple crop. When Cuba be-
1onged to Spain. the sGubans shipped a
great deal Of their crop to Europe When
separated from Europe, they had to look
for markets elsewhere, and they looked
across the water to the United States and
asked President Roosevelt whether they
could sell their sugar here Mr.. Roose
Welt. the broad minded statesman that he
Is, said yes, but our representative in con-
gress the Hon. Loren fletcher, said no,
and not only that, Mr.. Fletcher went in
and filibustered with the democrats and
prevented any legislation on the subject.
Let us see how that affected us. Cuba
takes a great many Of our products, our
flour, lumber, and a great many manu-
featured articles. But when we would not
take her sugar. she put high tariff on
our products, and I do not blame her
statesmen for that. When the Cuban bill
was reported to the house, it only pro-
vided for a reduction Of 20 per cent in
the tax on sugar, less that the republican
president had asked. and one would think
that every republican would support that
- small measure Of justice both to Cuba and
our own people. What happened? We
have in this country what is known as the
sugar trust. the greatest trust next to
the steel trust. There is not day in the
year that you and I do not have to pay
tribute to this sugar trust. The sugar
trust, like all the other trusts, has its
power anchored in special privilege. The
tariff on unrefined sugar is one cent per
pound. On refined sugar it is 1876 cents
per pound. SO you see the tariff refined
sugar Is nearly double the tariff on raw
sugar. The entire cost Of refining sugar
is not to exceed IS per ton, or four-tenths
OF one jcent; SO it follows that the sugar
krust has b clear bonus of one-l af cent
g. pound on every pound Of sugar con-
sugar is used without refining. 1t is this
bonus, 1his special privilege of collecting
from the people of the United States one
half cent on every pound Of sugar that Is
consumed, that has given the sugar trust
IS wealth and it's power. 1t is a noticeable
fact, although we import millions OF tons
of sugar annually into the United States
1t is all imported, or virtually all, as raw
sugar. If the discriminating tariff or
refined sugar did not exist, or ii 1t were
cut down to a reasonable basis-say one
eighth of a cent a pound, the sugar trust
would not have the monopoly that 1T now
has If it eXacted too high q price from
the consumer for the refined product. OH
importers could get refined sugar from
Germany, Russia or England. 1t is this
discriminating duty in favor Of the sugar
trust that has almost caused internationa
complications between our county anC
Germany and Russia. Approaching this
state of affairs, Mr.. Morris, the republican
representative in congress from the Du-
1uth district offered an amendment to TIE
Cuban tariff bill repeating the differentia
on refined sugar and doing away with the
bonus to the sugar trust. L nave never
heard any one claim outside OF congress
that this was not good th'ng Tor tbs
people of the United States. 1 have never
heard any one, except g. memoer OF con
gress, who had the nerve to say that ]
was not proper that the sugar trust shou!f
be shorn of this special privilege
to levy tribute on the people
In due time that amendment came
I'D to be voted on in the house of repre-
sentatiyes. There has never been time
in, the ten years that Loren Fletcher ma:
been in congress when we wanted ms Vot'
as much as we did at that time Iher'
never was a time in all his congressiona
career that the people were so vitality IN
terested in his conduct as when ina
nor
anal action. What did Mr.. Fletcher do
You will find his record on page 46l0 o
the Congressional Record. If you look IL
the column of ayes Mr. Fletcher's vot'
IS not there Look down the column o
''noes,'' Mr.. Flethcer's name is not to b.
found, but down below is a list of mem
bers who did not vote, who paired fo