Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-07-31
esnatsr ylkin,' Position.

esting at clear declaration Of bis pc
sition.
Mr.. Elkins said that at frst be die
not believe 1t wise to render any ale
to Cuba whatever, enough having 81
ready been done for The island, ant
continued assistance being liable tt
make mendicants Of the Cubans. n,
was also against aid for Cuba on tbt
ground that when the farmers Of thu
west were in sore need the govern
ment did nothing for them. ut II
hardly right" be said, "to help thu
foreigners and not help our own peo'
pie. In this case it is proposed to &c
still further and help the foreigner al
the expense Of our own farmers"
Mr.. Elkins said that as his party
seemed to desire reciprocity with
Cuba, be abandoned bis objection to
aiding the Cubans and agreed to sup.
port the policy Of rendering assist.
suce, the only difference between him
and bis associates being as to the
method. Mr.. Elkins then stated sue
cinctly bis reasons for opposing the
Cuban reciprocity plan.
~ did not believe" be said, "that
it was wise at this time to disturb by
legislation the tariff. 1t would not
do to reduce the tariff on twenty ag-
ricultural articles imported into tho
United States from Cuba, because this
would be not only the breaking down
Of the tariff, but . discrimination
against other nations, much better
customers than Cuba.
III the tariff" continued Mr..
Elkins, SHOULD be reduced on tobac.
CO, sugar. and iron ore, all controlled
by trusts, there was no reason why 1t
should not DO reduced on iron, steel,
hides, glass, and other articles. !
have insisted that II the tariff Is to be
reduced In the near future, that It
should DO revised BY Republicans and
protectionists. am also opposed to
the assassination Of the beet-sugar In.
dustry, which the Republicans pledged
In their platform to protect, in order
to find markets for other protected
products.
II do not believe in paying $4,000.
900 year for five years Of the peo-
ple's money by way Of q reduction Of
the tariff, when the people Of Cuba
nor the Cuban government will not in
all probability get q dollar Of these
funds. II is admitted that the plan
Of those demanding straight reciproc-
ity would not lower the price Of sugar
to the consumer In the United States,
nor wsuld 1t increase the cost Of pro-
duction In Cuba. Then it must fol-
low that the importer-the sugar
trust-will get all the benefit Of the
20 per cent. reduction, or $4,000, 900
per annum.
81 have favored from the beginning
what Is called the rebate plan, which
would not disturb the tariff or impair
The beet.sugar industry, but would
collect the full amount Of duty on ar
.icles coming from Cuba. In consid.
grafton Of Cuba reducing her tariff 20
per cent, the United States would set
lside 20 per cent. Of the tariff collect
I'd on Cuban articles and pay the
'sme directly to the Cuban govern |
nsnt, to be disposed Of in the inter-
ut Of the Cuban people or the gov
'rnment itself, as it sees fit. In this
vay the money would 60 direct to the
,ubans and there would be no risk OF |
getting into the hands Of domestic
corporations.
II have not made any war upon the
ugar OK tobacco trust, nor have in
ended to do SO. l am simply trying
Q help Cuba.
cater the rebate plan WAS discard.
d, although favored BY many in the
who oppose 1t now. | was
Wiling to pass the house bill amend.
d or unamendsd. This was not
ooksd on With favor | then pro.
'Osed that the president negotists q
realty with Cuba for reciprocity on
ines which would not hurt any
american industry and It the same
ina hahn Cuha and mt hahn anv truat