Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-06-19
MAKES PLEA FOR RECIPROCITY
NEW REPUBLIC rs xEAK AMI
OUR ASSISTANCE Is
NEEDED.
WOULD BENEFIT US As WELL
PRESIDENT RECEIVES MESSAGE
FROM PALMA ASKING FOR
RELIEF.

Roosevelt sent q special message to con-
gress yesterday afternoon reiterating
his former recommendations for the
passage of a law creating reciprocity
with Cuba and presenting additional
arguments thereon. The text of the
message follows:
i deem IT important before adjourn
ment of the present session of congress
to call attention to the following ex-
presstons In the message which, In the
discharge of the duty imposed upon
me by the Constitution, / sent to con-
gress on the first Tuesday in December
last. Here follows extracts from that
document.).
Yesterday I received by cable from
the American minister in Cuba a most
earnest appeal from President Palma
for Legislative relief before 1t is too
late
Stands Alone.
THE granting of recipro city with
Cuba is a proposition which stands en-
tirely alone. The reasons for Ii far out
weigh those of granting reciprocity
with any other nation, and are entirely
consistent with preserving intact the
protective system under which this
country has thriven so marvelously.
THE present tariff law was designed
TO promoteythe adoption of such a reci-
procity treaty and expressly provides
for a reduction of not to exceed 20 per
cent upon goods coming from a particu-
lar country, leaving the tariff rates
upon the same articles unchanged as
regards all other countries.
objection a beer made to the
granting Of the. reduction on the ground
that the substantial benefit would not
go to the agricultural producer of
sugar, but would inure TO the American
sugar rehners.
This Can He Fixed.
'In my judgment provision can and
should be made which will guarantee
us against this POSSIBLE measure of
doubtful policy, such as a bounty in the
form of a rebate.
THE question as to which, If any. OF
the different schedules of tariff ought
most properly to be revised does not
enter into this matter in any way or
shape. We are concerned with getting
q friendly reciprocal arrangement with
Cuba. This arrangement applies TO all
articles that Cuba grows. or produces.
1t is not in our power TO determine what
those articles shall be; and any discus
sion of tariff as it affects special sched-
ules or countries other than Cuba Is
wholly aside from the subject matter
to which I call your attention.
Compared to Hawaii.
Some of our citizens oppose the low
ering of the iariff or Cuban products,
just as three years ago they opposed
the admission of the Hawaiian islands.
lest free trade with them might ruin
.o~,ag, infaracfc hora IN actual events
their fears proved baseless as regards
Hawaii, and their ap~prehensions or
damage TO any interests of our own be-
cause of the proposed measure of reci-
procity with Cuba seem to me to be
| equally baseless.
I'm my judgment, no American in
dustry will be hurt and many Ameri-
can industries will be benefited by the
proposed action. 1t is to u advantage
as a nation that the growing Cuban
market should be controlled by the
American producer.
More Interest Needed.
Events following the war with Spain
and the prospective building of the
| Isthmian canal render it certain that
we must take in the future far greater
interest thar hitherto in what happens
! throughout the West Indies, Central
America and h adjacent coast and
waters.
1--WE EXPECT Cuba TO treat us on an
exceptional footing politically, n we
should put her in the same exceptional
position economically. The proposed
action is in line with a course we have
pursued as regards all the islands with
which we have been brought into re-
iations of varying intimacy by the
Spanish war.
porto Rico and Hawaii have been
included within our tariff lines, to their
great benefit, as well as ours, and with
ont any feared detriment to our desti-
MES. The Philippines. which stood In
a different relation, rave been granted
substantial tariff concessions. ?
To Beneht Both.
"Cuba IS an independent republic
which has assumed special obligations
as regards her international position In
compliance to our request. / ask for
her certain special economic 'conces-
sions In return; these economic conces-
sions to benefit us as well as her.
''There are few brighter pages In
American history thar the page which
tells of our dealings with Cuba the past
four years. On her behalf we waged O
war of which the handspring was gem
erous indignation against oppression;
and we have kept faith absolutely.
1T. is earnestly TO be hoped that we
will complete in the same spirit the
record so well begun and show in III
dealings with Cuba that steady continu-
ity OF policy which IL is essential for
our nation TO establish in foreign af-
fairs If we desire to play our own part