The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-09

ing the time the fight over the "relief" bill was on, has already gone strongly on record in favor of annexation and will continue his efforts in that direction dur ing the next session unless some unlock ed for change is wrought in the mean time. That these efforts will be resisted there is no doubt. The Louisiana Con gressmen, all of whom are Democrats ard all of whom will no doubt oppose an nexation because 1t would threaten the sugar interests of their State by allowing. Cuban sugar to come into this country absolutely free, may be criticised for such action, but when the matter is carefully looked into it will be seen that they have what they consider good reasons for their position in the premises. They are no doubt as thoroughly imbued with the free trade belief as any their Democratic colleagues, but they do not think It Just that one of the principal industries or their State should be exposed to the com petition of outsiders while such industries as that of the steel trust and numerous other great combinations of capital are protected as of yore. And, for that mat ter 1t is by no means certain that the Democrats as a whole would be in favor of annexation Many of them do not see what would be gained by such step and they do think much might be lost. Rep- resentative Slayden of Texas, who mas visited the island and looked thoroughly into the conditions existing there, IS very positive that it would not be well Tor this country to annex the island and there are many who agree with him.
 Whether or not it is the duty Of the Congress of the United States to relieve Cuba there seems to be little doubt. ac- cording to authoritative advice rom the island, that commercial conditions there are anything but good. The Cubans seemed to be absolutely sure that Con gress would do something for them, and when they found that the efforts of the administrationists, backed up as those efforts were by the money expended by the military government of Cuba and by the sugar trust, were unavalling, trey immediately set up a vail which has been reverberating ever since. There is little doubt that much of the stuff that is being printed about, the alleged des- perate needs of the island is grossly eX- aggerated, but it is plain that, condi- ytions are by no means as favoraoie as they might be. This point will appear in somewhat clearer light by the time Congress reassembles, when 1t will he possible to see just what has been the result of the failure of the administra-
 
 bill.
 One Democrat who favors, annexation is Representative Newlands Of Nevada, who early in the last session introduced resolutions inviting Cuba to become a part of the United States, first as an organized territory under the constitution. with the assurance of ultimate StateT hood. Mir. Newlands Is a member of the Ways. and Means Committee and while he did not agree with Represen- tatives Cooper of Texas or Robertson of Louisiana. both of whom signed minority reports in oppsition to the majority re- port recommending a reduction p per cent in the tariffs on Cuban sugar, he did s'gn a report considerably different from that of the majority.
 q have never doubted that Cuba would be in distress" said MT Newlands In dis cussing the matter today, unless the price of sugar advanced or she was en- abled to receive in some degree the Gd- vantage of the increased price paid by the American consumer as the result of our tariff The difficulty with Cuba is that her large plantations are and rave been heavily mortgaged for years ard that the rescue of the sugar planters from general liquidation depends upon their receiving an increased price for sugar. This liquidation may take place during the coming year ana all the large estates I have mentioned may be sc!d. The mere change of ownership of the plantations as the result of the indebted ness of their owners would do no great injury were it not for the consequent disturbance in the employment If labor. During the last season the wages of labor increased nearly 50 per cent as result of the extraordinary demand for laborcrs on sugar plantations, and they will un- doubtedly feel the drop in wages caused by changed conditions. l have no doubt that the new government there will ex- pericnce q severe trial.
 ",rhe political union of Cuba with the United States" MT. Newlands continued. would mean free trade and that would mean S25 000. 900 more annually for Cuba's sugar crop than she at present receives. It was with this in view that carly in the session I introduced resolutions invit- ing her to become a part of the United States"
 While. as before stated. 1t is not likely that Mir. Newlands will find many Demo- crats who agree with him, his views are given consideration because every one be- lieves he is sincere and conscientious in his views on the question.