The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-06-20
ROOSEVELT URGES
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
Sends Special Message to Com
gress Recommending
Tariff Reduction.
STRONG PLEA is MADE

HeIterate8 Former Declaration That
the United States 10 Morally
Bound to Pass a RecIpro- 4
city Measure.
Washington, June 16.-After talking
with number of the leaders in con-
gress regarding Cuban reciprocity,
President Roosevelt today determined
to send message to congress affirming
his attitude on the subject. The presi-
dent has earnestly considered the mat
ter several days, and it is stated that
the action of the anti-reciprocity repub-
lican senato yesterday in deciding to
hold out against the policy advocated
by the majority Of the party did not
influence the president in the least in
deciding to transmit his message tn
congress today.
The presidents action, it may be
stated from sources close to him, was
influenced on the bround ground of the
duty Of the United States to Cuba and
Of fairness to the new republic. 1t has
been pointed out to the president that
his warmest political supporters are in
the section of country where there is
the greatest opposition to reciprocity
west and northwest-and that he
should remain content with the stand
he had taken without actuating his
views in special message. 1t Is
known, however, that the president did
mot hesitate to arrive ut the conclusion
that he would not let his political PROS
poets interfere with what he regarded
as his plain duty. The president was
further led to conclude that the reia-
lions of the United States and Cuba
must necessarily grow closer, and that
the United States should not, at the
outset, after it's declared purposes
toward the island, assume a position
contrary thereto, and thus arouse the
suspicious oE@the Cuban government as
to our re2i intentions toward it. 1t is
stated that the presidents positive dec
laration in his message today as to the
duty OF congress will probably end his
active efforts to bring about recip-
,rocity.
Roosevel.'e Message. IS
The presidents message follows:
ITO the Senate and House: L deem
1t important before adjournment of the
present session Of congress to call at
tention to the following expressions in
tho message in the discharge OF the
duty imposed upon me by the consti-5
tuition 1 sent to congress. on the first
Tuesday OF December last:
:" Elsewhere have discussed the
question OF reciprocity. In the case of
Cuba, however, are weighty reasons.
of morality and national interest why
the{policy should be held to have pecu-
liar application, and I most earnestly
ask your attention to the wisdom--in-
deed, to the vital need--of providing
for substantial reduction in tariff du-
ties on Cuban imports into the United
States Cuba has in her constitution
affirmed what we desired, that she
should stand, in international matters,
in closer and more friendly relations
with us than with any other power,
and we are bound by every considera-
ton Of honor and expectancy to pass
commercial measures in the interest OF
her well being.
This Recommendation was merely
giving practical effect to President Nc
Kinleys words, when in his message
of December g. 1898, he wrote: S.
81" 1T is important our relations with
this people (of Cuba) shall be Of a most
friendly character, and our, commercial
relations close and reciprocal. We have,
accepted a trust, the fuffillment of
which calls for the sternest integ-,
rity Of purpose and the exercise of the.
highest wisdom. The new Cuba yet to
rise from the ashes of the past must
needs be bound to us by ties of singu-a
4
ing welfare is to be assured The great
est blessing which can come to Cuba
is the restoration of her agricultural
and industrial prosperity"
Appeal From Palma.
yesterday / received by cable from
the American minister in Cuba a most
earnest appeal from President Palma
for Legislative relief before it is too
late and (his) country Is financially
ruined
1.-THE granting OF reciprocity with
tirely alone. The reasons for 1T far
outweigh the granting Of reciprocity
with any other nation and are entire
ly consistent with preserving intact
the protective system under which
this country has strfven SO much. The
present tariff law was designed to pro-
mote the adoption Of such reciprocity
treaty, and especially provided for a
reduction not to exceed 20 per cent
upon goods coming from a particular
country, leaving, the tariff rates on
these same articles unchanged as re-.
garding all otner countries. Objection
has been made to granting the redue-
ton on the ground that the substantial
benefit would not go to the agricultural
producers of sugar, but would injure
the American sugar refiners. In my.
Judgment provision can and should be
made which will guarantee us against
this possibility without having re-
course to a measure Of doubtful policy
such as a bounty in the form Of a re-
bate. The question as to which, If any,
of the different schedules of the tariff
ought most properly to be revised does
not enter into this matter in any way
or shape. We are concerned with get
ting a friendly reciprocal arrangement
with Cuba. This arrangement applies
to all articles Cuba grows or produces.
1t is not in our power to determine
what these articles shall be, and any
discussion Of the tariff as it affects
certain schedules or countries other
than Cuba is wholly aside from the
subject matter to which 1 call your at
tention."
Hawaii al an Example.
Some of our citizens oppose lowering
the tariff on Cuban products just as
three years ago they opposed the adj
mission OF the Hawaiian islands, lest
free trade with them might ruin cer-
tain of our interests here. In the ac-
tual event their. fears proved baseless
as regards Hawaii, and their apprehen-
sions as to damage to any Industry Of.
our own because of the proposed meas
nre of reciprocity with Cuba seems to
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