The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-11
Paid Out of Cuban Treasury by
Gen. Woods Order.
To Further the Cause of the
Reciprocity Propaganda.
THURBER is A WITNESS
Man Who Got the Money Tells
How 1t All Happened.
He Also Touched Havemeyer
and Got So, 800.

Washington, June If. D. Thurber.
president Of the Exporters associat tion.
the witness who has been wanted by the
committee on Cuban relations was be-
fore the committee today. Senator Tel
Ter produced a copy OF a voucher for
$3.50 showing that that sum had been
paid by the military government of
Cuba by authority of Governor Wood
to the United States Export associa-
ton OF which InurDer Is president
Thurber acknowledged that he had re-
ceived the amount and said it was one
Of three payments he had received from
the same source. The receipt was dated
April ?, 1902. and states that it was for
advocating a reduction in the duties
on Cuban products with a reciprocal re-
duction of United States products going
into Cuba"
The witness said he thought $4,000
worth of literature had been carried
He said he had received d contribution
of s., 500 from Mr.. Havemeyer, Of the
Sugar Refining company when he solici-
ted that gentleman for a subscrip-
ton.
In response to questions by Senator
Teller Mr.. Thurber said he had been ac-
tive in the. effort to secure a reciprocal
arrangement with Cuba He had cCme
to Washington originally at the in
stance of tie Export association a,ld
also of the Cubans who we = fsvoring
reciprocity.
He was not. he said. under salary
from the Export association. but he ad-
mitted that he received a percentage on
the receipts for membership in the as
socia ton Influenced by himself
He said he had circulated large
number Of circulars in the interest of a
reduction of the duty on Cuban sugar
them. Being asked by Senator Teller
who paid the expense incident to the
circulation Of this literature, the witness
replied that the Cuban committee had
Maid the larger of it and that the
members Of the association had paid
part OF it. He said he had been in the
employ Of the Cuban government for a
time in the summer and fail of 1901 in
connection with the preparation of the
Cuban tariff, his employment being at
the instance of Secretary Root
In reply to question Mr.. Thurber said
that the money referred to above had
but Senator Teller insisted that the
voucher which he had produced could
not have emanated from the Cuban
committee
Mr.. Thurber then said that all was
done through an understanding that the
Export association should do all possi
Bile to get industries on a proper basis.
He denied, however, that the money was
paid on verbal order from General
Wood, given while the latter was in the
United States.
Asked what was meant by the phrase
leaders of thought in his bill to the
Cuban government, Thurber said that
he had list of 5000 people in the United
States who represent something" 20
whom this literature was sent.
In reply to a question by Ar Teller as
to whether he had consulted Mr.. Have
meyer of the sugar trust in the prepara-
ton Of the literature. Mr.. Thurber said:
After making an argument before
the ways and means committee, I told
Mr. Havemeyer that I had been asked
if I was representing him and asked
him for a subscription. He gave me a
cheen toward meeting our expenses"
ANOTHER FRUITLESS CONFER.
ENCE
Washington, June 1.-THE conference
between the two factions of the Repub-
lican senators over Cuoau reciprocity
continued today but without result.
Senator Aldrich, who is one of the man
ayers for the reciprocity proposition.
said the matter was not settled. The op-
position still maintains confidence that
a straight reciprocity proposition can
not pass. and that if the bill is reported
from the committee it win be amended
in a way as to prevent its final adop-
tfon. Senators Aldrich and E1kins had
an earnest discussion of the subject to-
day but nothing like an agreement was
reached. Copies of the voucher pre-
sented in the Cuban investigation were
freely circulated about the senate and
caused great deal of comment among
[ the soma tors