Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-24
CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
Summary of What it Has In
volved Thus Far.
Considerations That Have Influenced
Maine Representatives.
The Prosperity Of Our State Would be
Endangered by Tariff Reduction.

|
apprehension regarding the true ele-
ments that nave entered into the con-
| sidcration of the Cuban reciprocity
matter by the Republican majority
than concerning any of the questions
| that have been before Congress during
the past year.
To the general public it has too often
been made to appear purely a question
CT just and generous treatment of
Cuba, and the impression has been
sedulously conveyed, that without sub
stantial tariff concessions to Cuban
sugar. great distress and hardship
must inevitably result to the people of
Here at the National Capital the
question assumes a very different as
pect. 1t looms up very distinctly, first
as contest between the great sugar
trust and the producers of the beet
sugar, and, incidentally, between those
who are in favor of tariff revision, and
those who believe that such a policy
would be ill-advised, while the country
is enjoying the greatest prosperity in
| all its history.
Few people outside the national capt.
tdl Ciu dPpICSltlc HOW dCtlNc PAL tIc
great sugar trust is taking in affairs
here the present winter. 1t is I'M
doubtedly true that most any legisla-
ton affecting economic matters is GER
tain to confer incidental benefits upon
others than those for whom it was
primarily designed. Sometimes these
incidental benefits assume proportions
that entirely Overshadow those origi-
nally contemplated.
There are many who believe that
| this is true of the proposed legislation
| in behalf of Cuba. 1t is evident that
the great sugar trust will be a con-
spicuous beneficiary of a 20 per cent.
| reduction on Cuban sugar for it practi-
cally controls the entire product of that
| island, much of which is now in stor-
age there. awaiting shipment to this
| country as soon as the tariff barriers
are removed. Not only does the sugar
trust control the raw sugar of Cuba,
but it has invested very heavily in the
sugar plantations of that island.
This fact may explain why the great
sugar trust is now maintaining here in
| Washington the most powerful lobby
ever known to the history of the Ma
/ eicioi ooPitoi' Ahdhy VI tIC lliCii, W NJ
come here, ON one pretext or another,
to engage in the work of this great
lobby are of prominence in their own
states. ard have borne a more or less
conspicuous part in political affairs.
| Outside of Congress, and in the prop
uganda which the Bureau of the sugar
trust has undertaken to carry on
through the circulation of literature,
and through the public press the at
tempt has been made to convey the
impression that the proposed reduction
in the tariff on Cuban sugar would be
/ of benefit to the people of this country
in the way of cheaper sugar. Here in
| Washington, however, where such
statements would be promptly chal-
lenged, there has been absolutely no
claim advanced that the proposed laid
to Cuba" would be of the slightest
benefit to the American consumer. The
advocates Of the 20 per cent. reduction
on Cuban sugar claim that the Cubans
will secure the benefits of such legisla-
ton. Its opponents assert that the
| sugar trust will be the principal and,
| practically the only beneficiary, and
| that the immense sum taken from the
government by such legislation minus
the substantial figure necessary to pay
the salaries of the lobby members, will
rest securely and finally in the pockets
Of the big sugar magnates.
But the sugar trust has another, and,
from it's standpoint, a more important
object in view in bringing about the
reduction of the duty on Cuban sugar.
than would come from the great
nrnfitS that
such legislation.
For a long time it has sought in
every way to break down and destroy
the great sugar beet industry of the
Middle West which, under the foster
ing care of protection, has assumed
proportions that seriously menace the
| supremacy of the trust. Today many
thousands of the farmers in this great
| agricultural section of the country are
profitably engaged in the cultivation
| IF sugar beets. The acreage devoted
| 20 this crop has increased vastly in the
past few years, and it has become a
very vital element in the prosperity of
the Western farmer who can not only
raise sugar beets at good profit: but
| aas now the very great advantage Of
ready cash market for them. 1t is
not surprising that these men view
with alarm the proposal to let down the
| oars to Cuban competition, and that
l hey look upon it as a mere club which
| he trust may use for the humiliation
| Of their industry.
They are willing to extend friendly
| land to Cuba, but they insist that it
| shall not be done at the expense of the
| material welfare and prosperity of
| thousands of American farmers.
These men have not the wealth
l necessary for the employment of a
large lobby, such as today throngs the
| corridors of the National Capital in the
interests of the trust; but they have
| A devoted representation in Congress
whose members have made a desperate
| fight for the preservation of the great
| and growing beet sugar industry
| These men assert that Cuba is in no
| need of so serious sacrifice inasmuch
as it is today, enjoying the greatest
prosperity in all it's history.
Only those who have been on the
ground here, can fully appreciate the
grim courage and tenacity with which
| these Western representatives have