The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-13
A STARTLING Revelation
Made to the senate Committee by
r. B. Thurber of the New York Ex-
Wood Paying Out Funds From
Cuban Treasury for Distributing
Reciprocity Literature Throughout
the United States-Caucuse. of Re-
publican Senator's Called

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 Association
of which Thurber is president. Thur
ber acknowledged that he had received
the amount and said it was one of three
payments he had received from the
same source. The voucher. which the
witness admitted to be genuine. is as
follows:
Voucher No. 31.-Abstract "B" Ac-
count. month of April, 1902.
New York, April 2, 1902.
THE United States military govern
ment of the island of Cuba. .
ITO United States export association
DIR.
For sending a third edition of $4,000
circular letters and accompanying pub
lications to leaders Of thought in the
United States, advocating a reduction
in the duties upon Cuban products. with
a reciprocal reduction in the duties
upon American products imported into
Cuba-$2,S $50.
ISeCclSGu Tdy IleHl
UNITED States Export Association.
"F. B. THURBER,
president
April 2 1902
ITO service as per bill attached (see
above) in support of the applications of
the inhabitants of the island of Cuba
for reciprocal tariff relations with the
United States-$2,SS0. Under authority
of General Wood, March 26th. 1902
The document bore the following en-
dorsement:
HEADQUARTERS. Department of Cuba.
Havana, April 10, 1902.
THE services herein charged for hav-
ing been performed under the verbal di-
rections and authority of the military
governor, this voucher, as submitted. is
approved and the auditor is authorized
to pass the same.
by direction of the military gov
ernor.
FRANK MCOI,
Aide de Camp.
Paid by check NO. 403, 17S, April IL
1902 for $2,SS0. on Banco Nacional de
Cuba
The witness said he had circulated q
large number of circulars in the interes,
of a reduction of the duty on Cuban
sugar and he submitted Specimens OF
some of them Being asked by Senator
Teller who paid the expense incident tc
witness replied that tine Cuban commit
tee had paid the larger part of it and
that members Of the association had
paid part of it. All told, he thought
that $4,000 worth Of literature had
been circulated in the Interest of Cuba
in the United States.
Asked what was meant by the phrase
leaders of thought in his bill to the
Cuban government Mr. Thurber said
that he had a list of $4,000 people in the
United States who represent some
thing to whom this literature was sent
In reply to a question by Mr.. Teller
as to whether he had consulted Mr.
Havemeyer of the sugar trust in the
preparation of the literaIure. Mr.. Thur
ber said that he had solicited sub
scription from Mr.. Havemeyer and had
received S2.500 from thai gentleman.
The testimony given today to the
committee on Cuban relations by F. h.
Thurber, showing that between $4,000
and $4,000 had been paid out of the Gu
ban treasury under the direction OF
Governor General Wood for the promo
ton of the effort to secure reciprocity
between the United States and CUBA
caused a sensation in the senate today
The news of Mr.. Thurber's statemen'
reached the senate chamber about the
time that the body conveyed and when
Senator Teller, whose examination had
ance upon the floor he was immedia tely
surrounded by senators from both sides
of the chamber who profeSsed great
anxiety to know all that had occurred.
Copies of the one voucher produced
were eagerly sought and the demand
was not satisfied until forty or fifty
copies had been typewriter and circu-
lated in the senate chamber.
Opinions as to the ultimate effect OF
the testimony are varied as the predilec-
tions and prejudices of senators, but
the immediate results are seen in the
decisions reached this afternoon to have
two caucuses in the early future. The
first of these will be held by the beet
sugar republican senators tomorrow
and the second by all the republican
senators Friday or Saturday.
Senator Burrows is responsible for the
statement that the beet sugar men will
nouncement that there will be a gener-
al conference before the close of the
week. The conference will be in the
nature of a causus and some of the beet
sugar men say they will only enter 1t
with the understanding that they shall
not be bound to by any conclusion that
may be reached.
The advocates Of tariff reduction
say that no action by a republican CEN
that defections have occurred only in
rare instances. Senator Aldrich ex-
presses confidence in being able to Sc
cure fully forty-five republican votes In
favor Of any bill that may be reported
by the Cuban committee. This Is a
majority OF the senate. and the friends
Of reduction express themselves as
hopeful Of passing bill. They say the
testimony Of Mr.. Thurber does not az