The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-28

they held on and made cigars.
THE DINaLKY Law.
The struggle continued until 1907. and
it was enlivened by the passage OF the
Dingley bill This carried with it such
changes that Immediately upon it's passage
the manufacturers were notified. and
there was a run upon the custom house =.
In few hours nearly half million dollars
were taken In on duties 10 save the in
crease that would follow the enforcement
of the law.
This law was looked upon as a menace
to the life Of the clear Havana cigar bust
ness, for the additional duties imposed
added greatly to the burdens and this, in
connection with the fact that tobacco
could not be imported fpm Cuba made a
pretty stiff problem to tackle.
But the men who were enlisted in the
tobacco business at Tampa and by this
time had much money at stake. were
not to be easily driven to the point of
throwing up their hands and giving in.
They held on stubbornly and fought the
thing through
In 1893 there came a slant OF sunlight
The port OF Havana was again thrown open
for the expectation Of tobacco. This was
great relief hut still things were far from
being back to the normal conditions OF
three years before. Az much tobacco
as could be obtained was brought over,
but the war. now at its most desolating
stage, had so devastated the island that
there was little left for tho market. Small
as it was. this new supply was sufficient
to put vitality into Tampa and the industry
xrhfch To,rna al, x,I,,
sively depended. New factories started
up business increased and things seemed
to he headed the right way once more.
WAR TIME
Then, just as people were beginning to
get back their confidence, came the blow
ing up OF the Maine and swiftly on the heels
Of that tho passage Of the resolution by
Congress which meant war with Spain.
In q few days Admiral SIMPSONS feet
was Oh the Cuban coast with Havana
blockaded.
This. Of course, meant another and al
most complete cutting on Of supplies,
but there was no ENCOURAGEMENT, for
everybody knew that however. great tho
temporary embarrassment, it was the
beginning Of the end OF that perpetual
uncertainty, which buried over the Cuban
tobacco industry like black cloud. The
manufacturers worked along a. beat they
could with the supplies they had on hand
and with two cargoes which German block
AIDE runners succeeded in getting through
Admiral SIMPSONS lines which reached
Tampa by way Of Germany. Business
kept increasing and in a hand to mouth
hort Of way the manufacturers did al.
they could to meet their orders.
The year, on the whole. was q good one
and then In the winter came tho declare
ton OF peace and great was the rejoicing
thereat In Tampa. 1t was felt that the
days OF danger and uncertainty were over
and that In the future there was nothing in
sight but sunshine and prosperity.
LABOR TROUBLES.
And that. indeed, has proved to he the
case to the present day, barring only that
the cigar-Inaking industry Of Tampa has
suffered from the tyranny Of the labor trust
with which It has to DEAL just as have other
industries. Tho Cuban cigarmakers ara
fanatical expononts Of the trades-union idea
carried to extremes, with also a strong
tincture in their makeup of socialism of a
semi militant type.
They are cxcitable, easily led by their
demagogic agitato and ready to strike
work at moments notice. no matter how
frivolous may be tho alleged cause. Two
cases OF this sort occurred not long ago.
one Of which in a collateral development
caused great deal Of comment throughout
the country.
The Cuban simply has got to talk unless
there 10 something going on to rivet his