Evening journal., 1902-06-21
STILL AT ODDS
ON RECIPROCITY
Another Caucus on Cuban
Measure Is FruitIOSS
BEET SUGAR MEN Defended
Burton Declares That People Of
That Island Do Not Need
Assistance
BEET SUGAR MEN DEFENDED

Washington, June 2l-The Repuhli-
can senators held another conference
yesterday on the question OF Cuban
reciprocity, and after three hours dis
cussion adjourned. subject TO the call
of Chairman Allison, without action
IL is believed that another meeting
will be held next week. Almost all
the Republican senators who are in
the city We're present There were
eight or nine speeches made in sup
port of reciprocity and only two in op-
position to that policy The two
speeches in opposition to the pro
posed legislation were made by Sena-
tors Burton and Burrows. The speech
es for reciprocity were all along the
same general line, and without ex-
ception were pleas for legislation and
for party harmony.
The meeting had almost concluded,
when Senator Burton, of Kansas, took
the floor to make a brief but impas-
stoned and eloquent speech in sup
port and defense OF the attitude of the
beet sugar Republicans. He spoke es-
pecially with reference to an intima-
tion that the beet sugar senators were
not loyal to the party. He claimed
the press of the country had presented
only one side of the question. He said
that it was not true that the beet
sugar men were not willing to extend
helping hand to the people of Cuba
if they needed help, but he contended
g..
to the people of that island at this
time.
Mr.. Burton said that Senator Platt.
Of Connecticut. in defending the com
mittees action in striking out the
house provision for the extension of
our labor laws TO Cuba. had said that
Cuban labor is as well paid as is farm
labor in Kansas or any other part Of
the United States. Mr. Burton said
shat if this were true the Cuban la
boror certainly was not in need of
aims from the people OF the United
States. He also urged that If the plan
tatiOn owners were able TO g Kansas
prices they could not be in desperate
straits, as had been represented. Nor,
he added, could It be said that the
Cuban government was in position to
ask assistance from any one. for when
Governor Wood surrendered the reins
of government at Havana there were
100000 in the Cuban treasury, and
the government had an assured annual
income of $1700O.O0O His conclusion
was that as neither the government
the planters of Cuba or the Cuban la
borers had any need of the proposed
assistance, IL was unfair and unjust
to ask the farmers of this country to
sacrifice their own interests for the
purpose OF granting an annuity OF five
OF six millions of dollars.
Senator Burrows spoke very briefly,
and his remarks were entirely in reply
to Senator Hanna's reference TO Presi-
dent McKinley's Buffalo speech. Mr..
Burrows produced a copy of that
speech and read extracts from It for
the purpose of showing that the beet
sugar senators are in accoru with Mr..
McKinley's position as outlined in that
speech. He laid especial emphasis on
the portion of the Buffalo speech in
which the president said that he would
not advocate any step that would re-
move the proper protection from
American labor and American indus
tries.