The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-10
Says Its False to the Doctrine
d Of Protection
SPARS WITH UNDERWOOD
Morris of Minnesota, Who Also op-
posed Measure, Says United
States le Under No Obiga-
tion to Fortune Seekers.

Washington, April 9-The feature of the
second days debate in the House on the
Cuban reciprocity bill was an impas-
stoned speech in opposition to the meas
ure by William A. Smith, of Michigan,
Republican. Senators Spooner and
Quar1es, of Wisconsin. and Dclliver, Of
Iowa, and a group of Michigan beet
sugar manufacturers in the gallery were
in his audience and he was literally ap-
plauded by his Republican supporters as
he assailed the Republican leaders who
were advocating the bill, boldly charging
them with being false to the Republican
doctrines of protection. He announced
that : was willing to vote to over-rule
the chair In order to support an amend
ment to take the differential off refined
sugar
Mr.. Morris, of Minnesota another Re-
publican, who made a strong speech
against the bill, also made a similar an
nouncement. The other speakers today
were Mr.. Ball, Democrat Texas, and Mr.
Sparkman, Democrat, Florida both Of
whom opposed the bill, and Mr.. Mondell,
Wyoming, who advocated it's passage.
The Democratic and Republican oppo-
together on the proposition to take the
differential off refined sugar.
The indications are that the debate will
be protracted. The demand for time to
speak is great and there is now no ex-
pectation that general debate will be
completed until next week.
49, Mr.. Smith Speaks.
William Alden Smith, Of Michigan, who
was the first speaker. presented the
question from the view point of the Re-
publicans, who have opposed Cuban
reciprocity on account of the beet sugar
interests. On account of the beet sugar
interests he said in part: II would not
for anything have you believe that we,
who for two months have been battling
for what we believe to be right were
animated by any hostility or unfriendli-
ness toward me island of Cuba. We
have always aided and sustained her in
her struggle for independence. We glory
in her approaching sovereignty.
II am opposed to this measure because
l believe 1t Is calculated to breed strife
and dissatisfaction with the Other sugar
countries of the world which are thus
Disseminated against. I believe 1t will
have a tendency to provoke commercial
hostility among the other West Indies
islands and our neighbors in South
America.
II am opposed to this measure because,
in order to give it effectit becomes neces-
sary to violate a solemn promise of the
Republican patty deliberately made in
solemn convention to the American peo-
pie; because 1t will be harmful to the ag-
ricultural and industrial Glasses of t,he
United States whose great interests have
been confided to our care; because l be-
lieve it will be harmful in the extreme to
the island of Cuba; because l believe the
principal beneficiary will be the sugar re-
fining company, which does not need
sympa thy: because 1 believe the people
of the island of Cuba will receive no
benefit therefrom."
Discusses Protection.
THE farmers of the country he went
en-, have been encouraged by the Re
publican party in their ambition to pro-
duce the sugar of the country. 1t was a
distinct promise to the farmer that he
need not fear that the Republican party
would permit the cheap labor and the
cheap sugar of any tropical territory to
be brought in in manner which would
destroy the infant industry of the sugar
production which the farmers of the
United States have, under the fostering
care of the Republican party, been build
ing up during the last few years.
"I know it is claimed that this cut OF
20 per cent will do our present factories
no harm; but when the Dingley law was
passed and you invited US to engage in
this business, you did not say that you
would even agtate change In the tariff
much less reduce it by 20 per cent.
In the course of Mr.. Smiths speech
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama asked Mr..
Smith If he would vote to take the dlr-
ferential off of refined sugar coming from
Cuba. Mr.. Smith replied that no rehned
sugar came from Cuba and In his turn
he asked Mr.. Underwood If his (the DEM
ocratic side) would vote to overrule the
chair and join in voting to take the
deferential off the sugar of the world.
Spared With Underwood.
Later there was some sparing during
which Mr.. Underwood showed disposi-
tion to evade the question but in re-
snonse To the promptings of the Demo-
cratic members around him ne hhaiiy
ventured the prediction that there would
be an opportunity to vote upon the
nronosition to take the differential on the
sugar of the world .,r
..If there Is" observed Mr.. smith,
will watch your vote with great interest
Repeatedly during the delivery OF Mr..
Smiths remarks. his Republican support
ers on the floor applauded him. num-
ber of Michigan etssugar Manulact-
urers in the galleries Joined in the DEM
onstrations Of approval. When he con-
ciuded with an eloquent peroation IN
eulogy of the policy of protection the
whole Republican side burst into ap-
plause.
Mr.. Sparkman of Florida followed, also
making an argument against the passage
of the bill.
Mr. Morris followed and cited the evi-
dence of witnesses before the commit
tee whom he described as "disinterested
to show that the cost of producing su-
gar In Cuba had been exaggerated; that
instead of being cents per pound 1t was
~ cents and that, therefore, at the pres
ent price In Havana, Ls1, the Cubans
would receive a profit of 81 cents per
pound.
No Moral Obligation.