The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-09
DEBATE ON CUBA.
Vim. Alden Smith Opens the
Reciprocity Discussion
With a Speech in Opposition to
the Measure.
is BAD FOR EVERYBODY
He Declares Except the Cane
Sugar Refining Trust.
Calls Movement a Violation of
Republican Promises.

Washington. April 9.-Before the de-
bate upon the Cuban reciprocity bill
was resumed in the house today some
routine business was transacted. Mr..
Olmsted of Pennsylvania, presented the
report on the contested election case of
Fowler VS.. Thomas from the Third
North Carolina district.
Mr.. Henry of Connecticut asked un-
animous consent to disagree to the SEN
ate amendments to the oleomargarine
bill, but Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee
objected and the bill went to the COM
mittee on agriculture.
The house then went into committee
of the whole and the Cuban reciprocity
bill was taken up.
VIM. Alden Smith of Chicago was the
first speaker. He spoke against the bill.
He presented the question from the
viewpoint of the Republicans who have
opposed Cuban reciprocity on account of
the beet sugar interests and said in
part:
I would not have you believe that we
who for two months have been battling
for what we believe to be right were
animated by any hostility of unfriendi-
ness toward the island of Cuba. Such
IS far from the truth. We have always
aided and sustained her in her struggle
for Independence We glory in her ap-
preaching sovereignty. But we must not
forget that while we may sympathize
with Cuba. our first duty is toward our
own people and everything that tends to
strengthen and develop our multiplied
resources at home and add to the meas
ure of our national strength and inde-
pendence should be the object of our
prOfOundest sOlicitude.
I am opposed to this measure be
cause it tends to breed strife and dis
satisfaction with the other sugar cOun-
/ ri &c of world xr-hi a
eliminated against. 1 believe it will
have a tendency to provoke commercial
hostility among the other West India is
lands and our neighbors in South Amer
lea.
I am opposed to this measure be-
cause in order to give it effect it be-
comes necessary to violate a solemn
promise Of the Repu bIican party de-
iberately made in solemn convention to
the American people; because I believe
it viii be harmful to the agricultural
and industrial classes Of the United
States, whose great interests have been
confided to our care; because believe
it will be harmful in the extreme to
the island of Cuba; because I believe
that the principal beneficiary will be the
! American sugar refining company, who
| do not need our sympathy; because i
/ believe that the people of the island Of
/ Cuba VIII receive no benefit there
! from
Mr. Smith then entered upon dis
cussiOn of the policy of protection which
/ had resulted in the upbuilding of Ameri-
can industries with especial reference to
/ the establishment of the beet sugar in
! dustry as a rival of the sugar trust
which he said refined and controlled 90
/ per cent of the cane sugar. He predict
ed that the struggle for supremacy will
: be long and relentless and costly
THE farmers of the country" he
| went on have been encouraged by the
/ Republican party in their ambition to
produce the sugar of the country. 1t
| was distinct promise to the farmer
/ that he need not fear that the RepuD-
1 lican party would permit the cheap
| labor and cheap sugar of any tropical
| territory to be brought in in a manner
| which would destroy the infant indus
try of the beet sugar production which
the farmers of the United States have
| under the fostering care of the Repub-
lican party been building up during the
| last few years
The lamented Mr. Dingley said with
his unerring wisdom in the discussion of
the tariff act which bears his name.
/ Nothing can be done to so successfully
clip the wings of the sugar trust as to
develop our beet sugar industry and at
the same time confer immense benefit
on our farmers and all our people
He also quoted Mr. Payne, Mr. Gros-
venor of Ohio and Mr.. Steele of Indi-
/ ana, predicting great future for the
beet sugar industry if the tariff was
not disturb bed, and added:
THE great states of Michigan. Cali
! lorna, New r1Olk, ODlOIaQO. OIan. ore
gon and Montana took these distin-
guished statesmen at their word: had
faith in the promise of our party decla-
ration; abandoned the cultivation of
wheat and corn, developing a new in
dustTy thus encouraged
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 en-
gage IN this business, you did not say
that you would even agitate a change
in the tariff, much less reduce it by 20
per cent"
Mr.. Smith maintained that the sugar
/ trust would be the beneficiary of the
| reduction, and not the Cuban planters
In the course Of Mr.. Smiths speech
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama asked Mr..
Smith if he would vote to take the diff
ferential off Of refined sugar coming
from Cuba. Mr. Smith replied that nc
refined sugar came from Cuba and in
his turn he asked Mr.. Underwood If his
(the DemOcratic) side would vote to
oVerrule the chair and join in voting to
. take the differential off Of the sugar OF
the world
After some sparring during which Mr.
Underwood showed a disposition to
{ evade the question in response to the
prOmpungs of the Democrats around
him, he finally ventured the prediction
tEar there would be an opportunity te
: vote upon the proposition to take the
/ ! differential off the sugar of the world
: IF there is" observed Mr.. Smith, q
VIII watch your vote with great in
: terest"
Repeatedly during the delivery of Mr.
Smiths remarks his Republican sup
E porters on the floor applauded him. a
number of Michigan beet sugar manu-
: facturers in the galleries Joined in tbs
: demonstrations Of approval. When hs
Z concluded with an eloquent peroration
in eulogy of the policy of protection, TIT
: whole Republican side burst into ap
plause.
0Ir. Sparkman Of Florida followed