The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-08

demanded, nrSt, tnat CuDa SnOuld enact
our labor laws. This was refused. That
is to say, that Cuba should not be left
free to import cheap labor from ia
ma1ca, China and other cheap labor
countries to grow sugar in competitions
with the American farmer. AS said.
this demand was refused. We then Of
fered to take 20 per cent from the diff
ferential and add it to raw sugar. This
was refused. We then went so far as
to offer to support the house bill as it
passed. This was refused. We then
rendered what was known as the re-
bate plan. This was that we should
collect the full duties from Cuba segre-
eating 20 per cent of the amount and
turn it back into the Cuban treasury.
in case that Cuba would either reduce
the duties on our products to like
amount, or collecting the full amount,
segregate 20 per cent and turn it back
into our treasury.
1.-The result of the conference was
that we had to take the senate bill just
as it was offered without an amend
ment: we had to agree to go into the
senate and vote down every amendment
that was offered to it; if an amendments
for instance. was offered to take the
duty off lumber, we must promise to
vote it down: if an amendment was Of
fered to take the duty off steel, we had
to vote that down: If an amendment
was offered to take the duty off glass
we had to promise to vote that down.
In short. we had to take what the COM
IniIloe OIIereQ US, OF take nOlnluS. Anu
Notwithstanding the great desire of the
president, and as to that matter. the
great desire of every sugar beet Sena-
tori think I can speak for all of them,
/ know / can for myself. that bill
should lass before congress adjourned;
in view Of the measure that was ten
dered, in view of the embarrassments.
confusion and injury to commerce and
trade that would result in a general de-
bate of the tariff question at this time.
felt that if better for the bill
to go over to the short session. The bill
is now in the senate and will come I'D
for consideration and final action at
the short session beginning next De-
cember.
PEOPLE NOT INFORMED.
"T may be mistaken about it, but 1
believe that this question has not been
fully considered by the American peo-,
pie. I do not believe the people of our
state have fully considered it, The
controversies that have arisen over this
matter have presented questions that
should be gone into with the greatest
care, and I believe we shall have more
light and know better what is right and
proper to do next winter than we have
now.
''It has been claimed that there was
great distress in Cuba, and that to re-
lieve this distress the tariff on her prod
ucts to this country should be reduced.
General Wood insisted that they should
be reduced so per cent, and he Subse-
quently said th4. SO 1-3 was the very
lowest that would give relief, and 20
per cent would do no good whatever.
TT is a safe proposition that the peo-
pie of no country are in distress when
all members of the laboring classes are
employed at remunerative wages.
1.-THE evidence taken before the COM
mittee on ways and means of the house,
and that before the senate Cuban COM
mittee, proves beyond any question
that the laboring classes of Cuba have
ann1nVpoant a yOnd
NOT AGAINST ROOSEVELT.
Great efforts have been made to make
| it appear that my action on this Cuban
bill was inspired by senatorial cabal,
| that has been organized against the
| president, they even go SO far as to say
| that I was in with Senator Quay and
| others to nominate Roosevelt for vice
president at Philadelphia for the pur-
| pose of shelving him and that my re-
| ward for that action was help they gave
| me in my senatorial race. This is anus
| ing when analysed Congressman Char
| ley Curtis and Mr.. Long were at Phil
| ade1phia working with might and main
| for the same purpose. The entire dele
| cation was a unit for Roosevelt: what
| did Curtis and Long get out of it? Was
| able to fool all the delegation and get
the entire reward. Again the resolutions
! declaring for Roosevelt for president in
| 1904 as they were written would never
| have appeared in the form they did but
for my action. do not want to be un-
| derstood as saying that the convention
| or any members Of the committee Of
| resolutions were opposed to Roosevelt
| They were all heartily in favor of him
| but the resolution that first passed the
| committee was not as full and com
! plete as the one that was afterwards
inserted by Col Anthony at my solicit
tation. pinned the emblem of Kansas
| the sunflower on the lapel of Roose
| velt's coat at Philadelphia when he was
nominated and said all Kansas is with
| oil will he for
| four years from now for president Tha
pledge will be kept by me and by Kan.
| sas.
IF this is a great international ques
| ton involving our commerce upon thu
seas, and should be solved in the inter
est of the whole people, whether it ben
efits the sugar trust or destroys thu
beet sugar industry it is comparatively
Insignificant; but L have not been i'm
pressed with that view of the case
HE BACKS DOWN
But since it is an economic question
and since any bill that we may pas:
can be repealed at the next session O
congress, in case we find it works {
! detriment to American industries ant
American labor, providing as I have
said, that it is not necessary to improve
our large interests spoken of. I say
| here and now as your senator, that i
the people of this state want me to sup
port measure of that kind. I will
cheerfully bow to your wishes, and be
lieving that the ascendency of the Re
publican party is of greater conse
quence to the general welfare than i.
Cuban reciprocity, if it is made a party
measure, and my party adopts it as
tenet of faith. shall sink my individ
ual judgment, even though I do no
change upon reflection, and bow to thu
mandates of my party.
IT would not do this If it involved {
great moral question, but as said, as
look at it, it is properly an economic
question, and viewing it in that light
I shall reflect the wishes of the people
of Kansas and the wishes of the part.
to which I belong.
But I believed when I took my &C
ton the other day, and I believe now
that the American people have not full.
considered this question. 1 believe tina
only one side has been heard. But
know that between now and next win
ter, it will receive the careful consider