Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1902-04-25
Joseph Obi. in Atlanta Constitution.
WAsHIyoroN, Apnl l2.-(Special)


TO tell yon tie truth, l am not car,
ing very much about this proposed
tariff reduction. What ! am interested
in more than anything else IL that an,
step which Congress may take shall Ue
taken with a view to facilitating the
annexation OF Cuba to the United
States
This waa the reply OF Senator Nor.
gan, OF Alabama, to me when | question,
ed hin concerning his position toward
the pending Cuban bill.
Cuba he continued, Us as uecess Iry
to the United States as Ireland is Ia
Great Britain. II Is unnecessary to
refer to the fact that this has been
recognized since the days Of Tnonas
Jefferson. Every far sighted AMER an
knows today, rs every far-sighted Ameri.
can has recognized in the past that Cuba
must eventually become Il part OF the
United States. | am inclined to believe
with Mr.. Newlands. that the time has
come when we should take a decisive
step toward annexation. l do not See
Why we should 10 extend TO Cuba an
Invitation 10 co ne into the Uuion.-
The Alabama Senator'S reference
/ pointed particularly 70 the attitude Of
the gentleman from Nevada rs manifest.
ell by his vote in the Nays and Means
committee OF the lone.
Mr.. NEwLASDs' POSITION.
Mr.. Newiands has announced that he
will not vote for the proposed reduction
on Cuban products unless this is accom-.
panied by a forma. formal invitation t..
Cuba to become a part Of the United
States. While he is alone OF the mem.
bers OF the committee taking this
position. there is no question that his
general views upon the subject of an
~nexation are held by most OF the men,
bers OF both branches OF Congress.
AL agree that annexation Is not only
inevitable, but that it is to be desired by
the United States and by Cuba. All
agree that Cuba would be a valuable
addition to the Union; that under til.
American flag Cuba would blossom like
IN iIOhSl Old IoHCy hill lIdb IlC pI'S-
perity for which the Cuhaus are now
praying would follow to an extent ex
ceehlng their Ton lest dreams. But there
are donbts as to whether the time has
American sentiment i'll this respec,
and n to the means to best secure
the desired end.
Mr.. Newiands has no doubt whhtsO
ever on the subject and he has express.
cd his views i'll a way calculated to
carry conviction to those who study
them. Mr.. Newlnnds is u man Of affairs,
q business man who has exercised in
his study of the situation in Cuba the
best OF business sense.
NEwLASDs on ESDIS BILL.
With regard to this reciprocity bill, he
takes the position that Cuba's pro ent
request IL unquestiopably stimulated 10y
the sugar refining trust OF America.
whose interest it Ia to Develop lha sugar
cane industry in Cuba, because it il in
handing the cane sugar, and not the
beet sugar. that the refining trust ia
able to secure a profit approximating
$40 a ton. The present proposition,
which implies not a reduction Of the
price which the American consumer will
pay, but m increse, at the American
consumers expense, Of the price which
the Cuban planter will receive, could
not, he contends, be entertained for u
moment were it not for the peculiar
relations OF Cuba to this country. He
holds, however, that Cuba has no more
real right to demand tariff concessions
from US than she has from any other
country. There is no present distress in
Cuba where labor is IN great demand
but the planters, owlnR to heavy OK,
penses due TO their efforts 10 resuBci
tate their great industry, arc heavily
indebted to the banks, and unless they
are able to secure a better price for
their product, they clnim that their plan,
tatioLs will be iorcclosed and sold.
Mr.. NcwlaDds points ont that oui
government has nvver considered it one
= its duties to relieve the people Of the
United States from the deprcssiOns
coming from natural causes Throughout
the world, rs il the case in Cuba. ~Wt
have he Rays. passed. through panics oI
every kind, through financial crises
through liquidation, through readjust
ment, and there has been no suggestion
that the government should come TO tn.
relief OF our people who aro 10 distress
How, then, con it DO our duty to relieve :
foreign people about to suffer from thu
necessary reimbursement Tor which We arr
not ~responsibleH IL we recognize thii
duty toward Cuba how can we fail I,
deny il to onr " peopIce And doe.
not this legislation open the door tol
philauthropic, benevolent. and sonti.
mental Legislation IT every kind9"
MIR. Newlands strongly oppo 'es the
extension Of the American. Chinese ~
clusiOD, immigration. and contract la~,
to Cuba. lilo thinks that, while the l,ts
sage Of such laws Tor our country Ia Ell.
tirely justified. the imposition Of thea
upon Cuba il indeiensihlo.
His TERMS o RELIEF.