Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-06-12
Senator Burton Il Right.

Burton are laboring hard to give tne
impression that he has joined the
"insurgents" Of the senate and is at
tempted to prevent President Roose'
welt from carrying out his plans Tor
Cuban reciprocity. In the first place
Mr.. Burton has joined no "insur'
gents" He is in full accord with
the president and the executive has
in congress no better friend or
stauncher supporter.
1t is not exactly clear what Mr.
Roosevelt proposes concerning Cuban
reciprocity but it is safetosay that ne
with his keen sympathy with the
west does not desire anything that
will injure American interests Ihls
resolution is said to have bis ap'
proval and that OF Mr.. Burton;
We favor just and equitable re-
ciprocal relations with Cuba, but in
establishing and maintaining such
relations great care must be exercised
that the benefits thereof shall go to
the people Of Cuba and to the people
OF the United States.
That resolution Is sensible, just
and business-like. 1t is essentially
the platform OF the Republicans Of
Kansas though that is wooded thus;
We indorse the recommendations
Of President Roosevelt that the United
States should enter into just and liber-
al trade relations with the republic Of
Cuba, and we look to q Republican
congress to establish these relations
on such terms that the benefits aris'
ing thereirom will 90 to the people
Of Cuba and to the people Of the
United States, thus resulting in
mutual advantage and good will.
Congressman Long who has been
prominent in the reciprocity discus
sion seems inclined to give the Cubans
reciprocity off hand and in big Jumps
simply because Mckinley said that
reciprocal relations should be estab.
lished. Yet Mckinley would be the
last man on earth to give any nation
. privilege that would injure his own
people. Senator Burton takes the posi-
ton that whatever trade relations are
agreed on should be so framed that
the growing sugar interests OF this
nation will not be jeopardized.
This applies particularly to sugar
production, the principal industry Of
Cuba. 1t is proposed to allow Cuba
10 send Its sugar to this country free
'r practically SO yet we are trying to
build up the same industry at home.
Last year Cuba, in spite Of its war
devastated acres, raised 5000 tons
II cane sugar; the United States 275,-
200. This county also produced 49,
200 tons Of beet sugar, mostly in
Michigan, Colorado and Nebraska
Kansas is trying to develop this in.
iustry. Itgives a subsidy of$l ton
or beets that TEST over certain per
,ent Of sugar and paid out $4,000 last
year to farmers OF the Arkansas VAL
ey. Sedgwick county has hired an
Expert to teach 60 farmers how to
'aise beets best and sugar mill is
me Of the coming possessions OF
southwest Kansas. Colorado has
'our mills that cost $780, 900 each ana
The industry is becoming an impor-
tant one.
Our own people are nearest to u.s.
The Cubans are not suffering. They
are better off than they have ever
been since white men first saw the is
land. Millions of acres OF the estates
are owned by New York capitalists
and financial syndicates. Opening
out ports to Cuban sugar would make
vast profits for these investors and
ruin the beet sugar industry OF the
west 1t would be very poor policy
and especially should westeners op-
pose it.
Senator Burton's theory, that we
should care first for our own, is right
There is a great promise for Kansas
in the beet sugar industry and Kansas
has an especial interest in the out
come Of the proposed reciprocity bill.