The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-16

congress- -
The Republicans of Nebraska showed
that they understand the question. as
well as the true position of their sena-
tors. They wanted reciprocity with
Cuba as defined by President Roosevelt
in his message to congress, just as the
Republicans of Kansas in their state
convention, declared for reciprocal
trade relations with Cuba as recon-
mended by President Roosevelt. Prasi-
dent Roosevelt recommended a retiuc-
ton OF our tariff duties On Cuban prod
ucts, and 10 senator Or representative
who las. or does now oppose such
auctions. is in favor of reciprocity With
Cuba.
Recent Republican state conventions
in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois.
Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Min
nesota have specifically Endorsed recip-
rocity with Cuba as recommended by
President Roosevelt
WOULD THE FARMER BE INJURED
BY CUBAN RECIPROCITY?
It has also been claimed by the oppo-
nents of reciprocity with Cuba that the
farmer would be injured by reciprocity.
Certainly the farmer who raises wheat
corn ard cattle would not be injured if
he secures the trade of Cuba in these
products. Would the beet farmer be in
jured? He can only be injured when he
secures lower price for his beets at
the factory. The factory is only war;
ranted in reducing the price of beets
when the price of sugar is reduced by
this legislation. Would a reduction In
the duty on Cuban sugar reduce the
price of sugar in this country. when the
same tariff is maintained on sugar from
other countries? 1t is admitted by all
that a reduction of so per cent, or even
free sugar from Cuba, would not affect
the price of sugar in this country as
long as we are compelled to import SUI
gar from other countries. One-third
of the sugar we consume is produced
from beets and cane raised in the Uni
A>1 -l-k zs~
from Hawaii, Porto Rico and the Phil
ippine Islands. One-third of our con-
sumption comes from Cuba, and the re-
naming one-third comes from other
countries, and pays full tariff rates The
testimony taken In the hearings before
the committee on ways and means and
the admissions of the beet sugar sup
pOrterS, all demonstrate that the price
of sugar will not be affected by a re-
duction on Cuban sugar. and so no in
jury would come to the beet sugar
farmer.
THE REAL OBJECTION TO REcIP-
ROCITY WITH CUBA.
Why then was SO much objection
ington? 1t feared that if a reduction
was made on Cuban sugar, the industry
in that island might become profitable,
and the money they hoped would be in
vested in beet sugar factories in the
United States would be invested in fac
tories in Cuba, instead. 1t was a pro-
moter's lobby that induced a number
of senators to refuse to abide by the
Judgment of a majority of their party,
and to decline to follow the recommen-
dation of President Roosevelt. / SUBJ
init that as long as we must import
two-thirds of. the sugar we consume,
we should not object to the growth and
prosperity Of the sugar Industry of
Cuba. 1 hope to see the day when all
the sugar we consume in the United
States will be produced within our Dor
ders and in our island possessions, in
Guiding Cuba. That will mean cheap
sugar for the masses-something that
should not meet with objection from
any source.
DOES CUBA NEED HELP?
1t has also been claimed that Cuba
does not need our help. and that there
is no distress in the island. This is not
a question of charity. It is not ques-
ton of giving aid to the poor and I'M
fortunate. The question is. will the
United States do its duty by the repub
lie of Cuba, which we have taken under
our protection and guidance?
But what are the real conditions in
Cuba? Are these statements correct
that labor is fully employed. and that
the wages are higher than in the United
mittee showed that during the grinding
season, from Januarys1 to May 1, labor
was fully employed at good wages
There was at that time but little dis
planters were harvesting their crop, and
expecting to place the sugar on the
market when congress had granted re-
ciprocity Raw sugar was selling in
Havana at that time from $1.60 to 81. 80
| per hundred pounds. 1t costs 81 per
hundred pounds on an average, to make
this sugar. While labor was then fully
employed in the production of sugar, it
| was with the expectation that our du-
| ties would be lowered so their sugar
could be admitted at such rate as to
| leave them a fair profit.
This hope was dispelled by the ad-
journment of congress without action.
PRESENT CONDITIONS IN CUBA.
| What are the present conditions in
! Cuba? President Roosevelt in his spec
| ia1 message to congress, quoted from a
cablegram from President Palma of the
| Cuban republic on June II, 1902, in
which President Palma pleaded for leg
/ is1ative relief before it was too late
and his country should be ruined. A
! press cablegram from Havana on June
| 80, said:
''The failure of the United States to
grant reciprocal concessions to Cuba has
practically ali the large American business
| interests that have been established dur
ing r the per period Of intervention
and financial crash has assumed the pro-
portions Of panic. and all who can leave
the departure of Armour & CO. and Swift
Co. sas tw1 dat the Ss nbn1
with northern meats, etc.. for the past
| four years.
Their departure from the field was de-
cided upon soon it became apparent
that Cuba was to receive no trade relief
at this session Of congress. A number of
! other concerns are now preparing to evac-
| uate the island as soon as their affairs
can be gotten into shape. that within a
| few weeks Cuba will be in truth turned
| over to the Cubans.
while the commercial evacuation has
| been far more gradual than was that of
| the military government, it has appealed
| strongly to the people of the island who
think they recognize in it the same intui-
tiveness which actuateS the rats in leav-
| ing the sinking Ship
| Charles NJ. Pepper, on June %, 1902, af-
| ter a careful personal investigation in Gu
ba said:
ssWithin "a hours 1 have been asked a
hundred times or more what is the real
news from Cuba The real news is the
| ctoIa pauS IF deferred homes finally ended