The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-18

Opposition tt Cuban Reciprocity
On Sugar.
Washington, April 14-The Chinese
exclusion bill occupied the attention or
the senate throughout today, Senators
Foraker n MCLaurin, Of South Car
olina. making extended speeches in OPP
position. SenaJoI Foraker contended
that the pending measure was viola
tive of our treaty with China and was
calculated to prevent our commercial
expansion in the far east. While
strongly supporting the policy of the
government to exclude Chinese labor
ers. the Ohio senator maintained that
this could be best accomplished by an
extension OF the present exclusion law.
Senator McLaurin also favored an
extension of the present law.
Senator Teller briefly responded to
Senator Foraker, urging that the right
TO abrOgate treaties was fully recog-
nized.
During the day Senator Lodge, OF
Massachusetts,, gave notice of an
amendment to the bill, striking out the
much discussed clause prohibiting the
employment of Chinese sailors on
American ships.
Senator McLaurin in his remarks.
said it was incoEceivable that any hon
orable nation. least of all the United
States, should surrender its integrity
by deliberately adopting policies and
enacting laws IL violation of its own
sworn compact and treaty with any
other power and that, too, during q pc
Rod of profound peace, without any
provoking cause from the other ma
ton. The pending senate bill, he de-
clared, was calculated by it's reStric-
tive action and Inimicable spirit to kill
our trade with China. This was a con-
sideration of vital Importance to South
Carolina with Its vast cotton produc-
ton and the growing shipments OF
ccItnI' goods to China.
Senator McLaurin said the effect of
a shut down in the China trade and
the consequent collapse of southern
cotton manufacturing would be most
severe on the south. 1t would glut the
home market AID close the mills. The
mill owners n the operatives would
suffer. In South Carolina, some 5000
operatives would be injured, while the
same result would occur in North Car
olina, Georgia, Alabama and all the
states where cotton is grown or cotton
goods are manufactured.
Taking the commercial side of the
question, Senator Foraker denied that
the proposed measure was in the in
terest of our wage earners He pointed
out that the United States has an enor-
nous surplus product which must be
disposed of in the outside world. Flu
rope could take but little more than
at present. We must look to
the far east, particularly now that we
have a fOothold III the Philippines. In
China, declared the senator, is the
greatest opportunity for q market that
the world affords today. With a vast
population and Ii vast consumption, we
sell less than 10 per cent of the amount
China buys. H maintained that under
the mastery diplomacy of the admin
istration of William Mckinley our
merchants had been assured the open
door" in China and that the pending
measure would overcome all the good
secured by the open door"
Honse or Hepr esentatfves-
interest in the Cuban reciprocity d.
bate in the house seems to be waning.
judging by the attendance on the floor
today. but the earnestness of the
speeches on both sides Of the question
increase rather than diminish in intan-
sity. That the republican opponents of
III bill are determined to prolong the
struggle as much as possible was made
manifest today by their refusal to al
low speeches to be printed in the rec
ord.
The speakers today were Messrs. Nc
Call. of Massachusetts,, and BrantleT,
of Georgia. for the measure, and
Nessrs. Robertson. of Louisiana and
Stevens, of Minnesota, against it.
Mr.. Robinson, of Indiana, opposed
Cuban annexation, on the ground mat
It would threaten the welfare Of the
American wage-earners.
The conference report on the passage
of the appropriation bill was adopted
early in the day, after some criticism of
the pneumatic tube provision.
Mr.. Robertson, of louisiana, opposed
the bill in a vigorous speech. He con-
tended that the United States would
reap practically nothing from a reel
procity arrangement with Cuba. The
Cubans, he argued. today bought from
the United States all they would under
reciprocity. Our meats. etc, go there
now and would go there whether reci-
procity were inaugurated or not.
Mr.. Robertson argued that the Amer
team consumer would secure no reGuc-
ton upon his sugar as a result of the
proposed legislation. The uga trust.
he declared. would be the chief benefi-
ciary. So far as Louisiana was co..
cerned he declared that her uga in
terests asked nothing to which they
were not entitled under the tenets OF
either party.
Mr.. BrantIey, of Georgia. spoke briefly
in support of the bill. He was in favor
OF even freer trade relations than would
be accorded by the bill. but if he could
not secure all he desired in the way Of
3 reduction of duties. nc said. he would
vote for what he could get.
Mr.. Brantley announced that he
would vote to abolish the differential
on refined sugar. In conclusion. he de-
clared that every reduction of duties
In the direction of tariff reform must
rebound to the interest of the demo-
cratic party.
BIG GUN RST