The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-11
MR. HAYEMEYER And
OUR CUBAN GOVERNMENT
PAID GOOD MONEY
To Bring About Reduction in the United States Duties
Cuban Products-Some Testimony Brought Out by a
Senate Committee To-day That Causes Much Comment.

IRON, THO Journal Bureeu. Econ. ss. Post
Washington, June 11.-Republican in
surgents of both houses are feeling
jubilant over the testimony given before
the Cuban committee to-day by F. B.
Thurber, president American Export as
ISOLATION. They claim that Thurber has
made good the contentious Of the in
surgents that the sugar trust Is behind
the pending reciprocity bill and is using
it's money freely to secure its passage.
The rebate plan, they add, will be
strengthened as a result of Mr.. Thurber's
disclosures, and under that plan the pro-
posed 20 per cent will go directly to the
Cuban government to be distributed
among the real Cuban people.
1t Is probably too early correctly to es-
innate what effect Mr. Thurbers testi-
mony will have on the bill now before the
senate, but 1t is apparent that 1t has
stiffened the back bone of the insurgents
and had a somewhat demoralizing effect
on the reciprocity forces. Whether the
insurgent advantage will be permanent
can only be conjeotured.
1t has been known from the beginning
that the sugar trust was favorable to the
reciprocity and opposed to- the rebate
plan. The hearing before the house ways
and means committee two months ago
showed this 1t was also to be presumed
that the sugar trust would use it's money
freely to further the reciprocity plan.
Io-days disclosures therefore should
not be particularly startling to those who
have been following the Cuban question
carefully. 1t may, however, be startling
to. the country at large which has not been
able to follow the question at close range
| and that is where the trouble is likely to
come IN, If public sentiment, owing to Mr..
Thurber's testimony, should undergo a
change, because Of the belief that the
sugar trust is unduly interesting itself in
! the reciprocity bill, and is therefore hop
ing largely to profit by Its passage. The
ground may be cut from under the reci-
:, proctty plan and the se-called admins
Il
is one OF the possible outcomes. :.
On the other hand the recip-oc sd-
| vocates may be able to make statement
which will show that the sugar trust
is acting independently and has no IN
Outstanding with anybody in official life,
and will not profit unduly as the result
Of reciprocity legislation. But which
ever way it may: be regarded, it is now
up to the. reciprocity forces to say some
thing. = ~. - : 49,
Mr.. Thurber's testimony Is the most
sensational incident Of the Cuban contro-
versy thus far and it is the only topic
in Washington to-day. Insurgent senators
tell me that they will discuss in detail
on the floor of the senate, should reel
procity bill be offered for passag e, the
question Of the sugar: trusts connection
with the proposed legislation, and will
do it in a way to force the acceptance Of
the rebate plan. So whatever other ef-
feets temporary or permanent, the Thur
Der disclosures may have, they will give
a new turn to the Cuban debate by fur
nishing the insurgents club OF consid-
cradle weight, the more important be-
cause 1t was unexpected. -. .-.. .-..
! w. W. Jermane.