The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-31
Mr.. FRYE
RESIGNS IN
DISGUST.
President Of n. {. Tobacco
Grow'rs' Association Rssents
SeIfishAttliuds Toward Cuba

Boston. Jan. a.--Dlsgusted with what
he terms the greed and Selfshness of
the New England Tobacco Growers as
soeistion, rs displayed by The adoption
of resolution by that organization st
its recent annual meeting against grant
ing tariff concessions 60 cuba H. s. FRYE
Of Connecticut. who for years has been
president et the association and repre-
ssnts the New England tobacco inter
e-ts in Washington has resigned the
presidency
Following Is hls letter giving his
reasons FOR taking this action
Washington. Jar. 30 ls0s.
Nj. s &. Hardin, Secretary. Glastonbury,
Conn
ny Dear Sir: / herewith tender my
resignation as president OF the New Eng-
land Tobacco Growers association. 20
take effect al once. for these brief stated
reasons: I am thoroughly out OF SYM
20 thy with tho action Of the convention
OF Jan. lt believing e under the present
emergency Shortsighted and unwisc even
from the standpoint of extreme selfish
ness; believing from abundant evidence
at hand that every argument and in
huence brought 60 bear on congress this
session by highly protected interests 10
prevent any concessions AZ all 10 the
sugar and tobacco interests of Cuba can
have but the result OF either fastening
the DAY of annexation of the island, with
the natural sequence Of free trade or 81
still larger concessions than arc now
proposed in the next session ~ congress
tT,af "a
Ia the duty on Cuban QIavans) tobacco
would not seriously injuro any tobacco
interests In the United states
I know that those men and those inter
ests who would be the least affected have
been the most strenuous opponents 20 any
concessions al all TO Cuba and ] know
that the only interests in the United
States tl-as would be sppreciably affected
0he clear Havana cigar interests) TO my
knowledge have not as yet entered a
single protest against a reasonable re-
duction in duties
] know that every economic reason de-
msnds that the United States should con-
-rol the market or Cuba, and I know
,hs only way to do so is SO open our
MARKETS Go her sugar and tobacco prod
ucts al reasonable rate OF duty.
But above and beyond all selfish con-
alterations. know the nations honor
Is pledged 20 make such concessions in
duties on Cuba $ chief products a. shall
he necessary to restore prosperity to the
slsnd. and knowing All these things. T
carnot longer be tied down and gaggeG
by = resolution that absolutely opposes
any concessions 90 Cuba at all knowing
that such course, II persisted in by tho
protected interests, VIII in tho end
jeopardize the very existence of our whole
protective system.
With the prophetic vision OF a man
standing or the shores of eternity. eur
deeply iamented President Mckinley saw
I'll this. and uttered the note OF wsrning
AT Buffalo. Alas. that he could not be hero
now 10 reiterste IL. and IN tones Of thun-
der din IL into the cars Of men and In |
terests gone so mad with the frenzy OF
greed and Sel6shness that all reason and
common scnse has ceased 20 be part and |
parcel OF their beings
All who know. me personally know that |
every dollar have in the world is tied up |
In and dependent on the prosperity Of |
the Now England leaf interests, and that |
any injury TO those interests would result /
In as deep and serious injury 20 me as |
To any other tobacco farmer NJ any limit /
sd means and J hope my friends will |
give me credit for not hankering after 4
financial ruin. Just 10 crafty a passing |
'sncy or whim
l have consented 60 drop my contention 1
'or one rate of duty only on Havana to-
'acco. and in Difference to the alarm over
possible competition of Cuban tent co.
1acco, urge retention of two rates on all /
imported leaf: but rather than refuse any
~ all 90 the tobacco interests
" Cuba. and thus as I believe. seriously l
'udanger not only my interest as d tobac-
% grower. but that OF every other ono in
Sew England as we'll
J hereby ecvcr on official relations NTH
hc Ncr England association, iu order
. be st liberty 10 express ia any wav 7 Z
,lcasc ana on any occasion necessary ms
.onest opinions and beliefs on tiic aues-
ion Of reciprocity with Cubo
IT, s. FRYE