The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-02-21
THE OWOSSO TIMES.
TEN PAGES AND SUPPLEMENT.
EDMUND o. DEWEY. EDIToR.
oWOSsO, FRIDAY, FEB. 81, 1902

Congressman Joseph w. Fordney Of
this district, and Congressman Henry
G. Smith, of the second district, intro
duced bill on Tuesday which is en-
titled to more than passing notice. The
bill is based on the supposition that con
gress and the people wish to do still
more for Cuba than has been already
done by this country and by its pro
visions it is proposed to give this assist
ance without in the least endangering
the cane sugar industry of the southern
states or the newly created beet sugar
industry of Michigan and the other
northern states. To THE TIMES it
seems that the way in which these
gentlemen attempt to solve the problem
isa wise one. Granting that the case of
the Cuban planter is not a happy one at
the present time-an admission which is
by no means a necessary one if the state
ments of Cubans themselves are to be
believed is still abundant reason
for going slowly in helping poor Cuba"
by taking the prescription Of the sugar
trust There is still no reason for for
getting all of the traditions of the re-
publican party and reducing the tariff
on an article which has in the brief
space of three years given promise of
becoming one of the most important pro-
auctions of American farms and fac
tories. 1t is not an infant industry
which has not demonstrated its adapta
ton to American soil and conditions
and yet it is an infant industry which
can suffer irreparable injury by any
treatment which will make capital slow
to engage in it. The establishment of a
sugar factory means the investment of
more money than any capitalist wishes to
risk on any uncertainty and the Ameri-
can farmer who must raise the beets to
run the factory must not be compelled
to do 50 for the small profits of the
farmers of other countries 1t has never
been the policy of the republican party
to ask either to do 50 and there is no
pos ,ible reason for its doing so at the
present time If Cuba must be helped
sill further by the United States let
congress extend the help but let t'see
that the help goes where it is intended
by the people and by congress that it
should go-to Cuba and not to the sugar
tust. If the plan advocated by Con-
gressmen Fordney and Smith is adopted
this will be effected without in the least
jeopardizing the most magnificent Sin
FAINT industry" which American genius
and capital ever gave birth. In brief
the bill provides for the refunding to the
Cuban government-not to the sugar
trust-of forty per cent of the duties
collected on Cuban sugar by this
country and in return the Cubans are to
grant certain concessions to this country
In the matter of tariff rates on some of
our products. 1t is estimated that this
measure will be the means of paying
some 1924, 900 year into the Cuban
treasury. Does any one think that this
is being less than generous to the island
for which already this country has done
SO much? Whether Cuba needs the
help or not this country cannot afford
TO give any excuse for the accusation
that she has treated that island shabbily
but this can be avoided without endan-
gering any industry Of so great impor-
lance to the American farmer and
working man as the beet sugar industry
gives promise of becoming in almost an
incredibly short space of time. There
publican party cannot afford to break
away from all its traditions at this time.
Without wishing to threaten in any
way, THE TINES cannot refrain from re-
minding republican congressman from
every state-those from Michigan and
some others are wide awake to the situa-
ton and do not need any reminder
that they would have hard time in
deed to explain to their constituents their
departure from all the presidents and
traditions of their party should they by
their votes at this time strike a blow at
the farmers of this country who are. as
they have never been before, placed i'm n
position where they can see the advan-
tages which they themselves derive from
the protective tariff Help Cuba If
there is the faintest reason for 80 doing
but stand for the traditions which are rs
old as the party itself Stand by Ameri
can industries Both can be done and
the plan Of Congressman Smith and
Fordney offers more than suggestion
how.