Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-04-10
RECIPROCITY DEBATED
Representative Smith Tells Why He
Is Opposed to Cuban Measure.
FEARS IT WILL HURT ISLAND
insists In the Course of His speech
That Principal Beneficiary Will
BE the American Sugar
Refining Company.

Washington, April 10. - The house
went into committee Of the whole, and
the Cuban reciprocity bill was taken
up. William Alden Smith (Micho spoke
He spoke against the bill. He present
ed the question from the viewpoint OF
the Republicans who have opposed Gu
ban reciprocity on account of the beet
sugar interests and said in part:
II would not for anything have you
believe that we who for two months
have been battling for what we believe
to be right were animated by any hos
tility or unfriendliness toward the is
land of Cuba. Such is far from the
truth. We have always aided and sus-
tanned her in her struggles for 1nde-
pendence. We glory in her approach
ing sovereignty. But we must not for
get that, while we may sympathize
with Cuba, our first duty is toward our
own people, and everything that tends
to strengthen and develop our multi
piled resources at home and add to the
measure of our national strength and
independence should be the object of
our profoundest s0licitude.
81 am opposed to this measure be-
cause believe it Is calculated to breed
strife and dissatisfaction with the 9th
er sugar countries Of the world, which
are thus Disseminated against. be-
lieve it will have tendency to provoke
commercial hostility among the other
West India islands and our neighbors
in South America.
other Reasons For Opposition.
II am opposed to this measure be-
cause in order to give it effect 1t be-
comes necessary to violate solemn
promise of the Republican party de-
liberately made In solemn convention
to the American people; because l be
lieve it will be harmful to the agricul-
tural and industrial classes of the
United States, whose great interests
have been confided to our care; be-
cause believe it will be harmful IN
the extreme to the island Of Cuba; be
cause believe that the principal ben
eficiary will be the American Sugar
Refining company, which does not neec
our sympathy; because believe tha'
the people Of the island Of Cuba Will
receive no benefit therefrOm."
Mr.. Smith entered upon discussion
Of the policy of protection which hat
resulted in the upbuilding of American
industries, with especial reference tt
the establishment of the beet sugar
industry as a rival Of the sugar trust
which, he said, refined and CONTROLLED
90 per cent of the cane sugar He pre-
dicted that the struggle for supremac!
will be long, relentless and costly
Said he:
81 know it is claimed that this GU
of 20 per cent will do our present fac
tories no harm, but when the Dingle.
law was passed and you invited us t
engage in this business you did no
say that you would even agitate
change in the tariff, much less reduc
it by 20 per cent"
Mr.. Smith maintained that the suga
trust would be the beneficiary Of tn
reduction and not the Cuban planters
Diaa's Envoy to Coronation.
City Of Mexico, April 10.-Presiden
Diaz has selected William Landa y Es
candon, the mayor of this city, to reI
resent him at the coronation of Kin
Edward. Mayor Landa was educate
at Stonyhurst, England, and speak
English perfectly.