The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-03
Minnesota Congressman Claim They
Have Been Misrepresented in
Their Attitude on Cuba.
Mr.. Stevens, Speaking for the Dele
cation, Replies to the Senator
With Great Emphasis.

From, The Journal Bureau. Room. IS, Pos,
building. Wellington.
Washington, April 3-The Minnesota
delegation in the house is pretty well
stirred up by the interview with Senator
Washburn which has been published
IN The Journal and other twin
city papers regarding Cuba, and the
editorials in these papers based
on the interviews. Instead of weak
ening the delegations position, this
line of attack has greatly strengthened it,
and seems to be adding to the controversy
an element of unpleasantness which did
not heretofore exist.
The delegation feels that full justice is
not being done it, and that both Mr..
Washburn and the press appear unable to
give Its position that consideration which
it claims it demands. The latter part of
this month Representative Fletcher will
be home for the purpose of addressing a
republican meeting in the fourth ward.
He is very anxious, as are other mem
bers Of the delegation, to have Represen-
tative Stevens accompany him. Should
Mr.. Stevens go, it is very likely he will
make an address, also, and say few
things about the delegations Cuban atti-
tude and how he thinks it has been mis-
understood and misinterpreted at home
stevens Speaks for All.
Speaking for the delegation to-day. Mr..
Stevens had this TO say regarding the
~ I q . - . il
Washburn interview:
have read what .pdrported to be an inter-
view with Senator Washburn, and was in
dignant at some of the statements contained
in 1t. Senator Washburn lis quoted as saying
That the Minnesota delegation was opposed
to any tariff modification. While not only
is this not the fact, I told Senator Washburn
myself that one of the main reasons which
lmpelled some Of US to oppose the 20 per
cent reduction plan was that we believed its
defeat would inevitably lead to some early
modification of the tariff, to the greater ex-
tension OF our trade, and be Of greater and
more lasting benefit to- Cuba
Senator Washburn favored, in his CONVEX
sation with me, free sugar, and in his inter-
view, reduction of 50 per cent. This reduc-
ton he and everybody else knows would an
initiate the American sugar industry the
only article specially commended for protec-
ton by the republican national platform and
the only article now produced by the Ameri-
can farmer which especially requires protec-
ton. His interview stated that the proposed
trade concessions would benefit the producers
OF grains and hog products of the northwest.
He evidently does not realize or know. that
practically all of such products consumed by
Cuba now are shipped from the United States,
and that nearly as much is now sold as was
ever used by Cuba at the highest tide of it's
prosperity during the time Of the Mckinley
reciprocity treaties Of 1898 and 1894.
Concerning High Interest.
His interview complains that Cuban planters
and merchants are paying as high as 10 and
Il per cent for money to carry their sugar
until the passage Of the proposed concession.
Our memories do not have to go back very
far to recall times when the country mer-
chants Of Minnesota and the Dakotas, with
other farmers of the northwest, paid at least
rs high interest to carry themselves from one
crop to another, pay for their lands and ma
chinery and stock their stores and farms.
The farmers and small merchants Of Cuba
must do just as people in similar conditions
have done in the United States They must
diversity their products, not rely on one crop;
improve their means Of communication also,
SO that their products can reach the markets
OF the United States cheaper and In better
condition than has heretofore been done. The
proposed bill, instead Of encouraging this
improvement, discourages 1t by continuing the
one-crop sugar cultivation of the island
The Washburn interview insists that unless
we give radical concessions Cuba may seek
other markets for her products and purchases,
to our disadvantage. II Senator Washburn
would have examined the statistics for the
past ten years he would have found that from
80 to 95 per cent Of all sugar exported from
Cuba comes to the United States. This must
continue In future, because every nation OF
continental Europe and nearly every nation
of South and Central America export sugar
and certainly would not be foolish enough to
allow importati0ns of tropical sugar to crush
their own home industries. The United States
seems the only country which proposes this
treatment. The only nations using sugar in
greater amounts than they produce are Great
Britain, her colony, Canada, and Norway and
the United States. The continental sugars
flood the European markets, but are kept out
of the United States by the countervailing
duty which we now levy against them for
protection to Cuban sugar. There seems to
be no gratitude for this coun tervailing duty
under the Dingley bill. which has saved and
encouraged sugar production in Cuba for the
last four years. Without this discrimination
by our government the sugar industry in
Cuba would have been PROSTATE and it is this
very discrimination in favor of Cuba which
has angered Russia and Germany to retalitory
measures to shut out some of our trade
Personally Observed in Cuba.
One year ago spent fully month in
Cuba and went from Santiago on the east to
Havana on the west, from Cienfuegos on, the
south to Matanzas on the north. met all
GLASSES OF its people planters, merchants,
professional men and politicians About the
Mine ire Bre;