The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-06
INVITATION TO CUBA.
To Become a Territory of the
United States.

Washington, Feb. 6.-Representative
Newlands (Nev. )of the ways and means
committee, who was the author of the
resolution annexing Hawaii, has intro
duced a joint resolution inviting the re-
public of Cuba to become part of the
United States, first as a territory, and
then a state of the union to be called
the state of Cuba; also authorizing rs
per cent reduction of duty on the pres
ent crop of Cuban sugar, in considera-
ton Of Cuba'S granting preferential
rates to the United States. The reSolu-
lions confine the 20 per cent reduction
of duties to the period prior to January
1, 1903. The provision as to annexation
is as follows:
THAT in the meantime the republic of
Cuba is invited to become a part of the
United States of America and her peo-
pie to become citizens of the United
States, with the assurance that Cuba
will be entitled at first to territorial
form of government under the consdtu-
ton and laws with a delegate in con-
gress to represent her people and that
ultimate statehood will be granted
when, in the judgment OF the congress,
it is advisable to admit Cuba, including
such other West India islands belonging
to the United States may be deemed
advisable as a single state in the union,
to be called the state of Cuba
Mr. Newlands in explanation of his
resolution said:
'-All those who have appeared to voice
(tuDa'S nG0QS ana requirements nave III
Dictated that an invitation to Cuba of
annexation would be accepted
annexation by force would not be
justified. 1t must be accomplished if at
all by the free act of the Cuban people
At present there is no machinery in
Cuba by which the popular will can be
tested, but the Cuban constitution has
been adopted.
1.-The Cuban congress will meet in Feb
ruary, a Cuban government will be or
ganized and the United States will then
leave the government and control of the
island to the people. Cuba VIII then be
in position to express her will and it
is only necessary to tide over the pres
ent emergency by a temporary measure,
such as / have introduced reducing the
dutv on Cuban sugar One-fOurth for one
wear. and inviting Cuba to become a
part of the United States under a terri
torial form of government, under the
constitution, her people to be citizens,
not subjects with the assurance that
ultimately statehood will be granted.
by coming into our political union
Cuba will secure Immediately the high
est degree of freedom and with it a
large market for varied products. Those
products will not threaten our sugar in
dustry so seriously as they would un-
der reciprocal trade arrangements, for
fine reason that the redistricted labor
laws of this country will apply and will
raise the cost of production to such an
extent as to prevent over stimulation
of her industries, while her supplies
will be bought in the high protected
markets of this country, instead of the
cheap markets of the world. 1 much
prefer political union, for that involves
the best kind of commercial union that
can be esta blished between the two
countries Such annexation is entirely
in line with the traditional policy of the
country When the time for statehood
comes Cuba, Porto Rico and other
West India islands in our possession
can be incorporated into the union as
one state, thus doing away with the
danger of over representation in the
senate"