The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-08

was producing something that we did
not or could not produce and we were
producing something that that country
did not or could not produce, 1t was
thought wise to enter into reciprocal
trade arrangement with that govern
ment, admitting such products into our
country, free of duty, and obtaining Tor
such of our products a foreign market
on the same terms. The national Re-
publican convention of 1900, after max
ing its proclamation in favor OF pro-
lection, states We favor the policy of
reciprocity so directed as to put our
markets on favorable terms for what
we do not ourselves produce, in return
for free foreign markets. Until we mad
Cuban reciprocity the foregoing was
the only kind of reciprocity that was
ever advocated anywhere by any Re
publican convention. and it is only fair
to say that it is claimed bv Senator
Platt and his associates on the commit
tee, that their kind of reciprocity does
not violate this principle or change It.
Therefore, the disagreement arises, not
as to whether we should have Cuban re-
ciprocity, but what. kind of reciprocity
should it be- Should it be reciprocity
that would injure American industries
and American labor, a reciprocity that
was not reciprocity at all and for the
benefit of the sugar trust. or a reduc-
tion of the tariff on Cuban products SO
surrounded by safeguards as to pro-
tect American industries and American
labor.
Nevertheless the proposed committee
bill affected something like 20 different
articles. The principal one affected was
that of sugar, indeed this whole battle
has been around sugar. 1t is fair to
say that Senator Platt and his asso-
ciates contended that their bill would
not in any way injure any American
industry and that beet sugar could
stand a reduction of 20 per cent without
any injury to it at all, and it could not
only stand this reduction, but it could
oJC oil 1I,o 10, boo hor v,roc q
Dor laws. On our part it was thought
that Cuba should first. as a considera-
ton for any reduction, enact our labor
laws to the end that the island should
not be filled with negroes from Jamaica
and Chinese from China and other
cheap labor, but it is well to note just
here, the action of the Republican par
! ty, when speaking from authority upon
| this subject. In 1886, the national Re
! publican convention adopted the fol-
! lowing: We condemn the present ad-
| ministration for not keeping faith with
| the sugar producers of this country.
| The Republican party favors such pro-
| lection as will lead to the production Of
| American sugar and all the sugar
| which Americans have use of for which
| they are now paying more than $780,
0OO00O,' and following the election in
| 1896 they passed the Dingley bill.
| when the same measure was pend
| ing, Mr.. Payne, the present chairman of
the ways and means committee of the
mouse, uSeQ the following language
we propose to raise beet sugar and
cane sugar enough in this coutry to
supply all our 75.000,000 people, who
must have the best in the world, and in
! that way we will take about $4,000. 900
in the course of few years and when
the same bill was up for consideration
he said, What should be done with the
sugar trust? Well, will tell you what,
| in my opinion is the best way to deal
with it, Establish beet sugar factories
in every congressional district in the
! United States, pass this bill and re-
duce the price of sugar so that German
raw sugar can not be brought in to be
refined here. Gentlemen on the other
side come over and help US while we
help the farmers out. You grangers
over there come and help u.s. You Pop
ulists that go up and down the street
| day after day claiming to want to ad-
vance the interest of the farmers, help
us out now when we are trying to help
the farmers in this industry. Why
should we not produce all of our sugar
in this country? Why it costs US, Mr..
Speaker, about s10O,000,O00. We are
looking around for property subject to
taxes. We know that sugar would pro-
duce an enormous revenue, and besides
all that we know good adequate pro-
tective tariff would build up an in
dustry in this and as it was gradually
| built up would build up a revenue from
| that source.
Il call your attention also to what
Mr. Steel of Indiana, at that time q
member of the ways and means com
mittee, said upon this subject when the
Dingley bill was under cOnSidera ton
With reference to sugar I predict tha'
after the tariff affected by this bill is
unchanged for period OF io years. VIZ
, will be all that time producing not only
| enough for our own consumption, bu
as much as we care to export, and a
very little additional costs to the con
sumner.
II might fill pages with such report.
i from such eminent authorities So i
| will be seen that the tariff of 1897 wa!
made to protect beet sugar and ALLOW
| it to develop that we might prOduc'
. enough sugar for our own consumption
In the campaign of 1900, the Republican
, national committee used the following
No subject interests the farmers of th
United States more than that fact O
, their being able to raise the 800, 900, ,O0
!, | worth of sugar which our people con
sumo annually, and some facts whicl
; have recently been presented. shown,
the rapid growth in the percentag
| which beets are now supplying tn
!. | worlds sugar, show that they are jus
titled in their ambition, the farmers o
!, this country have been encouraged b.
the Republican party in their ambition
! to produce the sugar of this country
"* / want to call attention t
;. the history of this attempted legisia
ton in congress. But before I do tina
l want to make the statement tha
even after the evidence had been take
$ and the hearing fully completed befor
y the ways anu IiledHS SOiiiiiiitlcc VI III
house, it's chairman, Mr.. Payne, MI
= Hopkins, Mr.. Dalzel1, and substantial
e all the Republican members, were OF
: posed to the bill that they afterward
t reported. Mr.. Payne, specially, aske
t a high official in the agricultural de
e partment to come before the committe
= and make an argument or give test
Y mony in favor of any reduction of tn
: tariff on sugar. He told this official
e making his argument to make it strong
h AS late as March II the speaker of tn
house in letter published in the Nc
: line Mail, stated the situation.
n Now, 1 do not charge that these di:
8 tinguished men acted corruptly in any
: way in changing their positions. Tee
q | were doubtless led to believe that be-
. sugar could stand 20 per cent reductio
and that no danger would come to tt
| American farmer by reason of such n