The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-02-19
INTER VIEWED.

ca on the positions taken by Senators
Proctor and Dillingham; in favoring
the recommendation of the President in
his recent message to Congress relat-
ing to reciprocity with Cuba.
Several of Montpeier's prominent
men i'll politics have been interview
ed on the subject by the Journal and
their opinions, in brief, follow:
Hon. II. a. Huse said he was not
familiar enough with the subject to
express an opinion but supposed the
position taken by the Senators was
along the lines of the recommends
tions made by the President in his
message to Congress. Mr. Huse said
Ill so far as he understood this propos-
ed reciprocity with. Cuba he agreed
with the course taken by Senators
Proctor and Dillingham;.
l.. Bart Cross said he was not en-
tirely clear on the entire scope of
this reciprocity proposition but believ-
ed firmly Senator Proctor would act
III the matter for the best good of the
country in any position he might take
on the question and that the people
of Vermont would, as whole, sus-
tain him. Mr.. Cross declined to dis
cuss or give any opinion as to Senator
Dillinghams course.
Ex-mayor j. H. Senter endorsed the
course taken by the Senators heartily
He said it was the only right thing to
do. That it was the duty of the
United States to give the ,Cubans
chance for their lives and believed
both Senator Proctor and Senator Dill
lingham were the men, who would
help to bring that result to pass
G. W. Wing said he was in favor
of any kind of reciprocity for the Gu
bans, the more they had of it the bet
ter. He believed the whole duty
should be taken from Cuban sugar ex-
ported to this country and that no at
tention should be paid to the holler
put up by the champions of beet sugar
as it was all fiub-dub. He asserted
that we consume tons upon tons of
sugar more than it is possible to be
produced i'll this country by the beet
growers. He said we have adopted
Cuba, driven the other fellow out, and
now we are in duty bound to give
her products chance to bring price
III our markets, which should not be
absorbed by revenue tax, and thus
help put her on her feet Mr.. Wing
said he should heartily endorse any
course Senators Proctor and Dilling-
ham took to bring reciprocity with
Cuba to pass.
T. j. Deavitt favors the stand Sen
ators Proctor and Dillingham; have
taken in support of the Presidents
recommendation in regard to reciproc-
ity with Cuba and says he is in favor
of going a step further along this line.
He would make all goods from Cuba
enter his country free from duty.
II. W. Kemp favors reciprocity with
Cuba. He cannot see how we can
avoid it. We want the goods Cuba
exports and it is for our interests to
encourage her to send them here rath-
er than to drive her to European
market by imposing high revenue tax
upon her exports. Furthermore. we
have goods we wish to sell in Cuba.
Mr. Kemp has confidence in the Yer
mont Senators and believes their
course i'll this matter will be the wise
one. He believed we could stand free
trade on those things we can make
cheaper than anyone else.
Hon. B. f. Fifield, when asked the
question, said he was not familiar
with the methods to be employed
toward Cuba, whether they would be
along the lines of simple reciprocity
or free trade. He said he believed
the United States was morally if not
legally, bound to do something to aid
Cuba. We have, as it were, taken
Cuba under our wing and so are in
duty bound to keep our promises and
aid her to stand alone. He would not
favor making her part of the United
States at present at least, for she is
not yet capable of self government.
He would, however, favor aiding her
by a protective treaty or reciprocity
so that she might gain strength. The
question as to how this could best
be accomplished is large one and
manifold i'll its phases, but Mr.. Fifield
believed both the Vermont Senators
would take the right stand in regard
to it,
Hon. J. A. DeBoer, while protesting
that the question was one of such
magnitude and affecting different Sec
lions of the country differently, said
he should endorse the positions taken
by the Vermont Senators in regard to
reciprocity with Cuba and believed
they would also have the endorsement
of the entire State. He said the Sen
ators were at the fountain head of the