The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-03-25
CONFERENCEONCUBA
Opposers of Reciprocity at
the White House.
1 PLEASANT INTERVIEW REPORTED.
Object Of Meeting Was to Bring
About Harmony ON This Inip0r-
tRnt Questi0M-NO C0nclu.
aiOns Reached.

WlSHINGTON. March 25--A con
ference was held ut the White House
yesterday afternoon between the pres
/ ident and seven Of the Republican
members of the house Of represents
tlves who have been foremost in OppOs-
ing the plan Of Cuban reciprocity urg-
ed by the ways and meuns committee
and understood to have the support OF
the administration. The members who
called were Repres 4Atatives Tawney
and Morris Of Minnesota, Dick OF Ohio,
William \. Smith of Michigan. Minor
Of Wisconsin, Mctcalf Of California
and Dayton of West Virginia.
The call was Mt the request of the
president. who desired an exchange Of
views to the end that harmonious ac-
tion might De secured in such steps as
are taken In behalf Of Cuba.
The talk took Il wide range, covering
the conditions in Cuba. what should be
done to Eieet these conditions and also
the question of harmonizing conflict
ing interests SO thnt there might be
uliaDimity of action on the part of the
Republicans in congress. 1t was stated
afterward by those who participated
In the conference that it was of the
most agreeable and pleasant character
and that there was not the remotest
suggestion on the part of the chief ex-
ecutiye which could be construed as
seeking to urge them to yield their per-
sonal convictions. On the contrary, it
was stated, the president listened to
the recital Of difficulties which had
been encountered by those who oppos-
ed the reciprocity plan and also heard
from them the various plans by which
they had hoped to reach an agreement.
The callers were frank to concede
that they found the lyesident deslrous
of extending effective relief to Cuba
by the reciprocity plan. In this con-
nection, 1t was stated. the president
drew attention to the,fact that the Sib-
ley amendment limiting the reciprocity
period to Dec. I. 1903, gave the Payne
bill Il rather one sided aspect, as it
asked Cuba to adopt our naturalization
and immigration laws and give lis tar
iff concessions without limit of time
and in return gave to Cuba tariff con-
cessiOns limited to about a year and a
half. Some Of the congressman pres
ent were inclined to admit that we
were asking Il good deal from Cuba in
return for the little we would grant to
her.
The interchange of views became
quite general, there being nothing in
the way of definite propositions one way
or the other, but merely an agreeable
expression of opinion AS to whai was
best to he done under all the circum-
stances of the situation.
In the course Of this general talk the
suggestion was made that if the Payne
bill had been modified so as to take off
the diflerential Oh refined sugar some
of the grounds Of opposition might
have been removed. However there
was no request, so far as can be learn
cd, that the hill bc amended in this
particular at the present stage. The
plan Of rebate, which was urged ut one
time, also came in for discussion and
explanation.
At the conclusion of the conference
The general understanding was reached
that any statements made to the pub,
lie would be 10 the general effect thac
no conclusions We're reached and that
The conference was confined to a gen
nral interchange of views. 1t is under
stood that the president will see som,
Of the members of the ways and means
again. thus familiariZing
himself with both sides of the issue
which has recently arisen IN the house
He hopes that this general Interchange
with the leaders from both sides may
bring about llnanimity of action in
whatever is done in behalf of Cuba.