The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-01-17

TO THE GROW EMS, LEAF DEAI4EIIO <AAND
MANUFACTURERS OF LEAF TOBACCO.
Through the suggestion of Governor
General Wood and the appeals of COM
mercial delegations of Cubans, asking
for reduction of duties upon tobacco
imported from that island, there has de-
veloped a disposition in Congress to dis
turb the existing tariff regulations that
are satisfactory to all branches OF the
tobacco trade. This fact is viewed with
alarm by Mr.. John r. Young, president
of the National Tobacco Leaf Dealers
Association, who urges that immediate
action by all interested in preserving
the present trade conditions. The basis
of the prosperity of the tobacco industry
is the cigar manufacturers, and If any
reduction whatever is made in the duties
of the manufactured product his busl-
ness will be seriously affected and hence
through him the growers and dealers
will have their business curtalled. Ihe
growers and dealers of other states are
holding meetings and putting themselves
on record with strong resolutions against
any reductions in the tobacco schedule
Of the tariff. At recent meeting OF the
GAINESVILLE Leaf Dealers Association this
question was considered and held Of such
vital interest to the tobacco growing IN
dustry of Wisconsin, that Pres. l.. b.
Carle was instructed to issue call for
mass meeting of all Growers, Dealers
and Manufacturers of the state, to be
held in the Senate chamber at the capl-
tol in Madison, on Friday, January 24th,
1902, at l 80 o'clock p. m., to take such
action as the representatives there as
sembled desire to express by resolution,
or in conjunction with other similar or
ganizations, in presenting the wishes OF
the domestic tobacco growers before
congress. All growers. dealers In leaf
tobacco and manufacturers of cigars IN
the state are cordially invited to be pres
ent at this meeting and act for the best
interests Of this important industry.
*x*
The above is the text of a call for
convention to meet the condition that
confronts the tobacco industry of the
country. Until very recently it was be-
lieved the present congress would not at
tempt any tariff revision, but the sugar
and tobacco interests have commenced
such vigorous campaign, and appeal
ing to the sympathies of the country for
the poor, oppressed Cubans, that there
seems to be at present disposition to
listen to their demands. Aside from the
sympathy argument there is no good
reason for disturbing the present tariff
schedules Every branch of the tobacco
trade is practically united in the opinion
that no tariff changes are desired. 1t is
so rare that growers, dealers and manu-
facturers are in line on policy that this
fact of itself is strong reason for not
disturbing the existing conditions. Ev-
ery department of the tobacco trade in
the country is prosperous. Tariff tink-
ering is menace Ito business. These
facts have been demonstrated time and
again. How great sympathy for the op-
pressed Cubans should prompt people to
throw disturbant element into trade
conditions at this time it is difficult to
understand. Back of the agitators,
prompting the sympathy plea, stand the
large sugar and tobacco syndicates who
hope to profit by the scheme they are
now working the country to bring about
pressure upon congress. There are more
tobacco growers in Wisconsin today than
on the entire island of Cuba, and we are
only one of the cigar leaf producing
states, so it is safe to say the tobacco
growers of the q. S. outnumber the Gu
bans five to one. Why jeopardize the
interests of our own people out of pure
sympathy for the unfortunate foreigners
or rather the wealthy sugar and tobacco
syndicates who are the real benefciaries
in the scheme?
*
The statistics of the foreign trade of
Cuba for the past year have just been
published. They show that she exported
about S63, 100000 worth of products and
imported about s65,0OO,0OO. They show
also that she sold to the United States
more than $45,O00,OO0 of products and
bought from us only $28,OOO,OOG. In
other words, when the annual balance
between the two countries was struck,
we paid her SIT, 100000 in cash. We are
told she buys from other countries more
than she sells to them, and that we are
the only people who sell less to her than
we buy from her. They tell us this
should not be so, and that we should
therefore deal more liberally with her
and allow her sugar and tobacco to come
into our country at lower rates of duty
Suppose we did that, what reason is
there to think she would then cease buy
ing from European countries and buy
everything from us? Why does she not
do so now. What is to prevent her in
crnaSinO her trade with nc IF she uill2