The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-02

= -A---N ~ -, ~ ~ ~ w sE#~s .AS
tions: Conditions have changed, and there must
be wide changes In the tariff laws. A law is
out OF date which permits American goods to
be sold abroad for less than thew are sold
right at home. If you send me to congress.
you will send a man who is not afraid to in
ertere with the existing tariff laws.
The hue and cry against '.tinkering with
the tariff" always comes from overprotected
industries. There must te changes IN the
tariff schedules, and they should be adjusted
SO as to equalize the difference in wages paid
to labor In a given industry In the United
States and the wages paid to the same class OF
labor in competing country.
Would Not Alter Price. -
.""seventh-It does not iniure or discourage
any domestic industry or prevent its further
development"
Neither does the bill as It came from the
committee. We produce one-third OF the
sugar We consume; Cuba produces an amount
equal to another one-third Of our consump-.
tion, so that If we took the entire crop of
Cuban sugar we would still have to go to
Europe for one-third Of our sugar. and the
price we would have to pay for this Euro
pean sugar would hx the price of both Cuban
| and domestic sugar. So that the only effect
! Of giving Cuba 20 per cent reduction on tariff
duties would be to give the Cuban sugar
producer 20 per cent the advantage of the
European sugar producer, and convert the
Cuban sugar business from losing into
paying business.
"Eighth-lt avoids an important agitation
OF questions affecting Industrial conditions
Of unparalleled prosperity
I, see no necessity for avoiding such agita-'
ton. Changes in tariff laws must Of neces-
sity come from time to time, and they should
be made by the friends of the protective
| system
"Ninth-It would secure reciprocal trade
concessions from Cuba and give time to as
certain the value of such trade relations be-
tween the two republics under existing con-
dtions.'
1t would not be reciprocity at all. nor
! would 1t give opportunity to test the work.
ings of true reciprocity with this distant re-
public
"Tenth-Its reciprocal feature furnishes q
| consideration which makes the proposed
measure of undoubted constitutionality.. 1t is
as competent for congress to purchase trade
concessions from foreign countries as to pur-
! chase naval or coaling stations
| That congress has power to pass measure
such as Judge Morris proposed has, I think
never been determined. and I am so opposed
to 1t a matter OF policy that it Is not
necessary to discuss its validity.
| "Eleventh-It is sustained by precedent
| since the establishment Of our government
|
| duties collected on the product Of Porto Rico
! and the Philippine islands"
| The duties collected on the products Of
Porto Rico and the Philippine islands were
| not collected under any sham reciprocity,
but partly under policy that was afterwards
| determined to be erroneous and wrong, and
partly through wrong Interpretation Of the
| government powers in the absence of legis-
! lation, and this money was refunded as a
| matter OF right, having been wrongfully col
| lected.
"Twelfth-It affords the means and oppor-
tunity for successfully inaugurating and per-
manently establishing the new government
of Cuba during the time which the expert
| ence of all nations has shown will be It's
most critical period"
Does 1t do this? Does it not impair Cuban
independence and dwarf Cuban manhood?
| Certain 1t Is not what the Cuban people
wanted--it is not what the American people,
through their representatives, promised.
':Thirteenth-It affords relief until the
| present adverse trade conditions affecting the
| price OF sugar shall have been improved by
the abolishment Of European sugar bounties. -
As I. have shown heretofore, 1t does not
necessarily follow that it would afford any
relief to the Cuban planters, and if 1t did II
would be through a gratuity made by the
| Cuban government. We have no knowledge
| whatever that the European sugar bountiee
| over European legislation
'Fourteenth-It discharges every obliga-
| ton assumed by under the provisions OF
the treaty OF Paris, the Platt amendment, and
| by our Intervention to secure the indepen-
| den"o OF Cuba"
I am one Of those who hope to see the
island Of Cuba one day part of our nation
but do not want her to come to ou
OF the stress of poverty caused by our fail
ure 10 meet our obligations to her. I wan
to see her come as Texas came, after she
has had a chance to show that she Is abl.
to conduct her own affairs.
Finally, Judge Morris gives three reason,
for the failure of the delegation to vote fol
the reciprocity bill:
"First-Under 1t the trust would derive tn,
benefit"
"second-1t would injure the beet suga.
industry"
''Third-It would violate party platform
pledges
He states these reasons in their order an,
makes them one dependent on the other.
The delegation is deprived by its act 1,
voting against the bill, after amending It
: to urge the first reason. Taking the differ
2 entail from refined sugar was body blow t.
! the trust The trust is sugar refining an
not a sugar-producing corporation. In legis
O lation Is 1t morally right to force the amend
= ment Of bill, and when you have secure
the. adoption OF that amendment refuse t
! support the bill?
The second reason given have shown t
be untenable, and 1t necessarily follows tha
| the third is untrue
Those who favor reciprocity with Cuba ar
not ashamed to say that they are influence
by sentiment for In this connection sent
ment and morals are synonymous, and thos
OF US who support President Roosevelt an
q favor reciprocity with Cuba take that posi-
" ton, because We believe that by this meanl
y, and this means only, can the United State
y discharge the high moral obligation it owe
= to tho Cuban people.
II Hays Qualifications ,Urned.
G. G. Laybourn called the meeting t
order, and said q good word for Mr.. Ha,