The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-09-11
CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
Southern Democratic Dlsapproval of
Forcing Action on the Proposed
Treaty.

Forcing Action on the Proposed
Treaty.
One of the leading characteristics of
President Roosevelt is his stubbornness
in carrying out any plan he has conceiv-
ed, no matter what argument has been
advanced against it. In no single matter
has this trait been more apparent than
in the CuSan reciprocity fight All in
terests except the sugar trust have long
since abandoned the Cuban reciprocity
treaty, considering it illtimed and un-
wise, but President Roosevelt is still as
determined as ever to wiring from Con-
gress the legislation necessary to make
the treaty effective.
The extra session of Congress to be
called this fall has for its first object
the enactment of such legislation as will
enable the Administration to carry into
effect the treaty with Cuba. A mere
treaty cannot authorize the remission of
duties imposen upon imports by the Tar
if laws. Only Congress can adopt rev.
enue laws, and such measures must or
iginate in the House of Representatives
Congress will therefore be asked to
make such amendments in the Tariff
laws as will make the reductions in du-
ties on Cuban products provided for in
the treaty effective.
There is certain to be a strong fight
made against the passage of the amend
ments to the Tariff law which the Ad-
ministration will propose. Many of the
Republican leaders are opposed to
changes in the Tariff or to taking up
Tariff legislation so close to Presiden-
tial campaign. They fear, and with
good reason, that were amendments to
the Tariff law proposed, the matter
would not end merely with the adoption
of the amendments needed to make the
Cuban treaty effective, but that many
and radical amendments would be pro-
posed, discussion of which would be de-
cidedly embarrassing to the party in
power on the eve of an appeal to the
people.
AS far as arguments to be advanced
go, not one of the arguments used orig
inally to secure the ratification of the
treaty can be advanced with effect.
The developments of the past two
years indicate plainly that Cuba has no
need of any assistance, which pre-
ferential treatment of her products
would give. The land has increased its
sugar production to figures but rarely
reached in the best days before the
Cuban revolution. The other argument
so frequently used year or more ago
that we were in duty bound to help
Cuba. no longer has the least force, if it
ever had any. Cuba owes us debt of
gratitude for our assistance in throwing
off the Spanish yoke, but we owe her
nothing.
To alter our Tariff laws to give Cuban
products preference over the products of
other counties would be to make the
sugar trust present of many millions
of dollars each year, and at the same
time seriously threaten the future of
our own domestic sugar industry. Such
a course would not only be unwise, but
it would be actually criminal, as Con-
gress has no right to seriously injure a
domestic industry for the purpose of
benefiting foreign country that has
not a single feeling of friendship for us,
and will not buy our goods where Span
ish or other European goods can be Sc
cured at as cheap price.
Of course, the domestic sugar interests
will continue to make a vigorous fight
against reciprocity with Cuba, even
were the case hopeless, which is by no
means the case. The fight has heretofore
been successfully waged, and a contin-
uance of such efforts may yet win a
final victory. Orleans Picayyune
(Dem.)