The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-06
ON THE TARIFF.
President Roosevelt Defines the
Administrations Attitude
In Speech Before an Immense
Audience at Minneapolis.

Minneapolis. Mimi. April 6-The big
gest and most enthusiastic reception
ever rendered any man in the twin
cities was that to President Roosevelt
Saturday. From the time of his arrival
in st. Paul until his departure from
Minneapolis for the west at II 0 clock at
night, he was the recipient of a con-
tlnUal ovation, the streets through
which he passed in both cities being a
solid mass of people.
ArmOry hall, at the University of
Minnesota where he spoke in the even
ing WAS crowded to its limited capacity.
The speech which was on tariff and
reciprocity, brought out much enthusi-
asm, the president treating extensively
on the Cuban situation. declaring that
we must have military control of south
ern waters and saying that the United
States is the most prosperous nation
ever known. At the close of the speech,
many of the audience pushed forward
to sake the presidents hand, but this
was denied them.
The president spoke as follows:
My Fellow Citizens:
AT the special session of the senate
held in March the Cuban reciprocity
treaty was ratified When this treaty
goes into effect, it will confer substan-
tiaI economic benefits alike upon Cuba,
because of the widening of her market
in the United States. and upon the
United States. because of the equal
widening and the progressive control it
Will give to our people in the Cuban
market This treaty is beneficial to
both parties and justifies itself on sew
eraI grounds. In the first place we
offer to Cuba her natural market. We
can confer upon her a benefit which no
other nation can confer: and for the
very reason that we have started her as
an independent republic and that we
are rich, prosperous. and powerful it
behooyeS US to stretch out a helping
hand to our feebler younger sister. In
o rt7+
our products, both the products of the
farm and certain of our manufactures;
and it is therefore in the interests of our
/ farmers, manufa cturers, merchants, and
1 wage workers. Finally, the treaty was
not merely warranted but demanded
apart from all other consideration by
the enlightened consideration of ouT
/ foreign policy More and more in the
future we must occupy a preponderani
J position in the Wa tiers and along the
+ coasts in the region south of US; not
q position of control over the republics
4 OF the south but of control of the mill
/ tary situation so as to avoid any posi-
i BILE complications in the future. Under
the Plat amendment Cuba agreed tc
( give US certain naval stations on hel
/ coast The navy department decided
that we needed but two and we have
specified where these two are to be
/ President Palma has concluded ar
agreement giving them to us-an agree
ment which the Cuban legislative body
viii doubtless soon ratify In other
words. the republic of Cuba has as
sumed a special relation to our inter-
/ national political system. under which
she gives us outpOStS Of defense. and
we are morally bound to extend TO hel
in a degree the benefit of our owr
economic system. From every stand
4 point of wise and enlightened home ano
/ foreign policy the ratification of the
I Cuban treaty marked step of sub
stantial progress in the growth OF oui
nation toward greatness at home and
( abroad.
Equally important was the actor
on the tariff products of the Philip
pines We gave them a reduction Of 2;
per cent, and would have given them
reduction of 25 per cent more had j.
not been for the opposition in the hur-
RED closing days of the last session O
certain gentlemen, who. by the way
have been representing themselves boil
as peculiarly solicitous for the interest:
Il of the Philippine people and as specia
champions of the lowering Of tariff