Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-06
Subject of President
RooseVeIt's Minneap-
: oils Speech.
NEED OF CHANGES
Is Admitted, But Does
Not Want Too
Much.

Minneapolis. April 6.-Presidenr
Roosevelt's principal speech while in
this city was upon the tariff question.
He said: q,
My Fellow CitiZens:-At the special
session of the senate held in March
the Cuban reciprocity treaty was rati--
fed. When this treaty goes into effect,
it will confer substantial 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
end the progressive control it will give
to our people in the Cuban market.
This treaty is beneficial to both parties
and justifies itself on several 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. prosper
Gus, and powerful, il behOoves us to
stretch out Il helping hand to our
feebler younger sister In the next
place it widens the market for our pro-
ducts, both the products of the farm
and certain of our manufactures; and
it is therefore in the interests of our
farmers. manufacturers. merchants,
and wageworkers. Finally. the treaty
was not merely warranted but de-
manded? apart from all other consider
ations. by the enlightened considera-
ton of our foreign policy. More and
more in the future we must occupy a
prepOnderant position in the waters
and along the coasts in the region
south of US: not a position OF control
over the republics of the south but
of control of the military situation so
as to avoid any possible complications
in the future.
Naval Stations In Cuba.
UnGer the Platt amendment Cuba
agreed to give US certain naval stations
on her coast. The navy department
decided that we needed but two and
we have specified where these two are
to be. President Palma has concluded
an agreement giving them TO us-an
agreement with the Cuban legislative
body will doubtless soon ratify. In
other words. the Republic of Cuba
has assumed a special relation TO our
international political system. under
which she gives US outpOsts of defense,
and we are morally bound to extend
to her in a degree the benefit OF our
own economic system. From every
standpoint of wise and enlightened
home and foreign policy the ratifica-
ton of the Cuban treaty marked a
step of substantial progress in the
growth of our nation toward great
ness at home and abroad.
Equally important was the action on
the tariff upon products Of the Philip
pines. We gave them a reduction Of
twenty-five per cent. and would have
given them reduction Of twenty-five
per cent more had it not been for the
opposition, in the hurried closing days
of the last session. of certain gentle
men who by the way, have been rep
fesenting themselves both as peculiar
Iy solicitOus for the interests Of the
Philippine people and as special
champions of the lowering tariff du-
ties. There is a distinctly humorous
side to the fact that the reduction OF
duties which would benefit Cuba and
the Philippines as well as ourselves
was antagOnized chiefly by those who
in theory have been fond of proclaim
ing themselves lue auNduCe SudIuidhS
OF the oppressed nationalities in the is
lands affected and the ardent advO-
Gates of the rejection of duties gen-
orally, but who NStantly took violent
ground against the practical steps TO
accomplish either purpose.
The present phenomenal prosperity
has been won under tariff which was
made in accordance with certain fixed
and definite principles, the most i'm
portant OF which is an Gvowal deter
mination to protect the interests OF
the American producer, business man,
wage-worker. and farmer alike.
General Tariff Policy.
The general tariff policy. to which
without regard to changes In detail,
I believe this country is irreyocably
committed, is fundamentally based
upon ample recognition OF the differ
ence between the cost OF production
that is. the cost OF labor-here and
abroad, and OF the need to see to it
that our laws shall in no event
afford advantage in our own market
to foreign industries over American
industries. to foreign capital over
Continued on Page Two.