The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1903-03-18
Reciprocity Treaty With United
States Wins Easily.
VOTE WAS SIXTEEN TO FIVE
Three Senators in Favor of Measure
Were Absent-Votes Were Ex-
Enthusiastically Led the
Small Opposition. Il

A special from Havana says: The
senate Wednesday, by vote of 16 to
5, ratified the reciprocity treaty with
the United States.
The treaty was ratified by exactly
two-thirds of the vote of the senate.
Fifteen republican conservatives, or
administration senators and one ma
tionalist voted in favor of the treaty,
and five nationalists against it. There
were three absentees, all Of whom, it
is believed were in favor OF the treaty
The ratification required only una
jority vote, SO that there were three
votes to spare, Senior Zayas, the only
nationalist who voted for ratification,
explaining his vote said it was his de-
sire to amend the treaty with refer
ence to the exchange of similar COM
modities produced in both countries,
but he had no intention of opposing
the treaty itself. Senior Sanguilly, the
leader of the opposition, explained
that his opposition was designed chief.
ly to draw out whatever could be adj
vanced in support of the treaty and
that the arguments of Senator Busta-
mente, as put forward in the senate
Tuesday, convinced him that the
country would be more prosperous
with reciprocity than without it, but
nevertheless his attitude of opposition
and disapproval of the acts of the ex-
ecutive department of the government
forbade him voting yes
The vote was taken Immediately OH
the conclusion Of q forceful appeal by
Senior Bustamente. He insisted that
whether the trust or the producers
were the chief benefciaries of the 20
per cent reduction of customs duties
on Cuban sugar shipped to the Uni
ted States, it was not possible that
such differential treatment favoring
Cuban sugar in competition with that
of Europe could result other than IA
vorably to Cuba's trade.
Under the treaty, he said, the Euro
pean producer would be unable to
compete with Cuba If the European
nations were really trying to prevent
the ratification of the treaty in the
United States senate, it was not on &C
count of the little they would lose in
the Cuban markets, but because they
would no longer be able to send sugar
to the United States. The treaty
would also provide the protection that
Cuba needed ON tobacco. Viewed in
another aspect, continued Senior Bus
tamente, the treaty would give Cuba
national entity and allow her to enter
into commercial relations with the ma
ton which was hitherto considered
only her guardian.
Il vote" said the speaker, for the
treaty, with the conviction that we in
so doing are rendering patriotic duty
to Cuba, even if the treaty is not ap-
proved by the United States senate. ]
do not intend tc retire tonight with
my mind disQuietod b. thoughts of
weak and hungry Cuba selling her in
dependence for bag of money, but
rather with the knowledge that
through our assistance she has taken
progressive steps toward prosperity,
power ana thc protection of her indie
pendence and liberties"
Senator BUstamentc5 speech was
loudly apploUded. The custom of ap
proving TIE treaty by articles was dis
pensed with, and tic recommendations
of the COM &c were approved in
their entirely.