The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1903-10-02
Washington Letter.
From Our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D. e. Sept. 20. 1909,
There is no subject which thought
full politicians are considering more
these days than the out'ook
for Cuban reciprocity. That Con.
gress will be called in extraordinary
session on November 8, is now an
acknowledged fact as is also the
Presidents purpose in calling the
special session, namely the compile
tion OF the ratification Of the Cuban
treaty. AS this convention now
stands 1t has been ratified by the
Cuban Senate and by the Senate of
the United States, but by the latter
with provision that it shall not 80
into effect until "enabling legislation
shall have been passed by both houses
Of Congress. ,rhe friends Of the
treaty have outlined their plan of
campaign. They will cause to be
introduced IN both houses a joint
resolution approving its ratification.
What the fate of this resolution will
he Is still matter Of doubt. Pres,
Roosevelt has never swerved from his
original earnest advocacy Of the con-
ventlon and will doubtless. send to
Congress a message setting forth in
the strongest terms the ACCESSIBILITY
Of promptly passing the necessary
resolution. There are, however, just
as many enemies Of the treaty as
formerly. They are that influential
element Of the republican party who
regard any modification Of the exist
INK tariff schedules as; reputation
Of the policy of protection and Q
violation OF pledges made, or alleged
to have been made, to the manufac-
turers and producers who now benefit
from the Dingley rates. While few
Of these come out in the open, and
practically none OF them will bt
quoted as against the Cuban conven-
tion they freely admit among them
selves that they will use every endeav
or and believe they will be successful
In defeating the measure. One fact
which is bound to strengthen thu
hands Of the enemies Of the Presidents
opponents is that he and other advo'
Gates have been Obliged to 'swar
horses In the middle of the stream"
SO to speak. When Cuban reci'
procity was f1rst exploited 1t was m
the ground that it was a debt that
this country owed to Cuba. Subse
quent developments have demon
strated that Cuba can get along very
well without the United States and
now the strongest argument In favor
OF final ratification Ia that Cuba 1.
getting along too we'll without thu
United States, that its trade witt
| foreign nations which buy its suga
! Is rapidly increasing at the expense o
trade with this country and tha
European manufacturers and produc
ers are enjoying vast trade with thu
Pearl OF the Antilles, which, under ;
| reciprocal arranye:ue emf. WOuld he en-
| j)yed by the farmers and manufac-
lures uf the United States.
The Panama canal treaty is dead
1t expired by limitation on Septem
Der %, without any intimaton OF
the part of the Colombian govern
ment that 1t would be pleased to hav,
the United States extend the time O
renew the negotiations which lead t,
the Hay-Herran treaty. In tn
absence of any official statement, tn
most accurate diagnosis Of the failur
uf the treaty furnishes typica
sample Of South American politics
A presidential election is to TAX
place In Colombia in December an,
there are several candidates in tn
field. In the present state o
Political affairs in Colombia it wa
clearly appreciated that were tn