The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-04-09
THE TARIFF QUESTION
President Roosevelt Handles the
Subject in a Speech at
Minneapolis.
SWEEPING CHANGES DISASTROUS
Wholly Apart from That OF
Dealing with the Trusts.

DeaitnS With the 1rusts
Minneapolis. April 6-President
Roosevelts principal speech while in
this city was upon the tariff question
He said:
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
II 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
and the progressive control it will give
to our people in the Cuban market
This treaty is beneficial TO both parties
and justiies- Itself on several grounds
In the first pace we offer to Cuba her
natural market. We can confer upon
her 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, it behooves US to
stretch out 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
1t is therefore in the interests Of our
farmers. manufa cturers, merchants,
and wage-workers. Finally the treaty
was not merely warranted but de-
manded? apart from all other consider
atoms. by tie enlightened considera-
ton Of our foreign policy. More and
more in the future we must occupy
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
Under 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 coaciuded
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
a. in, he cf
own economic system. From every
standpoint of wise and enlightened
home and foreign policy the ratifica-
ton Of the Cuban treaty marked
step OF substantial progress in the
growth of our nation toward great
ress at home and abroad.
Equally important was the action on
the tariff upon products Of the Philip
pines. We gave them q reduction Of
twenty-five per cent, and would have
given them a 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
resenting themselves both as peculiar
~ SOiiCltOuS III tuc thtckCStS VI INC
Philippine people and as special
champions OF the lowering tariff du-
ties. There is q 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 the advance guardians
Of the oppressed nationalities in the is
lands affected and the ardent advo-
Gates of the reduction OF duties gen-
orally, but who instantly 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 Inn
portant or which Is an avowal deter
mination to protect the interests of
the American producer, business man.
Wage-worker. and farmer alike.
osssrsi Tariff Policy
The general tariff policy, to which
without regard to changes In detail.
believe this country is irrevocably
committed, IL fundamentally based
upon ample recognition Of the differ
ence between the cost Of production
That IL. the cost OF labor-here and
abroad. and Of the need to see to II
that our laws shall In no event
afford advantage In our own market
to foreign Industries over American
Industries. to foreign capital over
American capital. to foreign labor over
our own labor. This country has and
this country needs better-paid. better
educated. better-fed. and better-clotbed
workingmen. Of higher type. than are
to be found In any foreign country. 1t
has and Il needs q higher. more vigor-
Gus. and more prosperous type Of TILL
ers Of the soil than Is possessed by any
other country. The business men. the
merchants and manufacturers. and the
managers Of the transportation inter-
ests show the same superiority when
compared with men OF their type
abroad The events Of the last few
years have shown how skillfuIIy the
leaders Of American industry use In
international business competition
the mighty industrial weapons forged
FOR them by the resources Of our
country. tie wisdom OF our laws. and
ne skill the Inventive genius. and the
administrative capactky Of our people.