The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-10-23
The Cuban Reciprocity Treaty.

In your issue of October 10th upon the
editorial page, under the caption "a
Change of Front" you misrepresent my
attitude regarding Cuban reciprocity.
Permit me to say that my position re-
garding Cuban reciprocity has not
changed; indeed am firm in my con-
yiction that it will not be helpful to
Cuba but will be positively harmful to
the people of the United States. Our
opposition last winter to this treaty was
based upon the fact that Cuba would be
more prosperous with her productions
diversified than when ''she carried all
her eggs in one basket, and was merely
a raw-sugar producer, and that the fail
ure honestly to protect the growing
beet sugar industry of our country was
an unjustifable wrong, to which could
not be party. The recent action of
the Brussels Sugar Conference, having
for its purpose the abolition of bounties
and kartels, will open the worlds sugar
market to Cuba far more advantageous
ly than any little concession we could
make. Therefore there is less reason
now for this treaty than there was a
year ago. / intend to oppose in every
honorable way this legislation and shall
vote against reduction Of duties on
Cuban products, notwithstanding the
action of the senate in ratifying the
treaty last spring. The President fully
understands my position and has never
in any way sought to influence me
against my honest judgment. / ask you
in fairness to your readtrs and in JUS
tice to me to print this refutation of
your editorial reference, evidently based
upon false or partial statement of fact.
VIM. ALDEN SMITH.
The above letter from Mr.. Smith
seems to settle the question as to where
he will stand when this Cuban treaty
comes up for action at the special SEES
sion of congress to be held in Novem-
Der. Of course we accept Mr.. Smiths
statement without question, and habit
come earlier would have prevented any
criticism of his supposed position. For
the past three months it has been mat
ter of comment in the political press
that the Michigan delegation was not
united in its views regarding this treaty,
and Mr. Smith was always referred to
as the one member who had decided not
to oppose its adoption. Not long ago
there was meeting of the delegation
held to discuss matters which would
likely come up for action in congress,
and after that meeting was held the
political press generally said no attempt
was made to have the delegation act as
a unit in opposing the Cuban treaty,
and alleging that the reason was that
there was decided difference of opin-
ion between the members of the delega-
ton on that subject. Mr.. Smith was
again referred to as the member who
was "wavering," as one journal ex-
pressed it, Then the journals favora-
BILE to the Cuban treaty predicted that
all opposition to it would probably die
out before congress convened, and it
would be adopted nearly unanimously.
These journals pointed out that the
Michigan delegation, which had been
unit in opposing the treaty at the last
session of congress, had become divided
upon the question, and that this fact
would tend to dishearten and weaken
the oppositson. Again Mr.. Smiths
name was given as one who had changed
his views, and would side with the
President in doing justice to Cuba"
Realizing the influence that such state
ments had upon the public. and the in
jury that would surely come to an inn
portant. Michigan industry if that Cuban
treaty was adopted, we proposed to find
out just how much truth there was in
these assertions. Had Mr.. Smith made
as explicit q statement in reply to the
various articles which had appeared in
the public press, some of which he must
have seen, there would have been no
reason for criticising his supposed posi-
ton. In fact in one published inter-
view he was reported to have stated
while he should vote against the treaty
his opposition would not be 'factious."
The expression was so half-hearted that |
we concluded his opposition would not
be ''factious" but, fictitious make
believe. We are therefore pleased that |
Mr.. Smith has put an end to all doubts |
felt by some of his colleagues
as well as by ourselves-by frank
declaration of his intentions. AS con-
gresham from this state we don't see
where else he could consistently stand
when its interests were attacked.
He was elected to look after the inter
ests of his district and state, not those
of Cuba or Central Africa, and to neg
lect them, or sacrifice them for the sup
posed benefit Of a foreign nation would
argue lack of comprehension of the
duty he owes his constituents and state
We are pleased that he has placed him
self squarely on record as preferring the
Of his own state to those of a
foreign people.
Diamonds in Alaska.