The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-11-13
THE MESSAGE TO CUBA

Salt Lake Tribune, Nov. Il: The
president, in his message to Congress
explaining the call for the extra ses-
sion. confines the purpose to the n
point, that it may consider the legis-
lation necessary to put into operation
the commercial treaty with Cuba,
which was ratified by the senate at
its last session and subsequently by
the Cuban government"
The argument in favor of the enact
ment of this legislation adds nothing
new. 1t is merely a restatement of
the imposition of the Platt amend
ment upon Cuba, and the acceptance
of it by the Cuban government. This
amendment in effect puts Cuba IN
such close relations with us as in GER
t;ln respects TO come within orr sys-
TEN of international policy. and also
to a certain degree within tho lines
of our economic policy. We cannot
in wisdom allow the strategic sdvan-
of Cuba to be made available by
any foreign power, and Cuba has con-
scented to the transfer TO us of naval
stations necessary for the msinten-
ance of our strategic command of the
West Indian waters, and the negotia-
tions as TO the details of the transfer
of these naval stations are on tae V
OF completion. The importance Of
these stations TO us will Re largely In
CT eased with the building of the Is
tbmian canal. Cuba is Loyalty per
eiming her obligations to us, and is
entitled to like observance by US. We
gain the control of the Cuban mar
kets, which are growing in import
ance and are capable of large expan-
sion. 1t would be shortsighted for us
to refuse to take advantage of what il
offered. The treaty stands by itself;
offers a great opportunity, and will
harm non of our industries, while ex-
panding materially our foreign trade.
And it lis desirable as a guaranty OF
the good faith of our nation toward
our young sister republic, whose well
fare must ever be closely bound by
ours"
The plea made hat good faith re-
quires the ratification of this treaty
is precisely the plea urged by Presi-
dent Mckinley, and there is no doubt
much force in it. One would indulge
in hardihood indeed who should at
tack the motives or the calm judg-
ment of that illustrious statesman.
And yet congress, while conceding the
force of it, has been slow to grant the
easur deemed essential to the car
rying out Of that good faith. The de-
MIA Of the assertion now made by
President Roosevelt, that this treaty
will harm one of our industries, Z"
has aused this reluctance to act. 1t
has been held that this reciprocity
treaty threatens our b~eet-sugar indus
try and for some time the representa-
tives of that industry fought heroical-
ly against any reductions of the duty
on Cuban sugar. The Tribune has
from time to time pointed out the
reasons why this fight was made. 1t
was thought TO threaten a reduction
in the price of beets TO the farmers,
as well as to be a measure that would
prevent the addition of more sugar
factories throughout this region and
elsewhere in the United States. But
in reply it was urged that the very
benefits desired by Cuba would neces-
state a stable sugar market, and Mr..
Cutler, our chief local authority on
the production of beet sugar, declared
that the reduction of 20 per cent in
the sugar duty in Cuba's behalf. would
not in any way injuriously affect the
industry in this region. Add to this
the silencing of the beet sugar obJee-
tions generally, by the acquisition OF
a half interest in all the beet sugar
factories by interests affiliated with
the sugar trust, If not by the trust it
self. and there was nothing more TO
say. though the feeling fingered that
possibly the beet sugar raiser nigh
eventually rue the treaty. Still. the
influences suggested have quieted OPP
position to the treaty, save only from
Louisiana, whose representatives are
anxious on account of the cane sugar
industry of their state; but as they
are all democrats. of the free trade
variety, they cannot, consistently
with their professed theories, make
any effective fight against the treaty.