Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-01
WILL NOT OPPOSE
William Alden Smith on
Cuban Reciprocity.
CHANGED CONDITIONS
GOOD FAITH NOW REQUIRES LEG
ISLATIVE ACTION.
Roosevelt the Choice of Michigan
United States Senatorship Contest
Under Consideration.

Representative William Alden Smith OF
Michigan was in the city today. Mr.. Smith
was one of the leaders in the last Congress
of the House forces that opposed Cuban
reciprocity. In fact. he was chairman of
the insuTgent forces of the House, and he
worked with great diligence in promoting
the opposition to the proposition for letting
Cuban sugar into this country at rates Of
duty which he claimed would sound the
death of the beet sugar industry of his
state in particular, and Of the entire west
ern country in general.
In view of this fact it Is of special in-
terest that Representative Smith comes
here with no intention to urge any factional
fight against the legislation the President
desires for carrying into effect the Cuban
treaty approved by the Senate. He con-
siders that he made the good fight in the
last Congress and did all that could then
be done if order to prevent any reciprocal
relations of the kind embodied in the treaty,
and that now the question comes to Con-
gress in an entirely different light from
that it had formerly. The treaty having
been made and ratified 1t is for Congress
to provide for carrying it out, as 1t would
provide for carrying out any law once on
the statute books.
Will Make No Factional Opposition.
on the subject of reciprocity. He merely
proposes to avoid any factional opposition
to providing for the treaty after it had been
ra titled.
MY impression is" said Mr. Smith when
asked his views ON the work of the extra
session, that the Senate, having ratified
the treaty with Cuba the question of put
ting into effect the obligations of the treaty
by proper legislation is the thing that we
mean to address ourselves to, and that
ought not to be done in any factional
spirit. nor should such action be controlled
by selfish interests.
The question of our good faith appeals to
us very strongly now because, by the rati-
fcation of this treaty, we who opposed Gu
ban reciprocity are placed in the same po-
sition as the people were who did not want
to pass the appropriation TO pay Spain s20.-
TO,GOO But when the treaty SO providing
was ratified we who composed the legisIa-
tive branch of the government acted
promptly. Now, do not propose to indulge
in any factional opposition to the legisla-
and l expect to be consistent in my course
with what did In the last Congress"
The Michigan senatorship.
Representative Smith has not yet de-
clared himself to be a candidate for the
seat in the senate now occupied by Sena-
tor Burrows. Many of his friends expect
that he will take that action in the near
future. -
When asked today whether he expected to
soon make q formal announcement of his
candidacy he replied that he was looking
the field over and that he wished to act for
the best interest Of the republican party in
his state. He had not yet concluded to
make the formal announcement.
There is no sentiment in MichiganS Cor
any one for the presidency except NJ.
Roosevelt he said. lie is our candidate
for the nomination. There will be no di-
vision among Michigan republicans on that
question. Everybody in that state has been
pleased with his excellent administration