West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-11-05
CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
There Will Be a Lively Fight
In Congress on This Subject.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DIVIDED

President Declares Reciprocity win
nc Adopted Gas sure n. Fate.
other Republicans say IL Nrust He
acknowledgements VIII Oppose
Protection so Sugar Trust.
President Roosevelt has determined
to call congress I'm extraordinary SEES.
sion Nov. o for tho cxpress purpose OF
ratifying tho Cuban reciprocity treaty.
When the last congress adjourned
without ratifying this treaty, although
tho president had used all tho great
power OF his oftice TO force II through,
he In ono OF his speeches declared thnt
the treaty would bc ratified las sure
as fate" Tho fatcd day will soon DO
here. and tho forces or tho rival fac
tons OF the Republican party arc buc-
king on their armor for the fight. Tho
groundwork OF the squabblo Is sugar
ana the sugar trust Whatever rcduc-
ton tho treaty finally contains on tho
tariu ON raw sugar IL an increased
proit To the sugar trust except any
slight advance tho Cuban sugar grow
or may obtain over the price now paid
by tho trust. The trust wants TO have
Cuban sugar ON the free list but "a
willing 10 take any discount TINT n
can get congress TO nllow. Tho present
duty on raw sugar amounts to $50 per
ton' and as tho Cuban crop IL about
100000 tons free Cuban sugar would
give the trust the enormous bonus of
$S2.aOO.000 annually. II tho Cuban
treaty should only allow bonus OF %
per cent from the present duty ON raw
sugar the saving TO tho sugar trust
would approximate or perhaps exceed
$S,000.000.
IT In rather startling 10 have Presl-
dent Roosevelt 30 anxious TO see this
bonus given to the sugar trust and yet
pose as tho great trust fighter. but Il
must DO remembered that no trust has
been prevented from its extortion by
the Republican plan OF fighting them
anu that words are good only when
backed by deeds"
The fraction OF tho Republicans that
is lighting Cuban reciprocity IL tho
ultra protcctionists. who declare that
no iotter or word OF tho sacred tariff
must DO changed, and they arc backed
by the money OF tho trusts and tho
protected monopolies Tho Protective
Tariff league. tho organization of the
manufacturers who arc benefited by
tho tariff, Is the center around which
oil monopolists gather and IL supported
by the money OF the monopollsts. Its
organ, the American Economist, IL
lighting Cuban reciprocity tooth and
nail on the ground that tho Republican
party is pledged to protect tho domestic
sugar growing interests. In its Issue
OF Sept III 1t appeals to tho Republic
ans 20 stand firm for those interests
and says:
There are some things which even
congress cannot do. and one OF these
things is TO enact n revenue measure
which originates with tho executive,
is ratified by the senate and finally
approved by the house of representa-
lives. Article O OF tho constitution pre-
scribes procedure precisely the re-
verse or this. 1t requires that oil laws
relating TO the revenues shnll originate
In the house, BIO concurred I'm by the
eenato and approved by tho president.
From the foundation OF the republic
up to the present day this procedure
has been followed No revenue meas
ure has over been enacted into law that
did not originate In the house Of rep
resentaivcs."
Thus this faction OF the Republican
party takes issue with President Roose-
welt and his faction by declaring that
a reciprocity treaty which reduces the
tariff is unconstitutional because "all
laws relating 10 the revenues must
originate I'm the house OF representa-
uves." AS this reciprocity treaty with
Cuba Will be she most important POI
litical Issue that VIII come before con-
gress the position OF the Democrats.
who hold the balance OF power between
the Republican factions, Is significant
At the close OF the last congress, after
Cuban reciprocity had been defeated,
the Democratic members held caucus
and declared:
Resolved. First. that we condemn the
Republican majority in congress for fail
uro 20 pass n measure providing reci-
procity with Cuba.
The bill which passed the house OF
representatives. was heartily supported
by the Democratic minority after tho
protection TO the sugar trust had been
removed by the solid Democratic vote,
aided by small minority OF tho Re
publican members. Az IL passed the
house the bill carried relief TO Cuba,
reduced the price OF sugar TO Ameri-
can consumers and struck heavy
blow at the notorious and obnoxious
sugar trust. The refusal Of the Repub-
lcan senators to consider this meas
ure unless the protection TO the sugar
trust should be restored gives evidence
that the president and the Republican
party I'm congress arc willing to refuse
relief 10 Cuba and totally ignore Amer
lean consumers rather than abandon
their alliance with the trusts.
From these declarations Il will be
seen that the Democrats favor Cuban
reciprocity, but demand that at the
same time the protection to the sugar
trust OF 1 cent and upward n pound on
refined sugar, known as the differen-
tial duty, should be abolished. That
proposition was passed by the house
or representatives, the vote being:
Yeas, 100; nays. 105; 81 Republicans
voting with the Democrats. See Con
gressional Record, April is. 1902, page
1910.
Tho minority faction OF the Republic.
an party thus voted with the Demo
Gratis, making the majority for the alb.
clifton OF the protection 10 the sugar
trust
The bin then passed the house as
amended-yeas, 247I nays 52-but tho
senate refused TO adopt Il.
Tho whole fight viii DO repeated
when congress meets, and 70 will be In
teresting 10 watch tho votes OF the Re.