Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-19
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
MR.. W. F. SMITH SAYS TREATY Is
ADVANTAGEOUS TO o. s.
Surprised at the Opposition in the
South, Which Section Would
Be Most Benefited.

Walter Fletcher Smith, the only American
left In the employment Of the Cuban gov
eminent, Is at the Raleigh. Mr.. Smith Is
In the employ of the government as GUS
tom house official. and Is we'll informed on
the schedules Of the proposed reciprocity
treaty, which he considers advantageous
to the United States. There is one prop
osition to be considered from sentimental
standpoint" said Mr.. Smith to represen-
tattve of The Star. "Cubans do not know
how many articles in use in that country
We produce that are in every way superior
and cheaper than the products of the same
sort made In other countries. A friendly
exchange OF commodities under fair reci-
procity agreement would lead to the use
OF TWO or three million of dollars worth Of
American products not mentioned in the
scneuuleS or the proposed treaty. This use
would probably increase each year, the
government OF Cuba would prosper and use
more american goods Of all kinds and the
poiitical relations would become more cor
dial.
Surprised at Opposition in South.
Ihere is one thing 1 am surprised at,
that is the opposition in the south to the
treaty A careful study Of the schedule
will show that the south would be most
benefited by the treaty and lose nothing.
Cotton Is the principal agricultural product
OF the south, and it is at this time the
principal manufacturing product, unless 1t
Ds sugar; 1 have not the exact figures.
Inc cotton used in Cuba comes from Man
chester principally, and Barcelona next
Inc cotton of the south goes north and
east as unbieached goods. 1t Is blea ched
ana printed in New England and distrib-
uted from New York mainly. The conces-
s 81 IN the treaty would enable shipment
to Cuba direct in competition with Man
chester and Barcelona, supporting the bust
ness or bleaching and printing in five south
e erous states es, where cotton is principally
a demand for $4,000 600 of manufa Cured
cotton. This the south would get in full
unoer this treaty, together with all future
BUSINESS BUSINESS. an of which would go out of
southern ports. The schedule gives to
southern cotton products an ADVANTAGES
over manchester and Barcelona of from
lts TO ~ per cent, and 1 can prove to Won
tiial tne goods are equal In every respect
II IS hard to understand why there should
pe any opposition in the south.
Will Lose Nothing.
Low grade goods and medium knitted
goods are particularly benefited, and the
difference in prices in these goods between
THIS country and the foreign countries now
selling cotton to Cuba are all overcome nv
the concessions in this treaty SO that this
market in Cuba will be given entirely to
the United States. In my observation the
CUBAN administration has been impartial
and efficient ia classification. and no fear
need be entertained On that score. The south
Will get the Cuban market under the treaty.
1t Will lose nothing. There Is some obiec-
tlon among fruit growers of the south. but
II Is made under a mistaken idea The
south Is able to reach the northern markets
quicker ana IN most Instances cheaper. The
In frop cif
IN better condition But the most striking
TACT is that the south has no difficulty in
selling all the fruit raised to advantage
while Cuba ships no fruit except pineappies.
II Is not In competition with the south in
1rult and cannot compete with the fruit
growing countries of the tropics. This is a
striking fact, but it is true AS far as /
knoW-and | know. the whole isIand-there
Is no fruit shipped to the United States from
Cuba except pineapples. do not know OF
any other objection raised to the treaty by
the south am particularly interested in
the cotton proposition, for it means much
to the SOUTH" u