Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1904-05-05
DEMOCRATS SLOW TO TAKE UP RE-
PUBLICAN CHALLENGE.


PUBLICAN CHALLENGE.
Party Unity shown In the Speeches
Of ConRressmen Dalzell and Vol
stead Relative to Reciprocity With
Canada and Other Countries.
There is silence in Democratic quar-
ters on the reciprocity" question since
the admirable speeches by Represent
atives Dalzell and Volstead says a
Washington correspondent Of Ameri-
can Economist These speeches struck
the keynote Of the reciprocity policy
of the Republican party. Against
these utterances by Republican lead
ers, who represent manufacturing and
agricultural districts respectively, the
assaults of the reciprocity" Demo
Gratis make no headway. 1t should not
be forgotten in this connection that
the Democratic party is never favor
able to any policy of reciprocity that
does not open the markets Of the
United States to competing foreign
yanced In the past by the Republican
party for reciprocal trade relations be-
tween this country and foreign coun-
tries met with the undivided OppOst-
tion of the Democratic party. 1t was
only when the misapplied Cuban poll
cy Of misbegOtten reciprocity In
competing products was brought for
ward that the Democratic party awoke
to realizing sense of how good and
beautiful a policy is which admits free
Of duty or ut reduced duties compel
ing commodities from foreign coun-
tries. The fact is that all the ''reci-
procity" that has been heard from In
this session Of congress on the Dem
Ocratic side of the house has come
from Mr.. Williams, the Democratic
leader who expressed desire to open
up the way for reciprocity with Caa-
ada, and the reciprocity" scheme ad-
vanced by Mr.. Lind. Democrat from
Minneapolis, who appears to be work
Ing In the interests OF the Minneapolis
millers and the cities Of the border
states. The speech made by Mr.. Vol
stead, the Minnesota Republican. who
represents an agricultural district, was
complete and convincing answer TO
the Lind scheme Of reciprocity. And
the speech of Mr. Dalzell was com
plete and convincing answer TO any
general scheme of reciprocity accord
ing to the ideas advanced by the Dem
ocratic leader, Mr.. Williams. 1t is not
surprising, In view Of these speeches
by Republicans IN the house. that there
has been silence In Democratic quar-
ters on the reciprocity" issue recently.
Speaking of the reciprocity" qucs-
ton and the results Of the scheme en-
tered into with Cuba, II Is interesting
to note what is asserted to be the re-
Attention has already been called to
the effect Of the more recent changes
In the Cuban customs laws whereby
the effect of the expected closer tEpde
relations was to some extent at least
nullifed by the later action in the Gu
ban laws. Some testimony has since
been given before the committees of
congress regarding the effect OF that
new reciprocity" relation. 1t 10 claimed
ny kuc IAN " auNu oeit8dtc
that the effect OF the reduction In Gu
ban duties incident to the reciprocity"
arrangement was to lower the price Of
raw sugar In Hawaii and in the United
States by practically the amount Of the
70 per cent reduction In the Cuban sug
ar duties. No reduction In the price OF
refined sugar accompanied this reduc
tion in the price Of raw sugar. The
natural inference to be drawn from
this is that the effect of the Cuban
scheme was to give to the renners all
the benefits which accrued from the
reduction. The result. therefore, was
precisely what was claimed by prot-a-
tionists II would be-namely, the price
OF raw sugar was reduced thereby
striking a blow at the domestic sugar
industry as represented by the growers
OF the product. and the refining indus
try gained the difference In the rates
on the raw sugar. Surely this was not
what the people were led to believe the
result would be. And the Democrats,
who are ciamoring for more of this
kind of reciprocity" in competing
products. are probably delighted with
the blessed boon which was accorded
the sugar refining trust by this novel
scheme Of reciprocity" in competing
products.