The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-01-01
M'KINLEY'S POLICY.
THE LATE PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE
TOWARD CUBA


Evidence That He Did Not Contem-
plate Reciprocity That should In
clude Competitive Products.
Concerning the so called Cuban trea-
~ there are some things inexplicable.
Z Notwithstanding New England SEN
ator before the Home Market club in
Boston eloquently and forcefully de-
claimed against an application of this
competitive reciprocity policy to for
Sgn fish in the case Of the pending
newfoundland convention, notwith-
standing several senators oppose the
pending French convention that pro-
poses to lower our duties on knit goods,
jewelry and other articles from France
that compete with our own, notwiih-
standing some western senators have
succeeded in sidetracking the Argen-
tina convention that proposes a lower
duty on wool from that country, all
these senator's are said to favor the SO
called Cuban convention.
1t is up to these gentlemen to explain
this inconsistent attitude on a great
economic question on which the Repub-
Iican party has spoken in no uncertain
tone.
Do they hope to make Cuba an excep-
ton from the rule laid down at the
Philadelphia convention that nominal
ed Mr.. Mckinley for the guidance of
the Republican party and it's leaders
until another convention should meet
to reaffirm, modify or repeal it? Why
make Cuba an exception? What calls
for it?
To warrant the violation Of a party's
platform that touches either tariff or
finance some very grave excuse must be
furnished. Such action cannot be based
upon assumptions nor on pretenses. The
reason must be plain and the necessity
for it urgent and the facts uncontra-
dicted. Individual policy may not over
come that Of the party defined in con-
vention.
We are aware that Secretary Root
advanced the idea of Cuban reciprocity
in Havana as long ago as November,
1900, at meeting of the Planters as
ISOLATION, called, we may presume, to
secure from the secretary some promise
or pledge on the subject Of lower duties.
For some reason unknown the secre-
tary assumed that the United States
after liberating Cuba from the tyranny
and tax expressions of Spain, after CIV
ing the island its independence at the
cost of millions of dollars and thou
sands of lives. was bound still further
to secure Cuba's economic welfare or
industrial progress. Considering the
condition in Cuba ut that time and the
liberal temper of the American people,
the secretary may be forgiven for hav-
ing INDUCED in suggestions that were
ovcrgenerous, but he certainly was
speaking only for himself and not for
the American congress nor for those
home industries which would be injured
by the development into reciprocity" of
his ideas. Nor would the learned secre-
tary reiterate his remarks of Novem-
Der, 1900, today and claim that existing
prosperous conditions in Cuba war
ranted an expression Of fear for the
economic welfare and Industrial prog
ress Of that island. The conditions
have radically changed, and Cuba to-
day is prosperous and beyond the need
of begging for aims or for special ia
vors.
So much. then, for Secretary Roots
words, that have been tortured into
that false and pernicious theory that
somehow or in some way there exists
on our part a moral obligation" to
reduce our tariff duties in favor Of
competing products from Cuba; to in
vite her to discriminate in our favor
against other foreign nations, compel
ling her people to pay more for their
goods in order that our cotton and 9TH
er manufacturers may obtain little
more trade and, of course, more profit.
That would be one way to aid Cuba,
but a very sorry way, carrying the re-
verse of liberality and the essence of
selfishness.
Then it is said that Cuban reciprocity
was Mr.. Mc<inley's policy, and sug-
ar planter named Mendoza stated be-
fore the ways and means committee
that on certain occasion, when
Cuban delegation waited on the presi-
dent to urge, among other things, the
abolition Of the export duty in Cuba
on tobacco and lower duty on Cuban
sugars, the delegates assumed from
what Mr.. Mckinley said that they
could look forward to lower duties.
The records will prove this was a mere
assumption or inference, If nothing
worse.
Mr.. McKinley's policy toward Cuba
Is matter of record. 1t cannot be tor
tured into appearing to have been the
reverse Of what 1t was. 1t not only
rested upon the broadcast and wisest
basis of craftsmanship. but was sup
ported by genuine charity and an
honest desire for Cuba's welfare.
/. Mr.. McKinley's Cuban policy was
fully and accurately set forth by Rob-
ert 70. Porter, who was our special
agent sent to Cuba by Mr.. Mckinley
to frame a tariff law for the island.
In his work, entitled industrial Cuba"
at page 204, Mr.. Porter sets forth at
some length the scope Of the work in
trusted to him and to others Of the
A. vtt<~..t