The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-14
DAVIS OPPOSED TO
The PH|LL|P|NE BILL
Minnesota Congressman Declares
Such Legislation Will Not
Help Farmers.
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, Jan. 13.-Representative
Davis, of Minnesota, the only member
Of the Minnesota delegation who will
vote against the Philippine tariff bill,
today gave T he Journal a state
ment of his position regarding that bill.
Mr.. Davis is an earnest tariff revis-
ionist and at heart is in favor Of any
legislation that points toward it. He
argues the question out from the stand
point Of the farmers Of his district, and
says: e., - 50. ~ @.-f e*@
''In the stand I have taken on the
Philippine tariff bill, the interests Of
the American farmer, and especially
those Of the district represent in CON
gress, guided me. I am q pronounced
revisionist, but I do not believe in re-
ducing the tariff on one article, such as
raw sugar, and leaving other schedules
unchanged. The reduction Of the Ding
ley rate on Philippine raw sugar, as
proposed by the Philippine tariff bill,
would not, In my opinion, reduce tho
price of the retired article to the con-
sumner, The passage of the Cuban recip-
rocity bill did not lessen the price Of
sugar to the consumer. - = -
"The only benefciaries Of, the pro-
posed bill would, it seems to me, be the
Spanish plantation owners and exploit
ers dominated by the sugar trust, who
would establish new sugar plantations
and import large quantities Of raw
sugar at. reduced tariff rates to. this
country for refining purposes. -
Pledge to the Former. -.
HThe republican party In 1900 as
sured the American farmer that he need
not fear that this party would permit
the cheap labor and cheap sugar Of any
tropical territory to be brought in in a
manner that would destroy the infant
industry Of beet sugar production.
"There are at present about fifty
four American beet sugar factories in
operation in seventeen states and terri
tories, in which in 1905 more than 10O,.
900 farmers were interested, and which
supplied with about two million tons
$14,000,0 900 and $15,0O0,00O.
Gin the district I represent there is
now in process Of construction beet
sugar factory to cost about $75O,OOC
which has already contracted for near
ly 5000 acres of sugar beets from
farmers in surrounding counties an6
which will employ about 200 men.
Help the Farmer Now.
"I do not think it good policy tc
endanger the income of the American
farmer from this source by the enact
ment OIL, legislation which would. bene
fit chiefly the so-called sugar .trus
without lessening the cost. of refined
sugar to the consumer. We have fos
tered the steel industry, the tin in
I dustry and other great manufacturing
enterprises until they need no furthe
fostering. Why not extend to tn
American farmer, the American suga
beet raisers and manufacturers tn
. same fostering protection and thus en-
able them to build up an industr
which may in time, supply all Of gu
sugar for home consumption7
IT believe in encouraging the Fill
Pine by protection to supply us wit
the $84,000,000 worth of coffee whic
we annually import, the 100000
worth of rubber and gutta percha, tn
$l5,000,0OO worth Of sisal grass whic
we annually import, and which we car
not produce here. I believe in revis
ing the tariff, but not in revising it t
the, detriment of il the D.. America,
farmer" -. E.. .a-+ - 49,