The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-29
Tobacco Raisers Intend to Garry on Fight for Retention of Existing Duty on the
 Weed.
HILL GIVES GOOD ADVICE
Advocates Move Similar to That Made by Sugar Icn--i}ig Meeting Held in Capitol M
 Hartford

in their fight to maintain the exist ing duty on tobacco was the watch word of the several hundred growers of tobacco who assembled in mass meeting at the capitol this afternoon, The object of the gathering was to discuss with the senators and con Gressmcn from this state the proposed tariff revision on tobacco. The entire Connecticut delegation to congress, With the exception Of Senator Brande- geo and Congressman Higgins were in attendance, and their remarks were given the closest attention by tho big gathering Resolutions were unanl- mously adopted calling unon our rep resentativcs and senators to use every Legitimate means in their power to maintain the present rate of duty on all tobacco imported into this country and Co defeat any means looking to the free introduction of the Philip plno tobacco.
 ] c MItchelson of TarlTylllo called the meeting to order. Tnaddcus C. Graves oC Hatfield, Mass. was chos en permanent chairman. He pitt tho vote on tho resolutions and th", were unanimously adopted
 Colonel Phelps or Windsor called for a discussion Of tho resolutions. He was Of the opinion that it was qucs tionahle whether the views of tns gathering could now hc gotten before the ways and means committee of congress.
 Congressman F ] Hnl was then called upon. Tlc said tho hearings before the ways and means committee closed last week, anu tho actual work of framing mp tariff blll Is now on. He was unable to say how any briefs can now be placed before the com mittce Tho only way in his iudg ment wnS to have copies sent to the various members of the ways and means committee Things. he said, have materially changed since the to- bacco growers appeared before tho committee Then there appeared to De unanimiw Of opinion on the to bacco industry. This does not now appear Co De the ease To his surprise others have expressed q desire to he heard on the tohacco revision qucs. ton. He read extensively from the hearings before tho committee tn show the desires of tnc importers Al New York This lie pointed out was a great danger Co thc Connecticut ln- tcrests adding You are up against It"
 Congressman 1Iill sail hc mad no excuses to make. nor apologies to or- fer for hls stand in the interests of the Connecticut tobacco growers. He told of the move made two years ago in the interest of free trade In tobacco against which both he and Congress man Henry voted, adding that similar possibilities exist now He said he came to Connecticut two weeks ago to get tho sentiment of the growers and supposed he had obtained it Con gr, sman Hill advocated a move slmi- lar Co that made by the sugar men by which an agreement was reached cnv ering limited Imports of that product He advised tho appointment of a com mittec of three to represent the grow CTS who will be in toucn with the TO- publican members of the ways and means committee, and who will also watch the New York importers He had no further advice to offer or pol fey to advocate Tho congressman warmed up to his subject considerably ana emphasized his remarks forcibly
 Nr, Chapman of Glastonbury said tho tobacco board of trade was op- posed to compromise similar to that made by the sugar interests He nd yocated fighting to tho bitter end for what they want in tho tariff line it being his opinion that "1t our con gressional representatives stand to- pethor with other states congress- will not dare to cut down the tobacco tarlrr"
 Congressman Henry was then call cd upon and said that the case of the Connecticut tobacco growers was ably presented before the ways and means committee He said the explanation made by Mir. Hill concerning the ex- isting situation was substantially cor rect flc does not look for any con siderable reduction in the tobacco schedule as a whole. He regretted to say, however, that in his opinion Philippine tobacco and sugar will he admitted free 10 a limited extent. He agreed with Congressman Hill that our interests have more to fear from A uniform duty than from Philippine invasion,
 United States Senator Morgan q. Bulkclcy won applause when in open ing his remarks he said that he never knew of an army starting into battle admitting defeat or desirous of com promising n victory. He did not an ticlpate any difficulty in getting before either branch of congress any views the citizens of the United States may desire to express, He felt that the views of this body could be gotten before congress through the Congress siOnal Record. He said he should feel 1t his duty to stand by the sentiments of his constituents on this and all other questions Continuing the sem ator said the tariff revision called for is not one for revenue Only but for revenue and protection jointly, bill which will take Into consideration the difference in labor rates, He was not in favor of compromise admitting three hundred thousand pounds of sugar now because this would mean letting down the bars for the whole product later To him the danger of Filipino tobacco was the eventual pro- ductlop of first quality brand which would find it's way into this country in competition with our products. No