Speech #570045704

Does anyone believe that these conditions can be so met as to give relief to the people of Cuba. the growers of the cane. for this years crop? Then. what follows? Of necessity. this: That for the purpose of securing reciprocal trade relations with Cuba for one crop of sugar the "President is hereby authorized. as soon as may be after the establishment of an independent government in Cuba and the enactment by said government of the immigration. exclusion. and contract labor laws of the United States. to enter into negotiations with said government with a view to the arrangement of a commercial agreement in which reciprocal and equivalent concessions may be secured" for one crop of sLgar. These are. in effect. the provisions of the present measure. and it is beneath the dignity. much less the generosity. of the United States of America. But what conditions must the new Cuban government meet at our behest? First. she must survey her own possessions. "with millions of acres of the richest and best land on the globe yet untouched by the plow and a climate unsurpassed for the growth and development of sugar cane." with 47 per cent of her product gathered from her cane fields. with but 2 per cent of her tillable land under sugar cultivation. with her present source of labor supply taxed to its utmost. with the world for a market for all she can raise. the United States comes to her and for the poor privilege of 20 per cent reduction on her exports to this country for one year she must not only reciprocate the favor in so far as she can. but in addition she must "enact immigration. exclusion. and contract labor laws fully as restrictive as our own."I Mr. Atkins. the gentleman before referred to. says "the supply of labor and rates of wages in the future are now most serious questions to the sugar producer in Cuba and present the greatest obstacles to reducing the cost." Under our strict immigration laws you would not only forbid Cuba from importing labor by contract from tropical and subtropical countries and from the Orient. upon which in former years she has largely relied. but from any foreign country. Even negroes of the United States. who could be easily utilized by Cuba. greatly to their mutual advantage. are barred out. for we are to Cuba an alien people. We will compel her to forbid. under heavy penalties. "any importation by a person or company or corporation by prepaying transportation or in any way assisting the migration of any alien or aliens. any foreigner or foreigners into Cuba under contract or agreement made previous to the importation of such alien or aliens." I am opposed to this bill because it is not in line with the principles or practice of the Republican party as applied to reciprocity or protection.