The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-11
SUGAR REFINERs AROUSED.
Protesting In Mass Meeting Against John
shermnns Proposed Tariff.

Mr.. william E. Miller presided over mass
meeting Of workmen engaged In various ca
paclties in the sugar refining business. In
Washington Hail. wriamsburgh last night
Tho object was to protest against the proposed
tariff Legislation. and to warn Congress against
such measures as. 1t is averred will destroy the
sugar refining industry in this country.
There nro about $4,000 men engaged In the
business in the Eastern District OF Brooklyn.
and probably not less than 100000 persons de-
pend upon 1t for support. The interest that the
question excites in Willlamsburgh Is therefore
very great. and the hall was crowded 20 an un-
comfortable degree by well dressed orderly
men. There were probably from 1 400 to 1900
persons present. but this represented the en-
tire seating and standing capacity Of Washing
ton Hall only; had 1t been four tim 10 as large
It would have been filed. for some thousands Of
persons. unable to get half way up the stairs,
waited for an hour or so. and then went away.
burgh. They are owned 10y Hayemeyor & Elder.
Co.. wintGen 4 Harms. the Brooklyn Sugar Re
and Mollcnhauor Co. Nearly all OF the
cc9mpanies wore Jepressented last night light 6e,
in opening tho meeting Indignantly denied
The reports that Tor some past have becn
gaining circulation th9t the sugar renn,
that pass through their hands. They were ac-
cuscd. he said. Of putting into them glucose.
muriatic acid. muriate OF tin. and other poison
GUS substances. These charges. he averred,
had no foundation whatever; but II the people
Of America were made by such false reports to
they would Ind their goods adulterated indeed.
Tho Cuban system OF refining Is not perfect
and he knew OF an instance in which 10000 in
eocts were found IN single pound OF sugar
from that island, The American people might
| by the proposed legislation, escape muriattc
acid and glucose. but they would have to eat
| bugs lnstehd., -, ,,,,,,,
| burgh ronnerics were compelled to close 10000
men would be thrown out OF employment.
When all OF the nity thousand men are working
| 2.SOO. 100000 pounds Of sugar should be refined
annually. but owing 10 false reports OF adulter-
| alton not more than | 600 100000 pounds have
Karl Kranz, who spoke IN German and was
| loudly applauded. quoted many authorities 10
| show that American refined sugar is much bet
Mr.. Alexander McAllen road portion OF his
| letter to THE Sun. published some days ago.
He said tho charges Of adulteratiOn brought
against the sugar refiners could not be sus-
| tainod. The workmen who handle that sugar
| undoubtedly know what was IN It yet they give
| II withou, hesitation to their families. He had
| been told that II was especially injurious to
young children 10 cat the sugar refined IN this
| country. but he would say iQr the comfort oi
the mothers Of America. that more babes
| reach maturity here than anywhere else on
earth. Laughter Mr. sherman. in order to
| prevent any possibility Of fraud, would shut
| up tho sugar refineries altogether II was like
cutting. of q mans head TO cure him OF the
/
! American reflners should De crushed not 10
| benefit the country or the world. but 70 please
| those slayehOldinR foreigners who a few years
| ago took three hundred ot our fellow citizens
| out Of the Nirginius. and butchercd them in
| cold blood In a corner OF Cubal
| Mr.. McAllen, the Secretary. then read the
| preamble and resolutions. They set forth that
| the sugar refining industry Is suffering grea,
| depression from the circulation OF false reports
| about its being adulterated; that pressure Is
| being brought to bear upon Congress 10 induce
| II 10 change the present tarin so as 20 impose
| one specific duty OF cents aud mills per
| pound upon all sugars not above No. l3 Dutch
| standard in color. and not exceeding "a de-
| grees in saccharine strength that as such n
| tariff would discriminate against all low grade
| now sugars below No. l3; would inlurc tn
| shipping interest; would ba OF no present ben
| eft. aud an eventual loss TO the consumer
| would transfer tho refining indu9try OF the
| United States 10 n Spanish slave labor pro-
| ducing dependency, and thus necessarily ruin
| tho industry boy which American citizens gain
their bread that II Is the duty of tho press O.
| disabuse the public mind Of tho idea that
| American refined sugar H. Hdultcratcd, that II
| Ia the duty oi Congress SO 20 l"gislatc in mat
| ters of trade and commerce As not 70 imuer
| home industry, least OF all for the benefit oi
| foreign countries.
The resolutions were adopted unanimously
| and the meeting adjourned.
At meeting Of tho sugar renners and i'm
| porters az ~ Water street yesterday. resolutions
! were adopted protesting against John Sher
| mans proposed changes in the sugar tarin aul
IN favor OF reduction OF the existing duty.