Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-03-24
GOOD WORDS.
SPREcKiES ON OUR SUGAR INTER
ESTS AND TRUSTS.
We Can Make All Our Own Sugar in
America and 1t Is About Time We
Do"-A Friend to the People-Inter-
ssting Facts on This Staple Article.

the California sugar refiner, appeared yes
terday before the House Committee on
Manufacturers investigating the sugar
trust He made a statement as 10 his con-
nection with sugar production and refining
giving statistics Of the Hawaiian, Sand
wich Islands, Philippine Islands, and Cen
tral American production of raw sugars.
He testified that when he bought Sandwich
Islands sugar he took the entire crop, at q
price equivalent TO the New York price for
Cuban sugars, less half a cent per pound
for difference in freight. The sugar bust
ness on the Pacific Coast was in the hands
of two 6rms-his own and the American
Refinery, who were competitors in business.
With reference TO the New York sugar
trust he knew absolutely nothing, except
that he had been invited to Join il and
had declined. The effect of the trust
had been an increase in prices which
had been advantageous to the San Francisco
refners, because their prices were guaged
by the New York prices. Mr.. Spreckels
said he intened to start q refinery in the
East and expected war TO be made on him
by the trust. The entire crop of the Sand
vich Islands was practically graded by the
owners of the two California refineries who
own or are interested in all sugar planta-
tions there. The witness entered into de-
tailed statement of how trusts are formed,
how the stock of various manufacturers
were fooled. and all were managed without
reference 10 Spreckels or anybody else.
The combination managed itself and had
no reference to individuals. He, himself,
had no connection with a trust He main
tanned his individual liberty. II came
here to from Germany for liberty. gentle
men, and that liberty | will maintain
said he, and there was applause in the COM
mittee room. We can make our own sugar
in and is hat
do"
The trusts will make sugars higher and
the consumers will pay tribute TO them.
II il were not for higher wages. fuel, etc.
we could maintain our sugar refineries
against the world with sugar duty free.
We must have protection by duties under
the present situation of labor. etc. If the
trusts were abolished. the trusts would have
no more advantage than individuals, but
all would be at a disadvantage.
When he was asked If il was true that
the object he had in view in establishing
refinery on the Pacific slope was to keep out
opposition. Mr.. Spreckles said: ''Oh! that
is newspaper bluff It's bluff by the
trusts. One of these days they will hear
something drop. When people try to bluff
Spreckles, they are asked to show their
hands" Laughter by the entire COM
mittee.
Mr.. Spreckels said this country had made
discoyeries-in best culture and machinery,
which would make domestic sugar produc-
ton Q success. He had but recently pro-
cured an invention by which he would get
ninety per cent. of pure sugar from beet
juice. He believed California and Ohio
could and would produce a million pounds
of sugar annually now, while Kansas, Ore
gon and other states could do as well. The
United States could supply the world with
sugar if the industry was developed. Mr.
Spreckels said he had been asked by John
E, Searles TO 60 into the sugar trust Il
asked him. said Mr.. Spreckels. what in
ducement there was 20 go into the trust,
and all could get was, when you are in
the trust you are in the trust, and cant get
out" Continuing Mr.. Spreckels said he
did not know where he would locate an
Atlantic refinery. He was looking for a To-
cation and would visit Baltimore and Phila-
delphia for that purpose. Questions by
members of the committee brought out
much information as TO beet raising
Mr.. Spreckles said that in California
forty-two tons an acre of beets were raised
The average in all States would be about
twenty tons an acre. The beets were worth
in the market four dollars q ton, which
would make the product worth eighty dol
lars an acre. The pulp of beets after the
sugar qualities are extracted, is worth two
thirds its original price for stock feeding
purposes A protective tariff or bounty
is absolutely necessary to the life of the
beet sugar industry in the United States,
and without one or the other the beet sugar
industry would perish. Germany, he said.
gives a sugar bounty for the product eI-
ported. In Hawaii four tons of sugar per
acre is raised. In Louisiana one and one
half tons are produced to the acre. A well
managed sugar plantation in Hawaii is
very profitable. The Hawaiian treaty, he
said, was no advantage TO rehners, and was
q benefit ouly TO the plantation owners
and producers in Hawaii