The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-12-27
THE SUGAR TRUSTS FOLLY

THEsUGAR TRUSTS FOLLY.
The threat Of the Sugar Trust to
close its Eastern refneries was charac-
teristic o. the methods Of that mon
opoly. 1t was made by Mr.. A. O..
Havemcyer, the president of the Trust
within a few days Of the meeting Of
Congress, and Mr.. Havcmeyer based
the pretend necessity for closing the
refnerics and turning thousands Of
men out of employment Oh the prob
ability Of the passage fthe free-sugar
bill, which, having gone through the
House Of Representatives at the last
session Of Congress, is pending i'll the
Senate. At the time when this threat
was uttered there was small proba-
bility that the frec-sugar bill would be
passed by the Senate. There was
then no evidence, so far as the public
knew, that the hold Of the Trust on
the Senators who compelled the sur
sender to its demands was weakened.
But Mr.. Iiavcmcyer's interview has
evidently greatly discrcdited the Trust
in Washington. 1t has aroused a
widespread Indignation against the
Trust, which, coupled with the pop
ular verdict in the country, and cspec-
ially in his own State, has compelled
ever the obstinate apa I-e> s1 meal Sena-
tor omltn 49,. ~ s''cssnouncc the friends by
a1neafIng to whom last summer he
incurred much deserved odium.
The threat was clearly ill-timed,
and otherwise indicative that to Mi.
Havemever, as TO other men who
have been clcvcrly and astutely defiant
Of the public sentiment in favor OF
morality, and whose success in cor
rlption or selfish greed has been I'm
bounded, there has come time when
folly has taken possession OF him.
SO cruel and unnecessary was his
threat that the President felt constrin-
ed to mention it in his message, and
to express willingness, in view OF 1t,
that the especial protection enjoyed
by the Trust should be repealed.
Mr.. Havemeyer apparently thought
that he had only to drive his working
men into the streets to stay the hand
of the advocates Of free sugar. But
he forgot, or never realized. the al
most universal, hatred which his own
aud his associates conduct in Wash
ington had inspired, He and they
were among the most potent factors OF
Democratic defeat. The country be-
lieves that the Trust purchased pro-
lection from the Senate, and that
German, Brice, Smith and some others
were practically his agents. 1t knows
from the testimony Of the two Have
movers and i5carles that the Trust
habitually corrupted both political
parties. 1t has reason to know that
tile Trusts amply protected, and that
if it has lost money or failed to make
it in the last three months it is be-
cause it was too confident in its pow
er to postpone the operation. OF the
act until the LIST CT January. More
important than all else is the knowl-
edge that the business of refining SUI
gar is conducted in this country more
cheaply than anywhere else in the
world. and that thel'rust can actual
ly pay some I 'luty on its raw material
and still compete with the German
and English refnel1es in the markets
Of the world. II knows from Henry
O. Hayemeyer's own testimoney, Civ
en- in 1880, that American relilncrs do
not need protection.
The indignant outcry witt. which
Mr. Havemeyer's threat was .5'eeted
was followed by the return to the re-
6neries of a few working-men who
were discharged. This was comics
sion that, instead Of being under stress
of evil circumstances, the Trust could
not afford to stop production even for
few days, and for the purpose of
preventing the passage OF the free-sq-
gar bill.
The result of all this ought to in
spire the Senate to do something to-
wards curing one of the crosses scan
dals that ever tainted it. The differ
entail duty at least should. be abolish
ed. If this much is accomplished
the country will be grateful for Mr..
Havemeyer's folly-Harpers Weekly.