Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-05
Democratic Leaders Anxious as to
the Situation in Louisiana.
THE SUGAR PLANTERS RESENTMENT
The State May Be Carried into the
Republican Column.
BOUNTY YONTHEPRESENT CROP

The party managers of the democracy
are very much worried over the situation
In Louisiana, brought about by the resent
n,ent Of the democrats of that state toward
the sugar legislation of Congress. The de-
moralization in the ranks of the party
caused by the recent convention of sugar
planters, at which 1t was decided to in
dorse the republicans in their protection
policy, is in danger of being materially
increased, it is said. by the attitude of the
Treasury Department in the matter Of
the bounty on this years crop
Secretary Carlisle is not blamed in the
least in this connection, for his position
is one which was forced upon him by the
action of Congress. He was left no dis
cretion whatever in the matter, as the
recent tariff act expressly stipulated that
no bounty Is to be paid on sugar after
the pas sage of that act and its repeal of
the sugar bounty clause of the Mckinley
act. His duties in this respect were clearly
defined by the act, as he himself explains
in letter to Senator Caffery. published
in The Star in the early part of the pres
ent week.
Another Feature of the Situation.
There is another feature of the situa-
tion however, which still remains unset
tied and which is causing the party mana
gers as much concern for the possible po-
litical effect as 1t does the sugar planters
for the financial effect. The planters claim
that they should receive the bounty upon
all sugar which was actually produced
while the Mckinley law was stii3 in effect
They say that this sugar was RAISED under
virtual contract with the gov errment;
that under the law, holding out certain
specific promises to those VINO should raise
sugar, they put in their crops and made
large expenditures on account OF labor and
material. expecting to reap the beneht
promised them by the bounty act. They
to repudiate its obligations already incurred
under the contract, although II refuses 10
enter into a contract for the Lture.
What the Managers Fear.
Secretary Carlisle in his letter to Sena-
tor Caffery did not define what construc-
ton the department placed upon the clause
of the act under which this claim Is made,
and that matter is still open. The party
managers are afraid that il payment is re-
fused the Louisiana planters for the crop
already produced, ii will be the last straw
to break the camel's back and that the
threats of the sugar planters convention
to swing Louisiana into line for the re-
publicans may be carried into effect. Such
an event Is regarded by the party managers
as dire calamity. To lose the state of
Louisiana will not only mean the loss of six
votes in the k1anse at time when the
democratic majority threatens to be ma
terially reduced, but there is much graver
side to the situation. There is possibility
that the selection of President may be
thrown into the HousS of Representa- tiyes
and the loss of the state of Louisiana to the
democrats and its gain by the republicans
might result in the gravest consequences to
the democratic party. This Is the possibility
which Is worrying the managers more than
anything else at present.