Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-08
A GLOOMY OUTLOOK
Representative Meyer Of Louisiana on the
Sugar Planters Convention.
Says His State May Send a Republican n
vice fs Against It.

Congressman Meyer OF Louisiana, who is
a democrat. sees a very gloomy outlook for
democracy in his state a result OF the
sugar legislation OF Congress. He thinks
that the meeting OF sugar planters in con-
vention last Thursday, at which 1t was re-
solved that Louisiana planters should leave
the democratic party and embrace republi-
canism, may be the first step Of a politi-
cal revolution in that state. Mr.. Meyer is
now in Washington, and when asked hts
views regarding the movement, this is what
he said:
May he a Republican Delegation.
1T may mean that a republican delega-
ton will be sent to the next Congress from
Louisiana. and that republican presidential
electors may be chosen two years from now.
This movement is no more than might have
been expected. The democratic Congress
has dealt shamefully with the great inter-
est OF Louisiana, after repeatedly promising
to sustain 1t. The party has received strong
and consistent support from the state for
many years. and the first time 1t secures
complete control of the government pro-
ceeds to inftict upon Louisiana the hardest
blow she was ever given by legislation.
We have not only been dealt unfairly with.
but have been deceived: in word, bum
coed. VIC were promised in the presidential
campaign that the sugar industry should
not be crippled by change in the tariff
Then when the tariff bill was to be
amended in the Senate there was a definite
promise to our Senators that the bounty
should be continued for this year. The
crops of this year were started on that un-
derstanding. Investments have been made
on that basis, yet the party TO which the
state mas given it's undivided support enacts
a bill that will drive many of .ts prosperous
business men to bankruptcy.
Best Citizens Interestcd.
THE men composing the convention are
our best citizens. men who have been con-
sistent democrats. who have always work ed
for the party and have made sacrifices for
the party. / suppose they think that no
party can give them worse treatment than
the democratic Congress has. The repub-
Ncan party, on the other hand, has enacted
legislation under which the sugar industry
has prCspered. Republicans in this Con-
sress have voted for the sugar bounty on
all occasio rs and 1 think have done so con-
sistently. So have the Louisiana democrats
Tor that matter. 1t must not be forgotten
that President Cleveland and Secretary
Carlisle have tried to carry out the obliga-
uons of their party and to do justice to the
sugar plaEters. The Congressman who have
worked hardest against US have claimed
that they wanted to take away protection
from the trust. 1t would have been very
easy TO draw q schedule which would give
reasonable protection to Louisiana demo-
Gratis without giving Undue advantages to
NhS tose- sugar Is tHe fdedf product for
a revenue tariff
Now, Congress holds a further menace
ever our heads in the form of a threat to
put sugar on the free list at the next ses-
sion NO oti'e- industry has been treated in
TINS way Can the democrats expect to re-
tain the enthusiastic loyalty Of the state
Under such condItionsy'
How far is the new organization expect
ed to go?'
1t may make republican nominations for
Congress this fall. No candidates have
been nc minated yet The gentlemen who
have started this movement only suggest
cooperation with the republicans on ma
tional issues. and do not propose state
ticket, or local tickets"
His Personal Position
When asked to state his personal position
MIR. Meyer said:
Il would not advise our people to go into
the republican party. They would do better
to make nomna tions for Congress on the
democratic ticket. with the understanding
tnat their representatives should act inde-
pendently wherever they can serve the in
terests OF their state best by doing so.'