The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-15
GROCERS REVOLT
Against the Tyranny Of the
Sugar Trust.
Chicago GroeerS Start the Ball
Rolling
A PAIR OF SCAMPS
Haveg.aaesx.l2r and Spreckles Seek
to Squeeze
Seventy Million Of People Who
Must Use Sugar.

NEW York, oct 15.-The wholesale
grocers Of Chicago are the leaders in a
wide spread revolt against the sugar
trust The Grocers' association of that
city has Boldly announced that hence
forth it will sell sugar under its own con-
ditions. Thus it boldly menaces one of
the most gigantic trade ordinations in
the world
Heretofore the wholesale grocers Of
the United States have been the tools Of
the trust This revolt at Chicago in di-
Gates that they intend to be SO no longer
They were tricked and cajoled, but they
see better now. The movement has
spread so widely that the continued sales
Of refined sugar by wholesale dealers all
over the country at prices far below the
trust schedule has attracted the attention
Of Wall street
The dealers were allowed a rebate sim
ply on condition of maintaining prices,
and IT is thought that the cuts in prices
will soon result in the disruption of the
Wholesalers association organized in
different sections through the efforts Of
she trust
story Told for the First Time.
The story Of their dealings with the
trust is told here for the first time. and it
forms another interesting chapter in the
rise Of the pool which controls a staple
article Of food for 7O,OJO,0O0 people. Ten
years ago the sugar business in this coun-
try was conducted just like any other
legitimate branch of trade. There were
many in it,and there was healthy cOmpe-
tition. Refners and dealers were con-
servative and were satisfied with a safe
business and moderate profits. Enormous
fortunes made in sugar were rare.
BY and by new methods were adopt
ed. Capital was massed in the sugar
and the dealers began to wage war with
each other 1he leading wholesale gro
GERS aimed to extend the field of their
operations. Each one tried to excel in
cheaply serving the public aud compell-
ing others to do So The margin Of ex-
pense and profit in the refining and IN
the distri button Of sugar was less than
ever before
But there were cute men in the.sugar
business who saw that such a course as
that would n ( do. New conditions must
be created, and they determined to make
them better than they were even in the
old days.
The Havemeyers Engineered 1t.
Out Of this determination arose the
union by which, as the direct employees
Of the trust in many cases, the whole
sale grocers in the United States have
combined with the sugar trust to control
the price OF sugar. to limit production, to
raise prices, double treble and quad
ruple profits and oycOtt and drive from
business any dealer who dares attempt
to serve the public more cheaply. The
combination was made possible and
finally formed the sugar trust, the com
bine of sugar refners engineered by the
Havemeyers-
To get all the profits a national asso-
citation Of wholesale grOcers was formed
in New York in June. 1883.
A committee consisting of W.
J. Johnson. OF Richmond; H. w.
Spur, Of Boston; G. Waldo Smith.
Of New York; f. W. Inbusch Of Mil
waukee, and Richard Dymond Of Gin
cinnati. was appointed to consult with
the sugar reiners-which meant the
Aavemeyers who had long before ar
ranged to meet the committee when an
pointed.
In the pleasureable excitement that
followed this step the rest of the bust
ness OF the convention was forgotten ex-
cept that some Of the leaders were posi-
tive IN their statements that there was no
idea OF forming a grOcers' sugar trust.
but that the plan was by association to
prevent trade abuses and secure the sell
ing Of pure and wholesome goods.
How the Grocers Were Dumped.
There seemed to be no reason why the
agreement which il professed to be ID
such brlrry to consummate, and which
everybkfy's lawyer had said was iegal.
sho4 N8t be ent4red into at once Mr.
AnDA3sch came 10 New 4Ork Ond hinted
that th1 grocers were now ready to close
arrangements.
Nr. Searles and Mr.. Havemeyer. how
ever, felt that II would be 'swell to wait
and see what the Philadelphia refiners
would do, as they were a very reliable
lot Mr- Inbusch did not under
stand this, but had SO much faith
IN Mr.. Havemeyer that he said
ali right, and waited while Mr. Have
meyer undertook the management of the
delicate question Of keeping the Philar
delphla retlners straight This he effect
ed at last and they were brought into the
trust
Dit. 1nbusch had worked out an GeouaI-
lfy basis for the sugar business. and.
upon Mr. Searles assurances. a meeting
was held at the Mercantile Exchan0e'
New York. 1t was most enthusiastic and
representative. Mr.. Inbusch's plan. in
Volslng at least one-quarter cent bate
10 the wholesale grocer was adopted bv
the overwhelming vote of 159 to /. and q
committee appointed to call upon the
ters. "a
4ney were most cordially received. but
were told that the trust could not make
tne agreement unless they made the vote
unanimous i was charged that Graham
Stuart. of Chicago, the dissenting mem
bers had been Induced by the trust