Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-01-21
The WAR OF THE TRUSTS.


lust now between two of the greatest
monopolies in the United States-the
American Sugar Refining Company,
better known as the Sugar Trust, and
the big coffee firm of Arbuckle Bros
AS is we'll known, the Sugar Trust has
absolutely controlled the sugar bust
ness for years past in this country,
while the Arbuckles have had an al
most equally strong monopoly in the
coffee business. Some months ago the
Arbuckles desired the Sugar Trust to
allow them a lower price on sugar, Of
which they sold great quantities the
Trust refused, and the manner of its
refusal angered the Arbuckles, who at
once began preparations to erect an
immense sugar refinery in New York,
with the avowed purpose of putting
up strong opposition to their enemy.
If there is one thing the Sugar Trust
doesn't want it is competition, and it
did not hesitate long in taking up the
gage of battle.
The first move of the sugar men was
to buy up the stock in the Woolson
Spice Company, of Toledo, Ohio, which,
next to the Arbuckles, is the largest
embarrassing firm in the country. The
money of the Sugar Trust is practically
unlimited, and it is interesting to note
that it was so much in earnest that 1t
put up 100000 in the first deal,
paying 81 $50 per share for stock the
par value of which was but 800. As
soon as the Sugar Trust got control of
the Woolson Company it cut the price
of coffee, and thus drew first blood
from the Arbuckle firm. The coffee
men met the cut, and went still lower,
at the same time hurrying the work
on its refinery. The Trust cut again
and again the Arbuckles went lower.
| Then Arbuckle Brothers, who have
pile of about twenty millions of dol
lars themselves, managed to buy some
of the stock in the Woolson Company
that had not been gobbled up by the
sugar men. They paid an even $780,
900 for eighteen shares of stock, par
value $500, and never finched.
Armed with this stock, and posing as
minority stockholders of the Woolson
Company, the Arbuckles got an IN
junction preventing that firm from
making further cut in the price of
coffee on the ground that the business
was being conducted at loss. This
blocked proceedings for a time, but
the Sugar Trust has promptly taken
legal proceedings to dissolve the in
junction. It announces its determi-
nation to cut still lower the price of
coffee when it shall be rid of the re-
straining order Of the court. The Su-
gar Trust, it is said, stands ready to
spend 100000 to bring the Ar
buckles to terms, and it may give
away coffee if necessary later on. The
Arbuckles, however, are equally
spunky, and have money in plenty to
back them up. They say they will
never surrender, and that their REIN
cry is to be three times bigger than
they first intended.
1t is easy to see where the people
come in ahead while this contest RACES.
For years these two great monopolies
have charged prices for their products
far beyond legitimate profits, and mill
ions have been squeezed from the con-
sumers. Now that the war is on there
has already been a considerable drop
in coffee, and if the new refinery starts
up sugar will tumble too. If there
shall be no cessation of hostilities the
public will not only get sugar and
coffee at fair prices, but it may be that
the reduction will be so great that they
will get back part Of that which has
been taken from them.
Let the war go on