The record-union., 1898-02-06
The SUGAR TRUST.
ITS REASONS FOR OPPOSING
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
Millions for the Sugar Kings If
They Can Defeat the Pend
ing Treaty.
From the Washington star.J

therefore, supporting the treaty. On
the other hand, it is said that the sugar
trust will be injured by annexation, and
that 1t is. therefore, opposing the treaty
1t may be taken for granted that
the sugar trust will support or oppose
annexation according as its material in
terests are benefited or injured by that
measure, for no one has ever charged
the trust with being guided by senti-
ment or patriotism.
Whether annexation will benefit or
injure the sugar trust does not depend
upon argument or belief; it depends
upon facts. What are the facts?
The policy of the sugar trust, in COM
mon With that of every other trust, is
TO crush competition and obtain a mo-
nopoly of the market for their product
The product of the sugar trust, for
which they seek monopoly is refined
sugar.
There is no conceivable reason why
the annexation of Hawaii will help the
sugar trust in maintaining its monop-
oily, while there are manifest reasons
why annexation will interfere there
with.
The tariff law levies a higher duty
on refined and high-grade raw sugar
than on low grade raw sugar, thereby
practically prohibiting the importation
of refined and high-grade raw sugar
into this country
The tariff is levied on refined and
high-grade raw sugar from Hawaii, as
We'll as from other countries, as the
Hawaiian reciprocity treaty admits
free OF duty only dark or low grade
sugars.
As long, therefore, as Hawaii remains
out of the Union it's sugars cannot COM
pete With the product of the sugar
trust.
AS soon, however, as Hawaii is with
in the boundaries of the Union it will
be in a position to place high-grade
raw or refined sugar upon the Ameri-
can market, and thereby become an
immediate and direct competitor with
the trust.
There is no likelihood that Hawaii
will produce any amount of refined SUI
gar, but there is every probability that
it will produce a high-grade raw sugar,
wholesome and palatable article,
which will be consumed without being
refined, thereby depriving the trust OF
the profit upon just that amount of
sugar.
Prior to the reciprocity treaty, when
all sugars paid duty alike, the greater
part of the Hawaiian crop was sold
direct to consumers under the name of
washed sugar. Washed sugar" is
produced by simply pouring a bucket of
water into the drying centrifugal the
moment before the sugar is taken from
the machine. which has the effect of
washing off the thin film of molasses
adhering to each grain of sugar, leav
ing graduated sugar of sparkling
Wilderness, but without lowering its
saccharine strength.
This sugar is preferred by many
people TO refined sugar, but, being un
refined, there is no profit to. the refiner
if this sugar is consumed therefore,
the interest of the trust is to prevent
its sale. Hawaii, independent, cannot
sell this sugar in the United States, be-
cause the duty excludes it; Hawaii, an
nexed, would be within the tariff wall,
and could, therefore, sell this sugar in
competition with refined sugar.
Therefore, annexation interferes with
the monopoly of the trust and is in
furious to ii.
A second reason why the sugar trust
opposes annexation, and why it sought
last year to secure the abrogation of
the reciprocity treaty, is that under
either annexation or reciprocity Ha-
Waiian sugar is bound to come
to this country, as it secures more IA
vorable terms here than elsewhere. The
trust must either purchase it or it will
go to possible rivals.
Since the trust secured the practical
monopoly of refining sugar in this coun-
try it has succeeded in controlling the
entire Hawaiian crop until December
81 st last, when its contract with the Ha
waiian planters expired.
1t has this year secured the control
only Of the sugar owned by Theopholis
Davies, the English guardian of Prin-
cess Kaiulani, and few plantations
controlled by Claus Spreckels, both of
whom are opposing annexation,
amounting to less than one-fifth Of the
total Hawaiian crop.
All of the rest of the islands crop for
the coming year has been sold to three
refineries who are rivals of the trust
two located in Brooklyn, N. Y, and one
recently started in California. Another
thing which the trust fears has there
fore already, in part, taken place, viz:
the furnishing Of sugar by producers
within the tariff line of the United
States TO rival refneries.
Domestic cane produced only 100000
tons in 1896 and beet sugar amounted
to only A, 500 tons. This amount is
comparatively so small that with to-
tai consumption of sugar in the United
States of 1862 900 short tons during
1896, it is not serious matter for the
trust to take care of It, But If the
100000 tons produced by Hawaii.
worth. approximately, S15,0O0,00O, is
also made domestic sugar, it will add
so much to the amount which the trust
must take care of that it will consti-
tute a serious feature in its business.
If, on the other hand annexation can
be prevented and the reciprocity
treaty repealed, the trust will still have
only the domestic sugar to take care of.
For these reasons the annexation of
Hawaii will interfere with the business
policy and monopoly of the sugar trust.
No other business interests in the
United States will be interfered with.
but many will be directly and all in
alton.
Does any one believe that the sugar
trust is SO unseIfish as to advocate
measure injurious to itself for the ben
eft of other American citizens? And
yet this is what those would have the
public believe who seek to throw odium
upon annexation by stating that 1t Is
being supported by the sugar trust.
49, aI,<
ter of that organization that, regardless
nf0 crivy the