The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1898-06-28
Sugar Producers Scare; Acquisition
or Annexation.

touch with the administration, the data
of which is secured from the United
States Agricultural Department thai the
annexitation OF Cuba OIL the Philippine
islands would be the hardest blow to
cane and beet sugar industries In the
United States that the government
conld possibly strike, and would result
in destroying these home industries.
We quote from the Telegraph as follows;
The question as to the disposition
which ig to be made OF the Philippine
Islands, which we now hold. and OF
Cuba and Porto Rico, which we soon
will hold, is one that is being much dis
cussed here, and is one which is OF no
little interest to the producers OF this
country. 4 large number OF newspapers
OF the country and many statesmen
here are asserting that we should
permanently occupy those territories as
parts of the United States. We have
won the Philippines fairly in war, they
say, and we should resaln them as
American territory.
1t is further stated by those claiming
to represent far-sighted policy that
the time has arrived when this country
shall emerge from the shroud in which
it has persistently and consistently en-
veloped itself since the establishment OF
the government and take Its place with
other powers OF the world in holding for
eign possessions. We should retain,
they say, the Philippine Islands; the
interest of the United States demand 1T.
We are endeavoring to extend our
foreign trade; to widen our markets
abroad; to search out new fields for the
products OF American farm and fac
tories. To do this we must have large
merchant marine; to protect this
merchant marine we must have large
and well-equipped navy; to maintain
this navy we must have possessions in
remote parts OF the globe as bases for
supplies and coaling stations.
Much OF the same claim is made by
this class OF people with reference TO
Cuba and Porto Rico. They will soon
become ours by right of conquest, and
will be taken to satisfy the cost of the
war brought about through Spain's
cruelty, cerruptness, and incompetency
to govern. Granting this TO be the case
then, for the sake of argument, our re-
tanning possession OF either OF the
Philippine islands, or Cuba, and Porto
Rico, what would be the result to agri-
culture in this country?
Consider Cuba first, she is nearest to
our doors. In the first place Cuba can
raise enough sugar to supply the United
States with its population twice as
great as at present, and with free sugar
from Cuba our beet sugar industry
would be knocked into a cooked hat.
Not beet sugar factory in the United
States could do business. Sugar, it is
stated at the Agricultural Department,
can be raised in Cuba for one cent a
pound and at profit, and when planters
there can get two cents pound for sugar
laid down on ship board, they can amass
quick fortunes. The coil OF the island is
wonderfully fertile, and six or seven tons
OF sugar it is authenticity stated, can
be produced from one acre. This low
cost OF pro iuction is.due largely also to
cheap labor, composed chiefly OF blacks
who work for very low wages, who are
easily satisfied and have few wants AL
trooicalIand semi-tropical fruits which
are now grown il Florida and Southern
California at profit can he produced
co much more easily and cheaper II
Cuba. with the improved methods which
will be introduced there, that grower
in this country would either go out o
business or migrate to Cuba.-Louisian'