The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-22
THE SUGAR ARGUMENT AGAINST An
EXATION


munication from Mr.. H. I. Oxnard, the beet
sugar manufactures of Nebraska, setting
forth the grounds of his opposition to the
annexation of Hawaii By way of preface,
he states that, every producer of sugar in
the United States, whether cane beet or
sorghum, is absolutely and unrelentingly OPP
posed to the annexation of those islands"
Coming to details, he says:
Taking the statement of the expert of the
Agricultural Department DR.. Wylie, we see
that the sugar produced in the United
States costs about cents pound. 1t is a
well-known and conceded fact that sugar IS
produced in the Hawaiian islands for about
one and one-half to one and three-quarters
cents per pound. This sugar can be refined
and transported to Nebraska and points in
the immediate territory at cost of certain
ly not to exceed cents per pound. The
freight from Honolulu to Omaha does not
exceed, or quite equal, three-fourthS cent
per pound. If / were to add one-half cent
for refining it would give us the cost to the
producer of refined sugar, the cost laid down
in Omaha, at cents per pound. The ng-
ureS of the two factories, of which l am
president, show that we have not been able
to make sugar in Nebraska for cents a
pound, but for the sake of argument, grant
ing that the expert of the Agricultural De-
partment is right, l will say that this sugar
can be produced at cents (Without profit
of course.) We, therefore, find that the Ha-
waiian planter sell sugar in our own
market of Nebraska at profit of i cent a
pound to himself while we would be manu-
featuring the same quality of sugar at a
loss.
AS a business statement, coming from
the leading beet sugar manufactures in the
United States, this is interesting. If the
figures are correct, and the Journal does
not dispute their accuracy, the manufacture
ers of beet sugar operating on a close
margin. But the margin is no closer than
it was when the business was begun and
established. Then they got bounty, while
now they have protection but so far as Ha-
wall is concerned there has been no change
in the situation for twenty years. For fully
that length of time Hawaiian sugar has
been admitted free of duty as it still is
If the islands were annexed it would con-
tinue to come in free, so there would still
be no change in the situation so far as Ha-
wall is concerned. In. other words, the
manufacturers of beet sugar would not be
a whit worse off if Hawaii were annexed
than they are now and have been for years
past.
make this argument appear still weaker.
Hawaii has nearly reached the limit of it's
sugar production. Appleton's Cyclopedia
for 1896 stated that 'Two-thirds of the SUI
gar lands are already taken up" Mr.. OK
nard in the communication already quoted
from, says: 1.-THE past year Hawaii pro-
duced 25O0OO tons Of sugar" Not all of this
was exported, and not all that was exported
came to the United States. AS we consume
about 100000 tons of sugar year, it will
be seen that Hawaiian sugar cuts small
figure in our imports or consumption of the
article. Moreover, it is not commended that
Hawaiian sugar could compete with beet
sugar manufactured in the Central and
Eastern States. The longer railroad haul
would make that impossible. 1t is only in
the territory lying west of the Missouri
river that Hawaiian competition would be
dangerous, yet, in respect of population and
sugar consumption that territory comprises
but a small part of the United States More
over, there is little doubt that with i'm
proved machinery and processes beet sugar
will soon be manufactured in the United
States at a cost that will enable it to COM
pete with Hawaiian sugar under any cir
cumstances
Finally, the sugar argument against an
nexation is a mercenary and unpatriotic
one If Hawaii is important to the United
States as a strategic naval point and key
to the Pacific ocean, it is sordid and con-
temptible to oppose annexation of the ISL
ands on the ground that it might lessen the
profits of a few sugar manufacturers. The
future growth. development and protection
of the Republic are more important than Mr..
Oxnard's beet sugar factory.