The San Francisco call., 1898-01-15
IA GREAT
 INDUSTRY
 MENACED Farmers of Ventura Send a Petition to
 Congress. Annexation Will Vastly Reduce the Profits of Beet Culture. Clear Object Lesson in the Form of Recently Signed Con-
 tracts.
THE MEMORIAL SIGNERS.
American Farmers Would Be Great Losers by the Introduction of
 Degrading Competition.

It is obvious to the beet growers of California that their present profit in the cultivation of sugar beets would be greatly diminished should the Hawai- ian Islands be annexed to the United States. This is not a mere conjecture upon the part of the farmers engaged in this industry, but it is a deliberate conclusion formed after careful study of the competition, which the low grade of labor at the islands threatens to in- troduce.
 The beet sugar industry, now so rap- idly extending in this State and giv- ing promise of adding vast riches to the community. is seriously menaced. The product of vineyards, grain fields and orchards added largely to the wealth of California, and gave the means of livelihood to a vast popula- ton long after the mining excitement subsided. This new industry-the cul- tivation of the beet-promises, if pro- tected from unfair and degrading com petition, to add more to the wealth of the State than all the vines, orchards and mines have yielded.
 The effect of annexation is so we'll un- derstood by the beet growers them selves that they are making contracts, with agreement to accept lower prices Tn case the islands should be annexed. A petition signed by 100 farmers of Ventura County has been forwarded to Washington. Here is the memorial of the Ventura farmers who have their money invested in beet culture:
 To the Congress of the United States:
 we, the undersigned residents and cleo tors of Ventura County, California re- spectfully represent that we are farmers n li FnrfT 1fvr ,E NTor1 tura, and that we have recently entered Into contracts and leases whereby we agree to grow sugar beets for the beet sugar factory now being established in our county during beet season for the next five years, and for an additional two years thereafter, at the option of the owners of said sugar beet factory: that the price which we shall receive for our beets is fixed and agreed upon in said contracts; that it is further provided in said contracts that in case the Hawaiian Islands should at any time during the existence of said contracts become an- neXed to the United States then the price which we shall receive for our beets thereafter under said contracts will be reduced p cents per ton; and, further, that should the said Hawaiian Islands become annexed to the United States at any time during the next five years not only would your petitioners suffer loss of more than a half million dollars by req son of the reduction in the price they would receive for their beets under said contracts, but also all other beet grow CTS WOulu SuIIeT permanent JOSS ana OlS- advantage by reason of such annexation.
 Wherefore, your petitioners pray that your honorable body will refuse to annex the Hawaiian Islands to the United States.
 A F. MuIhardt. NJ J. Laurent. J. M Foulkes, L. F. Roussey. A. Revolan, Thomas Mclaughlin, Lewis Mulhardt, J. B. Dauley. NJ. kujaosky, Willie Tender son, Frank Ayola, Thomas Clonie, Simon Cohn. John Dell Acqua, Mont Reimann. Hendrick Mulhardt, F. Scholbe. Willie Heimann, J. F. Borehard Justin Petit, Gottfreid Mulhardt, J. K. Chalmers, James O'ConnOr, A. DOnnelly, A. Cama- rillo, H. $. Porter, Frank Petit, A. B. Smith. l.. Lehman, A. J. Sahsburg, phy, T. J. Doulan. J. R. Downs, A. K Philbrook, W. J. Kennard. F. J. Dewau, F. Krukenberg, O. E. Kaltmeyer, c. F, Berry. c. and l.. Coleman brothers, R. F. Gorville J. s. Wiltfong Leroy Arnold, c. R. Arnold, N. A. Breen, Ernest R. Milligan, N; J. Starks. R. B. Edmondson. Charles $. Thacker, J. E. Alvord. D. R. Bellah, A. Haslett. Ernest Eastwood, Charles Ahrens, Fred WolbCrn. G. Della Ring, Frank Smith, Fred Meyer, Ser Strek, R. P; Wagner, Fred Crocker, Louis Berg, George l.. Dabney, L. On tago, M. Juhao, George Suur, L. Cohn. Reynolds, San Francisco V. Sanchez, Fred Manney, Richard Deltey, John H. Hass. J. H. Hastings, A. J. Schwealhelm David COhn, D. Cunningham, Joe Rei- mann. H. M. Schiller, A. E. Smith. Chas Plumm, Tom Myrack, Henry Bietenholz, Hobson, C. LeOnardt. A. F. Stevens, H. w. Witman, w. J. Smith c. H. Rowe John Hanlon, H. S. Philbrook, c. B. Greenwell.