Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-14
SUGAR TRUSTS CAT.S-PAWs.
Honest but Prejudfced Opponents of
Hawaiian Annexation

The friends of annexation are gaining
courage as the fight over the Hawaiian
treaty in the Senate progresses. 1t is de-
Fel"plng with greater cIearness that the
chlef and most persistent opposition is
that cf the sugar trust. There is a the
oreuc opposition, but this is not extensive,
though it is serviceable to the trust in Civ
ing character of respectabiity to the
night that is being made against the treaty
ne trust people are trying 20 keen to tho
front of the opposition the few men who
are known not to be friendly to the trust
Out VINO are warped against things pro-
sressive, and which seem to them venture
some There are too few OF these how
ever, TO effectively hide the creature of the
sugar trust crouchins behind, and it is not
pti!sEed that the honest opponents Through
tfe1udlceI will be willing to permit them
selves to be used when they find that they
are being made cats-paws of by their enc
my. the trust. The trust is fighting more
particularly behind the beet sugar inter
es's ana appealing TO the farmer support
No Menace to Beet Sugar interests,
AT this point they are being completely
exposed, and the support they have Sc
cured for their cause by making it appear
that the beet sugar interests will be in
jured by annexation will almost certainly
be taken away from them before a vote
| on the treaty is had. 1t is being clearly
SHOWN that the beet industry cannot nos
slpiy su1cr from the small importatio
from Hawaii, and that the sugar trust
alone mas material interest in tefeatip..
annexation. TIE contracts under which tbs
trusts derived the beHefi. of sugar imnorta-
tions from Hawaii under the reciprocitv
treaty having expired and the Hawaiians
pelng unwilling to renew the contracts
the trust set about when the DingIev tar
| if bill was under consideration to have the
reciproeity treaty annulied. The members
i iaiIeu IN mat. and the same motive which
inspired their fight then inspires that
against the annexation treaty which will
make perpetual the free importation OF
sugar from Hawaii, which they want to
selfish interests.
The trust is powerful, however. and
great assistance is given it by the few
men men VINO are honestly opposed to annexa-
ton as a matter of policy and who do not
yet see now they are being used bv the
trust 1t is a nip-and-tuck fight, with the
outcome not certain. The friends of the
treaty think that they will have all tho
republicans, with possibly one excention
ior the treaty when the vote comes and
some democrats who have opposed anney
alion are beginning to consider the ad-
vantage to be derived from coming out
for the treaty at a time when it seems to
be threatened by disaffections due to the
efforts of the trust
Unvvarranted Opposition Claims.
The Senate went int executive session
on the Hawaiian treaty early today. The
discussion of the treaty is being conducted
with great interest. both in the executive
session and among senators in private.
" hile it is true that there are not enough
senators committed to the treaty to secure
its ratficat:o on a this time, those supporting
the treaty intend to continue the discussion
until the question is thoroughly understood.
and they are quite confident that thor
orgh understanding of the case will make
converts to the treaty.
The outcome is uncertain, but 1t has de-
veloped that the claims of the opposition
are not fully warranted. Practically all
senators VINO are not committed to the
treaty counted by the opposition as op-
posed to it. The fact appears TO be that a
considerable number of senators have not
made up their minds, and several who de-
clare themselves as opposed to the treaty
from their present understanding of the
question say that they are still open to
conviction and may conclude to support
the treaty If their first impressions are
overcome by the facts and arguments pre-
sented by the friends of the treaty.
A number of senators are in this recep-
tive state of mind, and this is very en-
couraS.nS to the friends of the treaty, VINO
feel that their cause is a good one. and can
be so sustained to resolve all honest
doubts In favor of the treaty. The sort Of
doubt hangs around the question that al
ways hangs around a question which de-
pends for Its solution on the power of ar
gument.
The presence Of the sugar trust in the
woodpile is expected to become more and
more apparent as the discussion proceeds
If the matter hangs that long it is eX-
pected that it will be made clear on the ar
rival of President Dole of Hawaii where
the interests of the trust lie and how the
trust influence is being eXerted.
How the Senate Stands.
Sixty votes in the Senate are necessary
to the ratification of the treaty From
fifty-fve to ffty-seven votes would prob
ably be cast for the treaty if the vote were
to occur today. 1t is believed by the
friends Of the treaty that the opposition
have considerably short of one-third of the
Senate irrevocably committed against the
treaty. The remainder are counted as
either in doubt or open to conviction,
though they might vote against the treaty
on the information they now have on the
subject. The friends of the treaty believe
they will be able to win over a sufficient
number Of those who are not irrevocably