The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-16
Senator Platt's Answer to
Henry o. HaVemeyer.
Accuses Sugar King of Work
ing In Interest OF
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Corporation Attorney Sheppard
Agrees With Trust Magnate.
Lauterbach Deprecates Agita-
tion of Tariff Question.

New York, June 16-The Herald says:
Opinions widely different are being ex-
pressed in this city in regard to the
statement of Henry o. Havemyer, pres
tdent of the American Sugar Refining
company before the Industrial commits
sion at Washington recently.
Senator Thomas c. Platt said: "Mr.
Havemyer expresses the views of a
Democrat and his statement was in the
interest of the Democratic party
Edward NJ. Shepard, leading attor-
ney for large corporations said:
Il thoroughly agree with the propo-
sition that the serious evils of So
called trusts and monopolieS are evils
arising from the tariff system. This
general doctrine was very we'll put by
Augustus Van Wyck in his speech at
the Democratic dinner in April. What
ever excuse there may have been in the
past for the maintenance of infant
INDUSTRIES it is certain the United
States has grown far beyond the use
fulnesS, if there ever were any useful
ness of the extreme protective system
under which we now live. The true
warfare against mOnopOlieS ought to be
waged not by undemocratic interfer-
ence with the liberty of business but
by dealing with the system of special
privileges created by the existing tar
iff''
Edward Lauterbach said:
Mr.. Havemyer'S statement is preg
nant with ideas that call for careful
consideration by those who shape our
national policy. The acquisition of Ha-
wall Porto Rico and the Philippines
and what appears to be almost the GER
tainty of the early acquisition of Cuba
will beget a situation. AS soon as these
provinces become a part of the United
States that will neceSSitate the most
careful consideration of the tariff ques-
tion.- No Republican would rashly and
without the most abundant cOnSidera-
tion advocate an alteration of existing
tariffs. Changes in tariffs and even
threats of changes do more to unSettle
business conditions than anything else
and even a faulty schedule is better
than agitation on the subject unless it
shall result in a policy that shall be
just and above ALL lasting for a contin-
ued period
Former Representative Dewitt War
ner, one of the leading members of the
Reform club said: IF Mr.. Havemyer
imagines he can elude pursuit by cry
ing stop theft he is not the first man
that made that mistake. Though the
accuracy of mis- statements as to other
peoples sin make one query as to
whether with a somewhat further de-
velopment of Veracity he may not turn
out to be a new Saul among the prOph-
cts
Should he once become converted,
his courage would make him inValua-
BILE. In the face of the facts, his own
conduct and the course of sugar stock
prices, his suggestion that he is pro-
tected by only one-eighth of one per
cent is simply heroic. 1t is true, how
ever, that since DOescher and Arbuckle
have been producing he has actually
realized but little more than one-eighth
to which he owns up"
Gen. Wager Swayne, said: There is
not a doubt in my mind that the inSti-
tuition and maintenance of a protective
tariff as one of the features of the gov
ernment of this country was originally
wise and right and has been an essen
tial if not an Indispensable factor in
its growth and welfare"