The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-08-25
CUBAN SUGAR As A
MENACE TO HAWAII.

on Wednesday last IN an article
calling attention 10 the necessity Of
Hawaii preparing for the future By
endeavoring 70 cultivate other crops
than sugar. reference was made to the
great menace o'ershadowing Hawaii
IN the sugar production OF Cuba This
r. made all the more apparent by the
recent action Of the sugar trust In in
creasing SIS capital stock sl5.0o0.000
for the purpose Of investments In
Cuba. and By the declaration Of Presi-
dent Havemeyer that an application
would be made to Congress for the
admission OF raw sugar from Cuba
free. and that In bis opinion the ap-
plication would be successful. OF
course this declaration has aroused
the beet sugar producers and the
Omaha Bee which is a staunch friend
OF the beet sugar industry says:
The American Sugar Refining com
pany. better known as the trust, has
announced that IL has Increased its
capital for the purpose OF encourag-
ing sugar production In Cuba and that
Il favors admitting Cuban raw sugar
TO the American market free OF duty
AS we have heretofore pointed out,
the admission OF Cuban sugar free or
az a nominal duty would be fatal 10
our beet sugar industry. II could not
successfully compete under such cir
cumstances with the Cuban product
The sugar growers OF Cuba have a
representative in this country whose
mission Is TO work for a reciprocity
agreement in their interest In a re-
cent statement he said: If Cuban
sugar we're admitted here free Of duty.
or with a light. almost nominal duty,
some Americans would go there and
produce sugar. while others would
boom the great refining industry al
ready existing there. Sugar is an
article OF the first necessity which
the island can produce with American
capital and methods at such low
price that Il would reyolutionize the
markets The capacity of Cuba for
sugar production Is very great The
last large sugar crop was raised on
per cent OF the entire sugar-producing
lands. Il Is estimated that this years
crop will be 500. 900 tons and the ex-
pectation is that double that amount
will be produced next year. Fully
developed Cuba can produce as much
sugar as the annual consumption OF
the United States. This with the low
price OF production il is easy 10 under
stand would revolutionize the mar
kets. in doing which the American
sugar industry, both beet and cane.
would. IN all protection were removed
from them. be destroyed.
There are several elements in this
problem which will need TO be con-
siiered before solution can be
reached. The FIRST. and in the long
run the most influential. is the situa-
ton OF Cuba and the United States
In reference to each other The
former. as Mr.. Albert G. Robinson
sets forth in the Review of Reviews
for August. Is capable of producing as
much sugar as Is now consumed in
the civilized world. The United
States Is the largest sugar-consuming
country In the world. and is situated
within a few hours sail OF this rich
sugar estate. What Cuba needs 10 call
forth her energies in this line OF in
dustry Is capital. The United States
can supply this requisite without
stint. and win do so even under the
terms OF the Dingley tariff; much
more under system OF free trade.
Here is a persistent force Of self.
interest. which comedies In some de-
gree also with the public interest. and
which win work untiringly and with
out ceasing for the introduction %
raw sugar from Cuba tree OF duty.
either with or without the annexation
Of the island We are not prepared 60
say that Mr.. HRvemeyer was too son,
adent IN hts prediction that free sugar
viii win the fight st Washington. al
though Il may not win the tirst battle
OF course. the beet-sugar and The
Czne-sngar interest OF the Unit a
States win oppose any reduction D;
the duties on raw sugar. and viii de-
mand that the other protected ints..
ests shah make common cause With
them.
But here the question Of reciprocity
becomes prominent. President Nc
kiniey Is known 10 be strongly in
favor OF reciprocity and several tres
ties on this line win be laid before he
Senate for action az It's next session.
The New York Evening Post in dis.
enssing the Cuban question refers to
reeiprecity in these words:
"of course there Is a middle ground
between Cuban sugar free and the
present duty OF ahos, two eeats ner
pocnd. There have been hints AZ
Washington that the President would
recommend = reduction of 80 or IS