Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-09
a QUESTION OF SUGAR.

While the beet sugar industry is get
ting fairly well established. it is still
encountering some risks that enlist
public interest. The sugar trust, 1t is
claimed, recently reduced the price of
sugar with the intent of hurting and
discouraging the beet sugar industry.
Commenting in San Francisco Satur-
day on the reduction OF the price OF
sugar in the Missouri market by the
sugar trust, Henry T. oxnard. president
of the American Beet Sugar Associa-
ton. defined It as a move to crush out
beet sugar production in order that the
trust might have no opposition.
IF they can succeed in the Missouri
river valley" said he, they will then
turn their attention to the beet factories
In Michigan and other sections and by
the power Of concentrated capital crush
out successfully and individually the
beet sugar producers. The trust tries to
deceive the public by claiming that the
beet producers can still make money at
the low price it is trying to establish.
This is false and II 1t had been true then
the trust would have tried to establish a
still lower price. They are now sacri-
ficing Y cent per pound in the Missouri;
river markets to make price that will
still be profitable to the beet sugar men.
But this particular move on the part
of the sugar trust will fall fat. The
beet sugar factories will not sell their
sugar in the Missouri river valley at 11s
cents under the market when a fraction
OF that 1a cents will move their sugar
to every other market in the United
States. What the next move OF the trust
will be remains to be seen"
\ Yesterdays advices show that still
greater cut has been made by the trust
in prices, and to cover the territory be-
tween Colorado to California.
Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson esti-
mates the beet sugar production of this
country for this year at 19S,500 tors, as
against 100000 tons of cane sugar pro-
duced in the southern states. Porto Rico
and Hawaii. The cane production Is
largely. manipulated by the trust. 1t
will thus be seen that the cane produc-
ton is more than three times greater
than that from beets.
While the beet interests are being
subjected to the fire Of the trust, the
American Economist points out another
peril in the subjoined statement:
1.-THE consumption of sugar last year
in the United States averaged about 81
pounds for each inhabltant, which al
5h cents pound would cost s3.4g
apiece, or $3.50 for family of five per-
Gong. II the duty We're removed and
the sugar trust allowed the people to
get the benefit thereof the saving would
be $1.14 for each person. or 500 for a
family Of five. for a whole year. There
is neither certainty nor probability that
the saving would be as great as that,
but there is almost certainty that
whatever reduction should be allowed
would be made for the purpose of
breaking down the domestic beet sugar
industry, which is now the source OF
wages and income to 100000 persons.
Would the saving secured by remov-
ing the duty on raw sugar pay for en-
dangering the life Of SO important an
American industry and one which in a
few years promises to supply all the
sugar needed and at lower prices than
ever before known? What intelligent
man would consent 20 be bribed with
$50 to bring about a possible disaster
to so useful and beneficial business?"
1t is probable that the problems in
volved in the sugar question will come
up for discussion and action in congress,
and that body may be called upon to act
in behalf of the development of the beet
sugar industry. Just how to strike the
trust without killing the beet sugar pro-
Queer, and how to benefit the latter
without filling the Golfers OF the trust
may he vexatious problem