New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-09-06
THE FUTURE or SUGAR

produced But we speak OF ou'
own State in the main because II
concerns us most, and 1t VIII b'
glad day to this part Of the earti
when il comes-uot because It vii
hurt the agricultural interests OF
orr country, for tho reason that i
cannot. Instead it will make Ion
our country a prosperity in excess
effectively speaking. than the 10
man Empire in the days of lI'
supreme grandeur. It cannot bur
the planters-they are already
wounded TO the bone by the natura
or unnatural conditions rs the case
may be, developed during the last
two years. The change which ha'
taken place during that time, II
predicted two seasons ago, would
have been considered the vaporlng'
of demcnted idiot
This year those engaged III the
production Of sugar were confront
ed with the almost impossible IN
securing labor sufficient to plant
and cultivate the crop Now II
must he moved, and to do SO re
quiros Just five times the supply
and the question arises, where Is
it coming FRONT On account OF
the prevailing low price of sugar
the planters cannot pay an increase
Of salaries or wages, forthat would
mean immediate rulnatlOn. They
cannot lose the crop already made,
because it represents thousands in
invested capital, and will carry
with ii the same result.
And on top of this condition
comes one equally, if not more
disastrous than anything named in
the catalogue Of horrors so far only
M individual sentiment makes il
effective, and that is known as the
Brussels agreement, together with
the organization and perfection Of
the gigantic trusts, which controls
the market for their own benefit,
aud always against the producer.
But we will discuss first, the items
Of this article, produce the proof of
one portion, the labor part sub
stimulates itself
/ The planters of Louisiana are
in the claws of the trust, il not in
opinion, then in fact. That or
ganizaton controls the market,
and those who make it must sell by
the market price created by the
gougers. If they want to purchase
anything it must be at any amount
charged, and not what they are
willing to pay. This is the new
law of supply aud demand. The
trust demands the supply on its
own conditions and at its own
figure.
2. Labor to move this crop is
not here. IL cannot be brought
here except on the basis of high
wages which none can afford to
pay, based upon the market value
of the output.
3. Every planter with one or
two exceptions, is the property of
the money changers and the com
mission merchants. The few who
are possessed of an independent
pittance" will soon be, on three
cent sugar, IL their stubborness
and persistency are placed first of
their judgment--against the
storm.
4. We are going to have free
sugar. The whole world is going
to have 1t. The Brussels agree
ment, binding upon all countries
which took part in it, and all of
them did, provided for it to go into
effect next March, aud its going.
Here isthe point where the present
basis of the industry falls to rise
no more. The foundation has
been gnawed out, and the structure
rumbles. The planter who re-
tains his land left from the "crash
of matter" can sell il to the farm.
ers for money, retain his factory.
lie will then be a rich man and a
gentlemen--heretofore he was a
slave---to duty, sentiment, envi-
torment, to get richer, or poorer,
in his esgerness to carve ont some
thing new and big and grand--up
to date it has turned ont to be big
plantations, big crops, big losses,
big misfortunes, big notoriety, big
debts aud big bust. Sugar will
be a side crop, but enough cane
will be produced under advanced
conditions, for home consumption,
and not mpch more.
We cannot produce sugar in
competition with the tropical coun-
tries. With them it is a natural
crop, with us it is forced by 'fertil-
izer and cultivation. With them
ii just grows without these efforts.
Aud they can make just four times
4 IL. Al