The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-11
OF TRUST
TO BEAT THE BEET

factory or mill in the state. To this I
must add that in the early summer of
every year we run about two months, re-
hning syrups, and employing number
of people.
Beet Sugar Trust Impossible.
Replying to the question as to whether
the manufacturers of beet sugar were
getting together to fight the trust, Mr..
Theden said:
"one of our twin city dailies, which
seems to speak for the cane sugar trust,
calls the beet sugar industry trust.
There is one beautiful thing about this
industry-it is impossible to form trust
in the sugar beet business. Trusts nave
been formed in almost everything, but IN
the beet sugar business no trust can be
formed In our business the farmer is
the most important factor, and we can
do nothing without consulting him. II
the farmer refuses to raise the beets the
whole industry stops. The farmer can set
the machinery in our factories in motion,
and he can stop it, as he pleases Can a.
farmer set the machinery of the steel
trust In motion and stop it as he pleases?
Can farmer set the machinery Of the
oil trust In motion, and stop it, as he
pleases? And then. our factories pro-
duce sugar which needs no refining. We
don't make raw sugar to be refined later
on. American machinery and skill en-
able us to turn out sugar for Immediate
use, white granuIated sugar Of the purest
quality. This being the case, the pro-
cess is removed from any possibility of
monopoly. Any farmer can raise the
beets, and any capitalist can put UP a
factory for making sugar. Competition is
absolutely free on both sides, and no trust
is possible under such conditions. No
body needs to go to a refinery in order
to have his sugar refined; any capitalist,
or anyone having money, can build a fac
tory which will turn out sugar, ready
for immediate use. This fact that the
American method enables the manufacture
ers to turn out refined sugar, and the
fact that the beet sugar fact cries can
run only by the cooperation Of the farm
ers-these two facts make trust in the
beet sugar industry in this country an
absolute impossibility. But we manufac-
turers or beet sugar are getting together
with our farmers to appeal to the people
at large to help us fight the sugar trust
In congress. And I believe the people
will help US. For the beet sugar industry
Is the means whereby the people can sub
vert huge monopoly, and this industry
IS home Industry, the benefits of which
abide with our people,
In conclusion, why should the sugar
trust be permitted to strike down the
sugar beet Industry? Who is the sugar
trust, anyhow? And what has it ever
done to develop the resources of this
country? IT congress comedies to the SUI
gar trust the exclusive right to refine
by removing or reducing the tariff on
raw sugar, a merciless power has seized
the public by the throat. The people of
the United States will have a cheaper SUI
gar by developing the beet sugar indus
try. With numerous factories throughout
the country, competition will set in, and
competition will bring down prices AL
ready now We have over sec, OOC, 900 in
vested in the beet sugar industry, and
several hundred millions more will be
| invested in the near future, if congress
leaves the tariff alone. Other nations
! raise their own sugar, why can't we?
1t would take Is ZOO, 900 of tons of beets
at S4.S5 per ton to make sugar for the
| people of the United States, at present.
| This would bring our farmers about $780,
| 100000 annually. Are you going to let
the sugar trust rob our farmers of"this
| immense amount?''