Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-09-11
Independent Refineries Are
Preparing For Battle
With Sugar Trust Barons

Philadelphia, Pa. Aug. 17-Whole-
sale grocers have banded together into
what promises gigantic opposition for
the great sugar trust. They aim 10
terminate the exactions of what has
become an intolerable monopoly. by
controlling Independent sugar plants
with a daily output OF 10000 barrels
In order that they may supply them
selves with their own product and thus
not have to go to the American Sugar
Refining Company, popularity known az
the Sugar Trust, for their sugar supply.
A large Independent plant has been
built in this city and when the indie
pendents are fully under way they will
be able to produce forty per cent OF the
sugar consumed in the United States.
Adolph Segal. business man of bus
mess instincts. is concerned in this
venture. Mr. Segal has worked" tho
trusts to an extent unapproached by
any other man. He built match fac
tory which he sold to the match trust
paper factory which he sold to the
paper trust, and sugar refinery which
he forced the sugar barons to buy. His
interest in this venture led many wise
ones to shake their heads in the belief
that II was only the old game; but
this. through force of circumstances
cannot be.
Mr.. Segal's sugar refinery was at
Camden. Il cost the trust 81 ,000,0 900
upon which there was handsome
profit. The factory has never been
operated since, but taxes are assessed
against 1t as though II were in full
running order. and as this is losing
business proposition President Have
meyer, Of the trust, has decided that
no more Independent plants will be
bought, Hence the independents will
paddle their own canoe.
These Independent concerns have
been started by the wholesale grocery
interests as a matter of protection and
profit. Thus far there IL no definite
plan to unite them; but representatives
Of the trust say frankly that II will
assert its supremacy at any cost. and
that, II the independents attempt 20
enter tho open market. a rate cutting
war will be begun and carried to fin
ish. The natural result OF such an at
tack would be the consolidation OF the
new concerns into rival trust or their
absorption Ly the greater combination.
Trust Controls Twenty Plants.
Since the establishment OF the trust
in 1887, and its reorganization into the
American Sugar Refining company,
fineries in New York, Philadelphia,
Boston, New Orleans, st. Louis, San
Francisco and elsewhere, there have
been numerous attempts to manufac
ture refined sugar independently OF
the trust; but that great commercial
institution, with a capital of 800, 900. 900
and reserve at times reaching to $780,
00O, 900, either absorbed the weaker re-
fineries or crushed them out OF exist
ence, with the exception of the big
Arbuckle concern.
There are a number of great whols.
sale grocery firms in the country which
have had extensive dealings with the
trust, and which feel aggrleyed over
what they term summary and incon.
siderate treatment" These firms say
they were nard hit in the fall of 1901.
when the trust inaugurated war against
the beet sugar refiners OF the Missouri
Valley and cut prices IA cents a pound
Wholesale, laying the commodity down
In 81. Louis at 3la cents pound net.
Grievance OF Wholesale Men,
This action. aimed at the beet sugar
industry OF the West, which had shown
signs OF prosperity and aggressiveness.
hit the wholesale distributors of the At
lantiC seaboard, and rendered 1t impos-
sible for them to handle goods save at
a loss.
II was also charged that the trust
was selling indirectly It's sugar to spec
ially-favored importers, in order to dis