Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1903-03-26
BEET SUGARS FATE.
WILL BE DETERMINED BY ACTION
OF PROGRESSED PROTEcTIoNlSTS.

WILL BE De ERMlNEO BY ACIiON
OF PROGRESSED PRoTEcTlONlsTs.
Good-DiscouraEing Condition of
the Industry From Two Important
Points of View.
The outlook for the beet sugar inter-
ests at the moment is far from salts
factory, both from legislative and in
dustrial standpoint. The sugar trust is
showing increased activity and using
every means in its power to turn the
sentiment in congress against the in
dustry. The managers of the trust
saw the great opportunity offered them
to knife the beet sugar industry in its
infancy through the aid afforded by
the sentimental position taken by Pres
ident Roosevelt and those members of
congress who follow his lead either
through honest belief or in hope of
material personal advantage. The
growth Of this new industry is the only
thing that threatens the trusts control
of the sugar supply of the Union. 1t
must, therefore, be an immense relief
to the trust to see the supposed friends
of the beet sugar industry ready to
throttle it before it has had time to
prove its value to the people of the
country and relieve 1t forever from de-
pendence upon foreign sources for
supply of this great staple.
In the mixed and contradictory sto-
ries that come from Washington it is
difficult to get correct view Of the
situation. 1t is asserted, however, that
Senator Burrows will favor the adop-
ton of the Cuban reciprocity treaty,
which reduces the tariff on all Cuban
sugars 20 per cent. Then comes the
announcement that Senator Alger will
follow the lead of Senator Burrows in
this respect. 1t seems hardly possible
that these gentlemen will aid in str1k-
ing down what Is becoming great in
dustry in this state for the benefit of a
foreign nation. We had always sup
posed that senator's and congressman
were sent to Washington to protect the
interests of their state, not to assail
them, and that farmer in Michigan
would be given more consideration in
legislation than farmer in Cuba. In
fact, we were not aware that our rep
resentatives were sent to congress to
represent the Cubans or their special
interests, but perhaps we are all wrong
ON this point.
These assaults on the industry have
also come at a time when the beet
growers, discouraged by an exception
ally unfavorable season, are demand
ing big advance on the price of beets,
which, if the factories refuse to pay,
will likely result in some of them clos
ing down. A 20 per cent reduction in
the tariff and considerable increase
in the price of beets are conjunction
Of influences that cannot but have a
tendency to stop the further invest
ment of money in factories. The very
men who are demanding concessions to
Cuban sugar growers and talking about
the big profits of manufacturers will
be the very ones to refuse to invest q
dollar in factories once they are grant
ed. They would not take the chances,
especially when the growers are also
demanding more money for their beets.
All this trouble for the beet sugar In
terests is very pleasing to the trust,
and its friends are in hopes that the
results will be so disastrous as to wipe
out the industry entirely and again de-
liver the country into its hands. Then
the losses sustained in fighting beet
sugar can be made up out of the peo-
pie.
If the avowed protectionists in con-
gress allow this beneficent industry to
be destroyed, the only one in which
the farmer can know the price he will
receive for his crop before it is grown
and can control to his own advantage
they will strike blow at the princi
pie they profess that will never be for.
gotten or forgiven. They are practical
ly telling the farmers that protection
is all right for the manufacturer, bu,
not for them. The sugar trust is to
get cheaper raw sugar to refine and tG
be aided in killing it's only rival.
The only hope that is held out to the
true friends Of the beet sugar industry
comes from an unexpected source. The
senators and congressman from Louisi
to the measure and will fight 1t. They
assert that the proposed treaty is 9
measure that has to do with the reve
nues Of the government, and all sucl
legislation must originate in the lower
house. There may be sufficient vote.
from this source to Offset the weak
kneed and derelict friends of the bee
sugar industry. OF course both Louisi
ana and Texas cane growers will b.
heavy losers BY the adoption of the pro