Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-05-20
Protection and Trusts.

The downfall Of protectlon VIII no.
he long delayed, a big blow having
been struck by those who were IT'S
Warmest friends. The protectloh
theory is built on selishness ana Wheh
its yotaries cease to receive what they
consider their full measure or pfotec-
tion they are not only willing to see
tha whole fabric crumble, but to eN-
nose it's fallacies and freebootlng. Inc
sugar Slanters are the latest TO com
nlain. they are blaming Cuban reel
procity and the monopoly OF the sugar
market that the tariff gives the sugar
trust. 1t has hardly to be expected
though. that the American EcomO-
mist, the organ of the Protective Tar
iff League. would publish these evil
dent truths about the tariff on sugar
and the extortion of the sugar trust,
but in the last issue Of the Economist
there is an article by Mr.. Martin
Glynn. President and Manager of the
Modern Sugar Factories, Glynn, LOUIS
lana, which tells the sad story He
says:
''While the sugar industry has APP
parent protection in the Dingley Dill,
it is only apparent The annexation
Of Hawaii and Porto Rico, together
with reciprocity with Cuba, enable the
trust to so manipulate the sugar mar
ket in their own interest that they
keep down the price of raw sugar ana
put up the price Of refined as high as
they want. They will not allow us to
make fine sugar that will go straight
into consumption, as the, will not al
low the grocers . cadle it.
"When the sugar industry of this
country is killed, which IS being done
pretty fast, there will no longer be
any inducement to have tariff on
sugar any more than there is on coffee.
Then the people will not allow them
selves to be taxed for the benefit OF
Hawaii, Porto Rico or Cuba, or for
the sugar trust. The people will de-
mand free sugar absolutely free, re-
fined as we'll as raw. Then we will
get rid Of the sugar trust, the first and
the worst trust we ever had in this
country"
The sugar trust magnates are ON
nipotent; they decree to the sugar
growers what kind Of sugar they shall
manufacture from their cane and die
tate to the grocers that they must
only sell trust sugar. Lots Of people
no oSxr''
brown sugar, as it comes from the
mills Of the planters, but it cannot he
bought at any ordinary grocer's shop,
for, as MI Glynn says: 1.-The trust will
not allow the grocers to handle it."
That is the way the trusts-most of
them-are monopolizing not only the
manufacturing but debating the
wholesale and retail terms and prices
on which their product shall be sold.
The sugar trust is no worse than the
steel trust and lots Of other trusts, ex-
cept that it's production is a necessity
that all must purchase.
Now that the protectionists are be-
rating the sugar trust as 'the worst
trust" and saying "the people will de
mand free sugar, absolutely free, re-
fined as we'll as raw" and 'then we
will get rid of 4he sugar trust" shows
the quicksands upon which the house
Of protection is builded. The whole
structure is liable to collapse at any
moment, for if the protection to sugar
is removed why should the enormous
protection on iron and steel, fence
wire, axes, nails and numerous other
articles that the steel trust is inter
ested in be maintained. Why should
nearly all the other trusts be protect
ed so that they can charge Il greater
price for their products here than
abroad? That is the question for. the
voters to ponder over and inquire into
and instruct their representatives up
on. Don't be fooled by the fallacious
tales that the protective tariff brings
prosperity. That it conduces to high
prices is certain, for the cost of Iiyinr
is now at the top notch, as every one
who IS obliged to count the cost and
economic knows full we'll.
The Protective Tariff League, which
is league of trusts and protected
monopolists, is of course interested in
making the taxpayer believe that he.
too, is protected, but the palpable
massing of the wealth of the country
is in the hands of few and the con-
tinued struggle for existence Of tho
many is an unanswerable argument to
the farmer, the storekeeper, the clerk.
the artisan and the laborer, that they
have the worst Of the bargain. AS the
protectionists therefore acknowledge
that the sugar trust is the worst
trust, because it dictates the price Of
its products and who shall deal with
1t, and bears hardly on the sugar
planter, why are not the other trusts
that protection pampers equally hurt