The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-15
SEE A MENA TO
BEET INTERESTS
BUTTE COMMERCIAL CLUB Oh
JECTs 10 TARIFF REDUCTION. !
Resolutions Setting Forth the Growth
and Importance OF New Sugar Indus
try, and Declaring Against Proposed
Philippine Legislation, Are Adopted
at a Special Meeting.
Special to The journal.

Special to The journal.
Billings, Mont, Dec. l6--At special meet
ing Of the local Commercial club the proposed
amendment to the Philippines tariff bill, affect
Ing the sugar interests, was discussed in all
its bearings. It was urged that the beet-sugar
culture greater magnitude than the COM
| bined wool interests. at least SO far as Mon
tana Is concerned, and TWAS the unanimous
may cripple not only the large manufacturing
concerns, but may cause loss to the farmers Of
the state
The atter was finally covered in a set OF
resolutions that were presented to the meeting.
They were adopted unanimously. The resolu-
tiOns are as follows: -43
gar industry of the United States is proposed
at the present session Of congress-, said Iegis-
e ez hs
and possibly. other possessions in order to slim
ulate the industry in those islands; and,
| doubtedly have the desired effect Of building
| up the industry wherever q tariff revision or
free trade applied, such action would be fol-
lowed by grave consequences to the manufac-
turing and agricultural interests Of the west
and south a brief review Of the sugar bust
1 ness in this country will disclose:
| First-It is an industry of considerable proper
| tion and under the prosperous conditions that
have existed for the past few years it
mills in the United States. Eight are now in
Ing on for the erection Of possbiy ar dozen zen
more. All Of these vast interests would be
seriously affected by any hostile legislation that
Pacific to compete with American labor.
| z Growth Of Beet Industry.
| second-since science has demonstrated thu
commercial value Of the sugar beet, vast areas
Of arid lands that hitherto were practically
! valueless have been reclaimed. Experience has
lands the lands are not only increased m anesy
| fold In value, but are put in prime condition
tor wheat grains and many other crops grown
Thlrd-I The cultivation Of beets for sugar de-
and as a consequence more settlers are sus-
tanned on beet lands than can possibly make a
living where other and less profitable crops are
| grown. I$
Fourth-There is now under construction at
Billings a beet-sugar factory which, com
pletton, will furnish livelihood for 1000 more
settlers and laborers than are here now. This
| mill will cost approximately $1,000, 600.
Fifth-Negetiatio are now pending for the
towns in Montana. with q corresponding G'i in.
crease in population in each instance. -1
Sixth-Altho Montana Is third in area in the
tSsn ct o states our Is today
tible to reclamation is greater than that Of
tasc sa The INDUSTRY a is Of
| that It Is the first step toward utilizing the
agricultural resources Of Montana for manufac
Whereas we believe that tampering with the
present tariff conditions as affecting sugar would
have the direct result Of causing these proposed
| Industries to be abandoned and naturally affect
| our local sugar factory, and by causing lower
price for sugar beets, would eventually cause
great loss to our farmers. therefore be it
Resolved, That we, the Commercial club OF
Billings, believing that the American farmer
should not be compelled to pay for the pros
per1ty of the coolie labor of the Pacific; earnest
~ urge our representatives in congress to use
every just means to prevent any revision Of the
tariff AFFECTING the susarffroIn PhiIippines
or any other country, and that a copy Of thest
resolutions be sent to each Of our representative
and to each commercial organization In thu
state. ~ = (, ,r-E @.:& f%fs,,'sf4F7 =