The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-01-11
Taft and Free Sugar.


press for Philippine tariff legislation at the present
session of Congress. The cards have been too wei
stacked against the administration in the Senate
The sugar interests are too thoroughly ntrenched
there the hand, and the Democrats for po-
litical reasons, have shown their intention of re-
fusing to assist the Republicans who are friendly to
the reduced schedules project, despite their general
revision and free trade protestatiOns
Secretary of War Taft returned from his visit
to the eastern archipelago more fully convinced than
of the wisdom and justice of granting the Fill
pinos relief from the burdens which the present
tariff wall imposes upon them, but he finds condi-
tons prevailing here which would make the fight
a losing one The administration whole is pretty
we'll convinced that losing fight this winter would
not help matters year or so later.
1t may be said here that the administration does
not blame the stand-pat and beet sugar Republican
Senators for the situation so much as it does the
Democratic leaders, who are the ones who packed
the Philippines committee to prevent favorable
consideration of bill by it. Senator Culberson
in attempting to play petty politics in the matter has
suffered great loss in his reputation as broad
minded statesman.
That ultimate justice will be accorded the Fpinos
however, is foregone conclusion Secretary Taft
will not surrender.
1t appears from Washington advices that free
sugar and tobacco will be postponed until Taft is
elected President There is no argument for free
trade in these commodities which has appealed or
can appeal to Congress on its merits. Taft insists
that he does not want large manufacturing plants
established; that his desire is that the Filipnos
shall become small farmers raise sugar and tobacco
and that Filipino capital shall erect small plants
that the material shall be shipped out. He
that he desires only that the Filpinos shall raise as
much sugar and tobacco they did under Spanish
rule. He stutfes himself always by insisting that
the sugar and tobacco trusts responsible for
the defeat of his pet measure.
If the Filipinos will not be allowed to produce
enough to compete with our home production, of
course the trusts would be Indifferent. AS matter
of fact, when the Taft legislation is passed, the
trusts will take possession of this very inviting field
The Democrats fully understand this, hence their
opposition
In addition, the Democrats do not want to en-
courage American capital to be protected by special
legislation in its exploitation of the islands The
Democrats generally wish to get rid of the islands,
and know that it will add to the difficulties in deal
ing Justly with the subject in the future, if American
capital has gone there by special invitation of the
Government, and become invested account of
special legislation for its protection and USE
The archipelago is peculiarly adapted for sugar
raising, from the cane. The friends of the beet
sugar industry in this country understand fully the
menace to sugar-beet production if Taft has his
way and sugar is allowed to come in free from the
islands.
The Scimitar has heretofore pointed out that I'M
less Iaft is elected PRESIDENT this legislation Will
not be attempted no matter whether other
Republican is elected President whether Colonel
Bryan is elected In this immediate section of the
United States the situation is rather amusing.
Utah and Idaho very largely engaged in beet
sugar production. The president of the Mormon
organization is president of every sugar factory in
both States, and his fellow polygamsts the apostles
directors of these factories There are five plants
n Idaho, and seven or eight in Utah The sugar
rust and the Mormon church own a majority of