The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-02-21

inc BTcdleSL BOOu 10 I1t BIcdtcSI uuuu-
Der. Apply that idea to Mr.. MFord-
ney's talk about the sugar industry
and see what becomes of it. All his
concern seems to, be for the millions
invested. What of the millions who
consume sugar? l think they are So
far in the majority as to make the
much-talked of dollars look mighty
small. | say if we can be provided
with cheaper sugar through the
Philippines, by all means let us have
it. y
"This talk about cheap labor is all
nonsense. What labor is used in the
beet fields, would like to ask? Not
American by any means; but rather
the cheapest. of imported Russians,
who are kept in the district where
they work during the season and then
shipped away like so many cattle.
Many of these laborers are children
and women, too. If there is any
labor cheaper than that l would like
to know where to find it. If there
were the beet sugar manufacturers
would PROBABLY corner IL.
"The beet grower gets hic money
earlier, perhaps, than he does for 9TH
er crops, but he gets no more for
beets than for many other things he
raises, or used to raise. Beets have
crowded out hay, oats, potatoes and
other crops to large extent, with the
result that the consumer is touched
again for higher prices for these pro-
ducts.
81 am Republican, but I do not
see why that should prevent me from
advocating fair play. AS for Taft,
consider him the broadest-minded
man in the country"
The day following the publication of
the Kitchen interview the Saginaw
News published the following letter
from Chas. T. Douglass, an indepen-
dent voter and certainly a gentleman
with original ideas. A study of the
letter and interview is invited. Mr..
Douglass writes:
Editor Saginaw News:
| declare the Republicans are all
mixed up. Fordney seems to be all
there is left. He stands up to the
counter for the sugar beet industry
like a man he is. But here comes DR..
Sam Kitchen, stalwart Republican,
kicking sugar beets in every direc
ton, going back on his party's own
industry. That is protection. He be-
ieves in protection to the great trusts
and other Republican CRAFTS of the
He must for he is a Repub-
pie to get the necessities of life cheap,
yet he will vote the high destructive
.ariff and put the Republicans in
power. If l believed as Mr.. Kitchen |
loes on the sugar beet question
would believe as Mr.. Bryan does on |
high tariff in full and vote the Demo-
,ratic ticket and get a revision of the |
ariff complete. Now, then, if there is |
IN industry in the United States that |
reeds protection it is the sugar beet |
industry, a Republican industry fos-
cred and started by the Republican |
,arty and now having the struggle of |
heir lives trying to build the indus
ry up to good paying basis so that |
hey can give the farmers that grow
he beets living price for their beets.
every man ought to stand by them
or it is an industry brought home
nd spread out among the people in
very direction. A home industry in
eed and sugar now cents. Cheap,
90 cheap Every man could afford
o pay cents and if they did the poor
uss that grows the beets would get
fiat for growing the beets and that
'ould give him living price. Now,
hen, few more words on the Philip
inc sugar outlet. So Mr.. Kitchen
ohld get cheap sugar If the duty
'as taken off Philippine sugar he
'ould get it cheaper and kill the sug-
r beet industry and then what? Then
ne sugar trust would gobble the
hole shooting match and in less
han two years force up the price of
lgar to the consumer to z cents and
l time 10 cents a pound. There is
here the price was before the sugar
eet industry was launched out by the
epublican party. Now, my friend
.itchen, just start a Republican move ;
revise the tariff on all protected
'usts for the benefit of American
'nsumers and / am with you. But
ant to go you one better. / want a ,
ounty paid to the producers of sugar ,
Gets OF cents pound for their sug- ;
test in all the beets they grow and {
cent pound to the factory that !
the beets into sugar ,
I'D that bounty paid, part by the ma ,
onal government and part by the ,
ate in which the industry Is located. :
on, perhaps, would not be in favor 8
that, because it's too humble. 1t :
mt sound great enough. No, there +
MT no millionaires interested in :
at. But there soon would be with =
ee Philippine sugar and consumers ,
ould pay double what they do now. q
way with your Taft idea. Fordney
all right.
Chas T. Douglass, 4
Birch Run, Mich. e
1,