The Washington times., 1909-04-28
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REAL
REVISION. NO. vi.

producing sugar in the United States.
Strong claim is made that the beet
sugar industry has made immense
strides in the last two decades, which
justify hope that in time the industry
will produce the entire American con-
sumption of sugar.
If this is true, there is good reason
for the demand that the industry be
given every encouragement But it GER
tainly is not too much TO ask that there
be rather more definite assurance than
the history of the industry thus far af-
fords
A great beet sugar establishment at
Saginaw, Mich, was pulled down with
in the last year OF two, and the ma
chinery hauled out to Western State,
the explanation being that the business
had not been remunerative in Michigan
Yet Michigan is one of the greatest if
not the greatest beet sugar State.
1t is but few years since there were
four immense beet sugar plants in Ne
braska. Now there is only one; and
the reason is that the other three did
not pay, and were finally shut up, the
buildings pulled down or sold for other
uses. and the machinery hauled away
to better adapted regions for beet Gull
ture. In Nebraska there was an al
most continuous feud between the sugar
manufacturers and the people who rails
ed beets. 1t was insisted that the man
ufacturers would not pay living prices
for the beets.
Since that time, it has been repeated
IL and constantly alleged that the beet
raising colonies which have grown up
around the factories in Colorado, Utah
and other Western States, are largely
made up of foreigners, among whom
/ child labor is the rule rather than the
exception. and that in general it has
been the experience that beets can be
raised at a profit only in this manner.
Now. it is not mere carping to point
out that there are some students of
this industry who do net agree that it
has made such marvellous strides in
this country. They urge that it enjoys
excessive protection, which the consum-
er must pay; that it invariably de-
ponds on child and women's labor, and
| fails where these are not at hand; that
it has in large measure fallen into con-
/ 3 L., Hnk IL.
maintains it as a side line for senti-
mental purposes relating closely to the
trusts interest in high protection for
its sugar refining business; that under
guise of protecting the twin infants of
cane and beet growing we are pouring
COLDER stream of tens of millions an
nually into the Sugar trusts Golfers;
and that, in short, the trust really con-
trolls the whole kit and Doodle of sugar
cane, beet, Hawaiian, Cuban, Philip
pine, domestic and imported, raw and
refned-and manipulates it all in tar
iff- making season for the advantage Of
its stockholders.
These charges have been made so
often; there has been so much cirgum-
stantial evidence in favor of every one
of them; there Is such insistent protest
against the high prices of sugar in this
eountry-that it seems not unreason-
able to ask that, before the sugar sched-
ules of this tariff bill are adjusted to
the final form in which they are to
scoop the cash out Of the public's pock-
ct TO the tune of 100 millions or so a
year, there shall be some consideration
Of the sugar schedule.
The beet sugar industry will have to
prove that it is a mighty good thing,
if 10 maintain it is worth all this coun-
try is spending on it. The demonstra-
tion ought to be made, not by partisans
and propagandists and enthusiasts, but
bv students and unbiased investigators.
In England, about this time, they would
be appointing a Royal Commission to
Contemplate the Relations Of Sugar
and the Sugar Duties TO the Welfare
and Interest of His Majesty's Subjects,
and to Report Thereon With Recon-
mendations TO the Parliament; and it
might be a good idea to set some If the
political lame ducks whom it is grow
ing 30 fashionable 20 pension with fat
sinecures, at the useful work of learn
/ ing something about sugar and whether
it is buncoing this country in the name
OF protection and the cause of trust.
The Washington Board Of Trade talks
! Itself blue In the face over an incidental
proposition 20 enter the true considera-
/ tion in deeds TO realty. Then il adopts
without substantial opposition three
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