The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-07-08
CONTINUED From Page one.)

does the work for both. 1t is all
one lobby. Oxnard and F. r.
Hathaway, secretary of the Asso-
citation of Michigan Beet Growers,
with several others who have
been down in Washington acting
with them, represent the inter-
ests of the whole sugar PROPOSE
ton. They talk for beet sugar,
but their talk and their work is
also for the legislation which is
desired by the sugar trust. The
sugar people hold up the beet
sugar industry as screen to ward
off attack on the sugar trust. 1t
is a case always of the poor
farmer growing sugar beets' who
is going to be injured when you
talk about taking this nasty mo-
nopoly from the sugar trust"
There have been reports, sem
ator, that the sugar trust through
the beet sugar representatives.
have been making promises to
certain senators from rural states
of beet sugar factor
les in their states and districts
with work for lot of people In
case they see fit to vote as the
sugar trust desires.
yes" said the senator, 81
have heard about those"
Would that amount to brib-
ery2"
THAT is an ethical question
which any man can answer for
himself"
what, II any other, indications
have you that the beet sugar in
dustry is controlled by the trust?"
Among the many things" said
Senator Bristow. 81 might call at
tention to an official report Just
made by the sugar beet industry,
in which 1t Is absolutely stated
that the refiners are now largely
interested in beet sugar.
That is a rather significant
statement. There may be signifi-
canoe also in the statement made
in this same report that during
the last three years the produc-
|tion of sugar beets in the United
States has been decreasing rather
than increasing. The production
lin 1907 was 463,628 short tons;
lin 1906 483,812 tons, while this
report shows last years produc-
ton to have been but 424,8S4
short tons, the lowest record for
three years. A good deal is said
about weather conditions, ETC., but
a good deal more might possibly
be said about the practice of these
big combinations to limit produc-
ltion."
How does the amount of pro-
duction compare with the amount
of consumption of sugar in the
United States?"
II am glad you asked that
question. There is a good deal
of talk always about making
enough sugar from our beets to
supply our home market. As a
matter of fact, the ratio of IN
crease in the production of sugar
in the United States is not even
keeping pace with the ratio OF
increase of consumption of sugar
in the United States. Between
1898 and 1907 the total produc-
tiOh VI ba6aI III LuC
States increased from 79S,443,3sS
pounds to 1,511.543,040 pounds;
while the consumption increased
Turing the same period from 3d.
46S,4S6,784 to 1883, 1867, 945
pounds. In spite of the enormous
tariff protection for which the
sugar trust howls and which 1t
has enjoyed In addition to its pee
ulations and other Illegal prac-
ices, the production of sugar by
processes of beet and cane grow
.ng in the United States does not
give any faint promise of ever
catching up with the demand of
Jour own market. The consump-
lion in the United States amounts
to approximately 100000 tons a
rear. Our production Is approxf-
mately 425.00O tons. This is be-
tween one-eighth and one-ninth OF
he total amount; and every year
he proportion is smaller. With
he beet sugar industry under the
humb of the sugar trust and sub
ect to the limitations OF produc-
ion placed upon 1t by the trust
Is not very likely that the beet
;ugar industry of the United
States is going to very soon over
take this enormous consumption
Of 100000 tons per year"
And the only excuse for the
tariff is the protection OF Ink
poor beet sugar erower7y
That Is the only excuse.
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