St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-11-24
The Sugar Trust Scandal.

The news end Of the situation is thai
government agents have been investiga
ting the methods of the Sugar Trust
and have unearthed great frauds on the
part of the trust agents and customs
officials of the government that have
cheated the government out of $50, OOO,-
900 of revenue from imports of sugar
each year for long period back by the
use of false samples and false weights
that James F. Bendernagel, for many
years general superintendent ofthe trusts
rehneries in New York, has been indicted
for fraud that the trust has controlled
civil service appointments to such an ex-
tent it has been able to corrupt the gov
eminent officials and carry on its frauds
that government agents who have been
investigating the frauds have been fol.
lowed and their lives threatened that
the sugar trust has been able to control
the tariff rates in every tariff bill from
the Wilson bill in the Cleveland admins
tratlon down to the present day that
several customs inspectors at New York
have been discharged; that the admins
tration is thoroughly aroused and pro-
poses to remedy the serious conditions
revealed by the investigators; and that
Congress is likely to order an investiga-
ton of the matter Independently of the
proceedings of the department of iustice. /
In the brieiest and an inadequate way
the above statement summarizes the
columns OF news matter that are filling
the public press on the subject. Appal-
hing indeed is the first effect of this news.
1t discourages and disheartens all who
have honestly believed that this country
was enjoying period of genuine reform
and civic righteousness. 1t reveals with
shocking conspicuousness the utter
absence OF honesty or honor among the
great commercial interests which have
dominated modern life. In this TWEEN.
tieth century with all it's civilization. all
Its moral power and all Of its high ideals
there has existed in the commercial life
OF our nation spirit and purpose more
evil and debasng than the ideals and in. {
tuences of the ages when armed bands
plundered and ravaged the lands through
which they roamed. Manhood has been /
sacrificed without question to increase
the plumber Of the octupus of wealth.
Not satisfied with fortunes which have !
placed the fortunes of the earlier ages in
lnslgnihcance American men who have
won TO some extent public esteem by
their magnificent public benefactions !
nave consplred to rob, demoralize and a
degrade American life that they might {
pile up still higher and give more lavish.
ly their millions OF i'll gotten wealth. :
Not less discouraging is the knowledge a
that Notwithstanding the demand for
honesty in public service it has been i'm. Q
possible to obtain it; that political
parties offer no prevention from these t
outrages, it having been practiced alike a
under republican and democratic rule: i:
that civil law can be defed and evaded I
with mpunty; and that the honest man G
IN politics has been 50 edectually defeated t
and outwitted in his efforts to serve well i.
the people who have had confidence in h
him. =
here is, however, hopeful feature to e
the situation. These things have existed \
under the cloak of secrecy. They would h
have been and are now impossible in the
light Of publicity. The rea! heart of the
American people is for the right in these Il
matters. 1t has only to be shown the
existence Of such evils to arouse it to a y
spirit OF actual conflict. Now that the t
spirit of vandalism in commercial life v
has beenrevealed there is good reason to Y
believe the generalpublic will renew with b
greater yigor than everits efforts to SUP. a
press and control it, The administra. e
ton IS pledged to do its utmost to cor Il
rect these conditions and everybody be- \
lieves that it will do effective service in S
this work. So long as the public is in l
terested and vigilant there will be pro- t
gress. The American people must and t
we believe will place public honor above e
private corruption and secure more t
effective reforms than it has in the past. j