The Detroit times., 1909-12-21
|ampton's- Magazine Makes sensa-
tiUnsl Expose, and Lashes Bur
rows for Aiding in Boosting
Tariff rnterestof Octopus.
Latter Secures Increased Schedule by
Declaring Protection Is Necessary
for Beet Sugar Industry.

Is the title or an article Dy Judson
IC Welliver. which deals principally
with the history OF the acquisition by
the sugar trust OF control of the beet
sugar industry.
Senator Burrows. OF Michigan, is
given prominence in the article be-
cause of his activity in fighting for
the trusts sugar schedule on the
ground that high protection for sugar
was necessary because of the needs
OF the beet sugar producers and re-
! lners.
At that time Senator Burrows de-
MED emphatically that the trust had
any interest In Michigan beet sugar
factories. He fought sturdily with
Reed Smoot, the Mormon church rep
resentative i'm the senate. and senator
4 Aldrich to maintain the eXorbitant
protective tariff by which the sugar
trust forces the people OF the United
States TO pay 10 IL slO000OoO more
than they would have 10 pay Tor their
sugar but for this duty.
In taking this position. Senator Bur
rows aligned himself with the other
Republican senators representing
states in which the sugar trust con-
trolls beet sugar factories. This state
ment demonstrates the cleverness or
the trust in using the beet sugar in
dustry as a political lever 10 assure II
of the protection il desires. That II
has rather throttled the beet sugar
Industry than assisted II is the sum
ming up OF the situation as seen oy
Mr.. welliver.
In the article in question the records
of the sugar trust.4- made available
during the recent investigations OF
Il that corporation, are freely quoted. II
is shown that a political-mercenary
compact..has been arranged by which
the best sugar business has been
largely turned over 10 the Mormon
church in return for political favors.
Michigan's part in this movement Is
shown clearly in that the number OF
beet sugar factories In this state mas
been reduced from % TO 16 since the
partnership was formed. one big
factory, that formerly located In sag
fnaw. has been dismantled entirely FOR
the purpose OF turning its machinery
over TO a trust factory in Sterling
Colo.
Every beet sugar factory in Michi'
gan is included In the trust list. Ihese
include the Michigan Sugar Co WITH
six factories. the West Bay CITY sugar
Co. The Holland Sugar Co, Owosso
Sugar Co, German-American Sugar
Co. Mt. Clemens Sugar Co, Menom'
inee River Sugar Co. 81. Louis Sugar
Co. Continental Sugar Co., and West
Micigan Sugar Co.
Altogether, the sugar trust has more
Il than s22 .O0O. 600 invested in beet sugar
companies. controlling 75 per cent OF
the country's beet sugar capacity. BY
+ this control, the trust has been en-
h abjed 10 secure high duties on refined
sugar and low duties on raw cane
sugar and to collect two cents per
pound extra on sugar sold in the
h United States.
n was In 1901 that the sugar trust
made its great campaign for the con-
troll OF the beet sugar industry. That
business bad grown up slowly here,
tho principal seat of the business be-
ing In the western states where the
! Mormon church had control OF most
of the big factories. A fight had
arisen over the tariff on Cuban sugar;
the trust wanted lower duties on raw
sugar, and the beet sugar men; while
contending for hugh duties on refined
sugar, opposed these.
Then the trust turned out its ac-
cumulation OF manufactured sugar al
cut prices just before the beet sugar
mon were ready 10 go into the mar
b ket. IL secured rate concessions from
the railroads and dumped its product
on the market in time To load up the
wholesale and retail trade so that the
beet sugar men found no outlet for
their goods The merchants were al
ready supplied
Since most of the beet sugar con-
Germs were borrowers Of large sums
OF money, they were quickly forced 10
capitulate Those which were con-
tro,led by the Mormons were treated
fairly; others took what terms they
could Then the trust, having whip
ped the opposition. got the tariff
schedules Il wanted.
Referring 10 the fight in congress
this year. Hampton's describes the
big beet sugar lobby present TO urge
high protection. naming &. y. Warren
and L. II. Hathaway. OF Detroit.
'They assured the senator's that
they knew naught OF the sugar trust"
says the article They were concern.
ed only, for the beet. And raising
thoir hands 20 high heaven, they VOW
ed their undivided unswerving and
undying loyalty 10 the beet. their un-
relenting and eternal hatred OF the
trust. And they got away with IL,
too"
The first entry i'm the sugar trust
records OF dealing with Michigan beet
sugar companies comes March %
1e02,--~heH-stf- offer for the sale OF
the Peninsula and Alma companies
was declined by the trust Ayril q
OF the- same year. the president of the
trust .reported the buying OF an in
h terest In the Sanilac Beet Sugar Co.
lie also reported the purchase OF
& $2e0.000 OF stock Of the Bay City FAC,
tory.
July or the same year the pur-
chase OF one-half Of the Michigan
Sugar Co. for 100000 was reported.
A loan -of sfo, Geo 60 the Alma com
pany MAS also approved on that
4 date. .-The--Alma Company GOT anoth.
er loan OF $50 900 on Nag, II. 1902.
Dec. %. 1902 the purchase OF 5000.
600 of the stock of the Menominee
River Sugar Co. was reported. while
fhe acquiring OF the eGerman-Americau
Co. Was mol reported untir March 20.
1903. March~s2i. 1903. the purchase
of SS5.OO0 OF the stock Of the Bay
. City concern is recorded. while on
Nay ~ the purchase OF 500 600 OF