The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-12-20
MICHIGAN SUGAR
FACTORIES IN
TRUSTS GRIP
Hampton's Magazine Makes Sensa-
tional Expose, and Lashes Bur
rows for Aiding in Boosting
Tariff in Interest of Octopus.
Latter Secures Increased Schedule by
Declaring Protection Is Necessary
for Beet Sugar Industry.

There is particular interest for
Michigan people In the January num-
Der OF Hamptons Magazine. The
Mormon Church and the Sugar Trust"
Is the title OF an article by Judson
&. Welllver. 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-
finers.
Al 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 In the senate. and Senator
Aldrich to maintain the exorbitant
protective tariff by which the sugar
trust forces the people OF the United
States 10 pay TO II $l0,000.OOO more
than they would have TO pay for 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 I'm using the beet sugar in
dustrv as a political lever TO assure II
OF the protection II desires. That II
has rather throttled the beet sugar
industry than assisted II Is the sum
ming up Of the situation as seen by
Mr.. Welliver.
In the article In question the records
Of the sugar trust, made available
during the recent Investigations OF
that corporation. are freely quoted IL
Is shown that a political mercenary
compact has been arranged by which
the best sugar business has been
largely turned over TO the Mormon
-rYfurch In return for political fayors.
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 Is since the
partnership was formed. One big
factory. that formerly located In Sag
,naw. has been dismantled entirely Tor
the purpose OF turning It's machinery
over to a trust factory In Sterling,
Colo.
Every beet sugar factory In Michi-
gan Is included In the trust list. These
include the Michigan Sugar Co.'S with
six factories, the West Bay City Sugar
Co. The Holland Sugar Co. Owosso
Sugar Co. German-American sugar
90 Mt. Clemens Sugar Co. Menom-
inee River Sugar Co, st. Louis sugar
co. Continental Sugar Co, and west
Michigan Sugar Co
Altogether. the sugar trust has more
than 800 0OO. 900 invested In beet sugar
comnanies. controlling rs per cent or
the country's beet sugar capacity. BY
this control. the trust has been en-
ahled 10 secure high duties on refined
sugar and low duties on raw cane
sugar and to collect two cents per
mound extra on sugar sold In the
United States
II was I'm 1901 that the sugar trust
made its great campaign for the con-
trol of the beet sugar industry That
business had grown up slowly here,
tho principal seat of the business be-
ing in the western states where the
Mormon church had control OF most
~ the big factories. A hght 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 reined
sugar. opposed these.
Then the trust turned out Its ac-
emulation of manufactured sugar at
cut prices just before the beet sugar
men were ready TO go into the mar
ket II secured rate concessions from
the railroads and Dumped It's product
on the market I'm 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 to
capitulate. Those which were con-
trolled by the Mormons were treated
fairly; others took what terms they
could. Then the trust, having whip
ped the opposition. got the tarin
schedules Il wanted.
Referring to the fight in congress