Evening journal., 1909-11-16
GRIP OF The
SUGAR TRUST
Report Of Agent StimSOn Con-
|. Sidered by the President
And Cabinet Today
SUGAR TRUST INFLUENCED
BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
NEW YORK, Nov. 16.-when President
Taft and the cabinet in Washington to-
day took up for discussion the proposition
of how to crush the sugar trust, Attorney
General wickersnam presented a report
compiled by Henry L. Sumson, SPECIAL
acting deputy attorney general setting
forth the crimes he expects 10 prove The
combination guilty Of II is Understood
that this report declares that tine Amerl-
can Sugar Refining Company crushed its
rivals by sheer weight Of money; that il
corrupted government inspectors without
limit; bribed employees OF opposition CON-
panies TO report the details Of their en-
ployers business so that the trust could
undersen them and thus froce them into
bankruptcy; contributed to the campaign
funds OF ali parties prior to the last
presidential campaign so that natoAal
chairman and committees were unoer OBJ
legations and finally by means OF a secret
understanding with the Spreckels interests
OF California. apportioned the sugar trade
Of the country so that the independent
trade has been wiped out with two excep-
tions and they Of an immaterial character.
But-and here is the real reason why
the cabinet discussed the mattef-most
fthis alleged law breaking Is covered
by the statute Of limitations.
There are plenty OF proofs of guilt up
to the time that Henry o. Hayemeyer
died in 1907. but since that time the proofs
which would convict are scarce. There Is
plenty Of moral proof Of guilt since that
time" stimson is reported to have de-
clared. but very little that could be con-
sidered legal or would be admitted at a
criminal trial"
And this Is what the cabinet must
decide. 1t must go over the evidence
that Stimson and his agents have Sc
cured and then must decide what form
of prosecution will be likely to re-
suit in real punishment for the men
responsible.
Business interests here are wonder
ing to-day what will result from the
congressional investigation which Is
believed inevitable and which will GER
| tanly cross the tran OF the trust and
! trace It back to the day Of the firsi
American Sugar Refining Company
frauds.
It is a certainty that both Of th'
big political parties will he involved
i The administrations OF Grover Cleve'
land, Benjamin Harrison, Cleveland
! again. William Mckinley and also
/ Theodore Roosevelt viii be brought
/ into the limelight. The Presidents
memories will not be srnirched, but
| prominent members of their official
/ families will he shown TO have been
close To the sugar trust officials and
to have much TO explain IL the cpin-
ion Of the old timers in the Street
goes for anything.
In 1894 Elisha JAY Edwards publish
ed charges against the sugar trust,
alleging that it had interfered with
Congress and had secured favors al
the hands of the leaders. The Senate
investigation which followed resulted
in the prosecution Of the president OF
thes ugar trust and five others for
contumacy.
That was the first real knowledge
the public had OF the strength Of 'he
trust. The allegation was openly
made and not denied that the pSotec-
tive feature Of the Wilson German
tariff bill which contained a provision.
! giving the sugar trust the limit OF
protection. was drafted by John G.
Carlisle. then secretary Of the treas
ury. This bill became a law without
the signature Of President Cleveland,
who believed the Senate had betrayed
the people.
From that time on the sugar trust
has been much in the public eye. but
has never criminally prosecuted.