The Greeley tribune., 1910-12-01


ing with the attorney general on the
final plans.
The suit is expected to rank IN
importance with those OF the gov
ernmentagainst the Standard on
COMPANY and the American Tobacco
company. now pending in the su-
preme court.
Opposed to the governorment IN
the struggle will be some OF the
most able corporation lawyers of the
country. James NJ. Beck. former
assistant attorney general and now
counsel for the American Sugar Re-
fining company. will lead the attack
on the governments position.
The filing of the suit was SIM
Pile process. The governments Pc
tition, in printed form, was handed
to the clerk of the district court by
the district attorney. Mr.. Wise de-
clined to make any comment.
The government petition Is
lengthy one, occupying 221 printed
pages, and is sweeping arraign-
ment of the defendant companies.
A considerable portion OF the petit
tion is devoted to the acquisition by
the combine OF the beet sugar plants
when that industry began to grow
formidable. In 1901 all the COM
panies except the Spreckels COM
pany, which was a beet sugar con-
cern, were independent.
The American, it is charged be-
gan its campaign by sending into the
middle west large quantities OF
sugar on which it had obtained re-
bates and free storage during the
summer. In the fall, which is the
time the beet sugar companies be-
gin to sell their products. the Amer
lean is said to have put its prices to
less than cost. injuring the business
OF. the beet sugar companies.
In 1902, having weakened and
discouraged these companies. the
petition recites, the American COM
pany began to buy them in, in some
cases exacting tribute for all sugar
sold by such companies. The Ameri-
can Beet Sugar company. 1t is charg-
u,
cent a pound on all sugar it sold.
At present, according to the petit
ton, the American company and its
subsidiaries control 72 per cent OF
the total output of refined sugar in
the country, which is said to be
enough to permit 1t absolutely to
control prices after meeting GER
tain amount OF competition.
The defendants are the American
Sugar Refining company. its direc-
tors and officers. and all cane and
beet sugar companies in which 1t
holds stock, or over which it has
control by the holding of stock by
companies, which in turn are con-
trolled by the American.
Colorado Companies Not Affected
The American Sugar Refining
company. commonly known as the
trust, does not directly or indirectly
control the Great Western Sugar
company. which is absolutely inde-
pendent and managed by our own
people. The directors Of the Great
Western are principally Colorado
men and the entire management is In
their hands"
Charles Boettcher emphasized this
declaration when he read dispatches
indicating that the companies held
by the Denver concern had been
named in connection with a suit to
dissolve the trust.
The suit il no concern of ours"
he continued. I'VE own and oper-
ate our properties and distribute $5.-
100000 or $6.0O0.000 every fall in
Colorado. The American company
held minority portion of our stock
when we organized, but they have
been selling that off. At first we
had not more than s stockholders.
but now we have nearly 1000. and
most of them are Colorado people.
The Sterling Sugar company. the
Morgan County Construction COM
pany and the SCOTS Bluff Sugar COM
| pany. which are named in the suit.
are all subsidiary companies to the
Great Western and are directly con-
trolled and operated by US. The
construction company ia out OF ex-
istence. Its purpose was the con-
struction of 4 factory. In no way
are We connected with the American
company. They are our principal
competitors"
| The directors of the Great Wes-
tern Sugar company are G. 8. Morey,
Charles .Boettcher, Alva Adams
John H. Porter, n. d. Thatcher. W