Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-13
THE BEET SUGAR
CONTROVERSY.
r. T.. Robson Writes Regarding the
Understanding Between Com
pnny and Farmers.


following to The Deserct News, re-
auesting its publication. The position
Of this paper has been that the dis
putes between the sugar companies and
the farmers, like those between the
creameries and the milk men. the can
ming factories and the fruit and tomato
growers, etc, are matters that should
be settled by the parties interested.
Observation-Disclosures arise and feelings
are engendered by rushing into print.
whereas mutual conferences and frank
ana friendly discussions of the points
involved might clear up existing DIFF
ferenccs.
One side of the Weber county con-
troyersy having been published, how
ever The News prints Mr. Robson's
letter in the interests Of fair play.-[Ed.
News.1
ogden. Dec. 11.--Mr. Eccles, in an
interview with your reporter on Dec. 4.
says, as to the recent agitation for an
increase in price of bcets. that no one
has spoken to him and there was no
understanding with the beetgrowcrs
who met on Dec. Z that he was to be
asked for raise. But. in the language
of two of his stockholders walking
down the streets of Ogden the other
day, the farmers are Just beginning
to get their eyes OPEN" and have
reached the conclusion that they can
not afford to raise beets at the present
price; and that an understanding
should be reached by all of the farmers
supplying this factory at least. And
for that reason they met and decided
that with all tho hindrances heaped
upon them by people associated with
Mr.. Ecclcs. they would simply have to
quit the business unless the price was
raised and changes made in the con-
tracts that are SO detrimental to our
interests. 1t Is simply a business prop
osition.
AS to the contract or agreement be-
tween him and the farmers, If he has,
or did have at any time, the idea that
they agreed to grow bcets for 1911, he
was badly mistaken. When Mr.. James
Wotherspoon read the following letter
before the meeting Of March 26 there
were cries of mol" NO" all over. the
ogden, Utah, March 26, 1910.
James Wotherspoon, Esq.
ogden, Utah.
Dear Sir: Relative to the question
asked by you as to whether the sugar
company bona fldely intends to pay the
farmers of Weber county SAFE per ton
for beets raised for 1911, We desire to
say that If the farmers will contract
for beets for 1910 at $3.50 per ton we
viii at the same time accept contracts
with them for 1911 at s4.75 per ton, fob.
factory. If they so desire.
yours very truly.
IN. S. BROWNING,
HENRY Fl. ROLAPP,
Secretary"
AS to the letter mentioned by Mr..
Eccles, we know nothing of It, only
Mr., Wotherspoon. while we were yet
discussing the question, stated that he
had just received letter by telegraph
or telephone from Mr.. Eccles, saying
that If he could not get the other COM
panies to give s4.75 for 1911 he would
pay 1t out of his own pocket, but Mr.
Wotherspoon was not at any time our
representative.
AS to the signed report sent to the
sugar company; If that had been cor
rectly stated. nothing would have been
said about 1911. as it should have been
n copy of the minutes of that meeting.
The minutes read ION motion of MI
Levi ]. Taylor. and seconded by John
Maw the report OF the committee was
approved and the beet growers proceed
to raise beets this year at the 81 so IN to
as before This was in view of tho
factory people promising better load
ing facilities.
II MI. E1ccles thought that solemn
agreement entered into by no one but
why his hurry to get them to sign UP
for 1911? He has had his agents out for
over n month trying to get contracts
something never done In the history OF
the company before.
Now. as to the part Mr.. Wotherspoon
took in the matter: He did nothing but
what he thought was for the best good
of ALL AS far as we were concerned.
his services were unsolicited. At the
same time, we did then and do now
appreciate very much his desire to CT
feet Il settlement. Nor was he alone.
The newspapers of Ogden as we'll us the
Real Estate association did the same
ill they were invited by the company
to step down and out. We are. also
very grateful to the bankers of Ogden
for their interest III our behalf. We
were not without friends then. nor are
we now. for our cause Is just.
Now for the sliding scale for 1912. II
we and he live. we will or may have the
sliding scale that slides but the one
way, in 1912. Why has he decided to
10 that? Because he knows we had him
beaten last year and may do it again
unless he changes his tactics.
We do not believe that any other peo-
pie In the United States are so poorly
paid as those under the Amalgamated
system. Speaking for the people as II
Whole, we do not believe they would
Accept II from rllle ldCln liltl Ib llluLtcI
what n mans beets tested he would
nave to take their word for 1t, as their
contract provides that in all cases the
decision OF the sugar company shall
sc conclusive. And Ii that We're elm
mated the farmers would have to en-
,oy a chemist at Il salary of 1925 or
more per month to look after their side
s IF it, which 1t would be doubtful II they
would do
Many of us are not afraid of the slid
ng scale If n contract was drawn up
.hat would bind them as it does us. But
he present one gives them the power
one beet in II load of my bects weighs
,vcr three and one-half pounds, to re-
Icct the whole load; the same with u
damaged or frozen one. Also. If they
want my bcets they can demand them
delivered any time after they are thin