The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-11-26
PLANTERS mEETING.
Big Gathering of Sugar Men at Donaldson.
vile Last Sunday Steps Taken to
Investigate Alleged Conspiracy
to Depress Sugar Market.

F
to Depress Sugar Market.
Sugar planters to the number of forty,
representing various parishes of the Lou
isiana cane belt. assembled in mass meet
ing at the Donaldsonville courthouse last
Sunday forenoon to consider further the
alleged conspiracy to depress the sugar
and nolasses market, charges concerning
which were originally aired at meeting
of planters held in this city on the 9th
inst. The published report of the con -er-
ence, as furnished the New Orleans Times
Democrat by its local correspondent, states
that Outsiders who attended got no fur
Their inkiing of the specific persons or par
ticular clique the sugar men are aiming
at in their charges Of conspiracy. Though
there was some discussion. expressions
were guarded. Whatever investigation is
under way is being carried on quietly
The planters took fling at New Orle-
ans wholesale grocers, and charged that
no one of them will buy sugar or molasses
except through member of the Sugar
Exchange. This reused considerable talk.
B. C. Leblanc said he had received thirty
cents at Shreveport for molasses. and but
twenty eight in New Orleans at the same
time
THE Sugar Planters Association was
asked to cooperate with the executive
committee of the meeting in the campaign
against market manipulators, but only
after Senator John Marks. L. NJ. Soniat
and others had expressed rather poor
opinions of the association.
The report of the investigation commit
tee appointed at tie previous meeting
was read, and the following resolutions
were adopted:
BE it resolved, That the investigation
committee be thanked for the services
rendered and discharged, and that an ex-
ecutive COMMITTEES of eleven be appointed
by the chair. of which COMMITTEES he shall
be member and ex-officio chairman; that
said committee be continued in office uE-
til recalled. and investigate conditions.
prepare and urge the passage Of such leg
isiation and enforcement of same to the
end of protecting the agricultural products
from all injuries that may accrue from
manipulations that are not justified by
legitimate commerce, thereby insuring
that the law of supply and demand only
shall govern the market.
BE it further resolved, That the pur-
pose of this meeting is not to drive away
enterprises. persecute individuals or cor
p0rations or favor others. but simply to
insure fair play; that we heartily approve
and solicit the erection of canning and
mixing plants. such as are now being
erected in this state, feeling that the
handling Of molasses and syrup in This
way viii insure market year 10 and yeag
out for molasses, instead of one of q few
months: that we invite competition IN
trade. demanding only that by fair play
the producer earns and receives his just
share.
Resolved further, That we instruct this
committee to insure that due preeaution-
airy measures be taken to properly safe
guard against any action that would cause
the market for sugar and molasses to be
governed by any rule outside Of that of
supply and demand
Chairman Leblanc appointed the fol- |
lowing executive committee: Chas. Moore, |
Theodore Wilkinson. John Marks. E. N.
Pdgh. MaEtin Glynn. L. M. Soniat. Leonard
Waguespack, AifFed Songy, Jos. Rolling
and Jos. U. Folse.
Messrs. Marks. Folse and Pugh, wAq gre
members of the local bar, rendered their
professional services free.
The mater of the election Of a United
States senator was considered at length,
and a good part OF the time of the meet
ing was taken up with discussion of
Judge j. R. Thorntons probable stand On
the sugar tariff should he be sent to the
national legislature as one Of the senators
from Louisiana. Senator Marks finally
introduced resolution that a telegram
be seat the candidate asking for a specific
statement Of his position in this matter
To this telegram, enboaying the query,
Would you stand by sugar in congress-,
of party dictates?" Judge
Thornton replied Sunday afternoon as fol-
lows:
The evening of Aug. %, on my arrival
at Alexandra the day following my APP B
pointment as senator, / was met by a
large delegation of citizens and in re
sponse to their call for speech said
among other things: i expect to cast my Z
vote in every case on the side of what IN i
NY judgment is for the advancement Of
he best interests of Louisiana, and this
viii dc Fes9rdless of criticism. |
On the following day this was pub
ished in the Alexandra Town Talk and
wired to the New Orleans papers. On Aug.
g, in response to a request of the Town
Talk. / gave the paper a statement CON I
;erning the policies expected to pursue, /
which statement was also published, with
he speech above referred to. In. this +.
statement said that during my term of II
flee by no action of mine will the inter- 3
sts of any of the great productions of {
be Injured / stand bv fhalsF