The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-27
SUGAR TUG OF WAR.
SpreckeIs Tells Of Fight Between His
Father and Havemeyer.

Washington. June 27.-Details of a
great sugar war in the early nineties
between Claus Spreckels in the West
and Henry o. Havemeyer in the East
resulting in an alliance between them,
were related to the sugar trust inves-
tisating committee of the house by
John d. Spreckels, son of the Pacific
sugar magnate. and president of the
western Sugar Refining company Of
San Francisco.
When Claus Spreckels met Henry
.. Havemeyer in that old sugar war. -
asked Representative Madison of the
witness, 1t was a contest of Greek
against Greek. was it not?"
1T certainly was fight
Mr.. Spreckels then described how,
during the sugar war. his father in
Vaded the eastern territory and erect
ed great cane refinery in Philadel-
phia. That brought about the cuimi-
nation of the fight.
"Who was the first of those two mas
ters to throw up his hands" Mr..
Madison resume ed.
Il think it was Havemeyer," said
Mr.. Spreckels. when we entered the
East in the fight, of course, both my
father and Mr.. Havemeyer realized
| they were losing money. They came
to their senses, and, in short, came
together and concluded that such a
fight was of no use. It resulted in a
and the formation of the Western
Sugar Refining company in California
which took over the American Sugar
Refining company plant and our plant
there.
1.-The American plant in the West
was closed down. Each side took a
half interest in the new company. In
the East the entire Philadelphia
Spreckels plant was eventually sold
to the American Sugar Refining com
pany. That was I think, in 1892"
After that there never was any
competition between Spreckels and
Havemeyer, was there?" Mr.. Madison
inquired.
mo, but there has since been plenty
of other competition
Mr.. Spreckels also described how
Mr.. Havemeyer became associated
with them in 1897 in the Spreck els
Beet Sugar company to the erection
of the largest beet sugar plant in the
world.
He further related the history of
an agreement in 1903 between the
Western Sugar Refining company with
rival concern, the California-Ha-
waiian Sugar company, whereby the
plant of the latter was leased by the
former and shut down for three years.
Eventually it was turned back to the
original owners and again a Compel
itor. This transaction, Mr.. Spreckels
said, he was advised by counsel was
not violation of the Sherman anti
trust law.
The witness declared in his opinion
free trade in sugar would ruin the
beet sugar business and, he prophesied,
that with the tariff on sugar let alone,
California alone could furnish enough
sugar from beets to supply the entire
United States and to warrant the tar
iff protection of the industry.
In answer to questions by Repre-
sentative Kinds, Mr.. Spreckels said
the American Sugar Refining COM
pany did not have a monopoly of the
sugar business of the country.
IF their motive in coming to Cali
fornia was to monopolize the sugar
business, they did not succeed" Mr..
Spreckels declared.
We'll, the American Sugar Refining
company. having half of your stock.
are you conscious of competition with
them in Missouri river territory ?"
asked Mr.. Kinds.
"Oh, yes" was the reply. I'VE conf
pete with their New Orleans and New
York output in that territory"
well, does not the American Sugar
Refining company, owning half the
stock of the Western Sugar Refining
company, have veto power in that
company ?"
mo. My brother, my son. our at
torney and myself are on the board of
directors and dominate the affairs Of
the company. They can't vote us out
or put us OUT