The Mena weekly star., 1911-07-27
SUGAR TRUST UNI
 LOADEDON WOMEN
Knowing the Investigation Was Coming, 10000 Women in New England States Were Induced to
 Buy Stock of Sugar Company.

New York, July f9.-Searchinc questions put to Washington B Thomas, chairman of the board of directors of the American Sugar Refining Company, long known as the head of the sugar trust, today revealed the fact that 10000 women had been practically robbed of their hard earned savings by being induced to invest in stock unloaded by the trust. MT. Thomas was placed on the grill by Congressman Jacobway of Arkansas, when the trust magnate was recalled to the stand before the house committee investigating the monopoly.
 Most of the women victims were natives of New England. They were sold the shares when prices were high and just before the pros cautions, commenced by the federal government, sent the securities tumbling. The trust was then un- loading.
 When attempts were made to bring out the details MT. Thomas frequently answered:
 T cant recall" but finally ad- mitted that the sugar stock had been sold to ten thousand women.
 The examination also brought out the significant evidence that the sugar trust officials had ample warning that they would violate the sherman antitrust law if they carried out the pooling arrange ment when it was perfected.
 Did not Secretary MacVeagh in- form you gentlemen that you were in violation of the law and that you will land in the penitentiary?"
 q heard something about that recently" was the vague reply.
 Who advised the company as to whether it might form the combi- nation?" was asked in reference to the agreement made in 1902 with the American Beet Sugar Company.
 Some of the lawyers said it would be a violation and others said it would not" was the reply.
 Who was the lawyer who ad- vised that it would not be viola tion?"
 John F.. Parsons"
 How many refineries have the American Sugar Refining Company dismantled?"
 T object to the word disnantled. The company has right to build or discontinue refineries that 1t owns"
 An effort to get the list of the abandoned reflneries proved fruit less. The witness would not tell.
 Why was the capital stock in- creased from $75,000,000 to $90,000, 00O?" ITO buy B beet sugar reflneries. MT. Havemeyer put that through. l have no direct knowledge of it.' Was it Havemeyer who formed this combination?" 1T can't recall. Mir. Havemeyer was always good to the consumer, but some of his methods were not in sympathy"
 'Ts not most of the $90,000,000 stock of the company water?" The witness would not answer. Would you not say that actual value of the company's property is si0,000000 instead of s90,000,0 ,0OO?' q could not say off-hand." Congressman Maltby took the wit ness in hand and asked him wheth- CT Havemeyer and rival, Arbuckle, did not have conference and agree to end this war. They had some agreement, but I did not know about it" Was not this agreement reached after the American company had entered the coffee field against Ar bucklef" q believe it was" Then the war ended?" "The competition was not so keen after that" The witness was made to identify a contract between his company and factor, or sugar seller to the trade, by which the factor agreed to the price stipulated by the trust.