The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-12-07
n UM..BER {: Is
SUGAR INDUSTRY IN PERIL.
Senator Thornton Sounds a Note Of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of the
Sugar Trust Likely to be Aided
BY the PoIlcy Of the New Adnain-
istration.

The following significant and i'm
portant article Is copied from the
New Orleans Times-Democrat of Sun
day last, and merits the serious con-
sideration Of every resident of Lou
is1ana who has any interest in the
existence and welfare OF the sugar
industry of the state:
Louistana's sugar industry is in
grave danger of extinction by the
next congress, is the opinion of SEN
ator Thornton OF Alexandria, who
was at the St. Charles Hotel yester-
day en- route to Washington.
Senator Thornton said there seem
ed to be a tendency on the part Of
press and business interests OF the
state TO minimize the danger of free
sugar legislation at the next con-
gress. He dep1ored this condition,
and said 1t must come from misin-
formation. He gave five reasons
why It Is more than probable that
the Democrats, both in the house and
senate, will make an attack on the
sugar industry. He said it can hard
ly be expected that anything else will
be done Ii the Wilson administration
1ASs. sAs ~ SesatS Jul It's dAIS-elecllOu
promises.
Senator Thornton asserted that he
himself was worried over the situa-
ton, and was hurrying on to Wash
ington to learn what the post-elec-
ton lineup might be in the senate
and house. He confessed that he did
not know what attitude the senator's
elect might take, but he did not see
how they could change front. He
said there was nothing to be done
Immediately except to watch develop
ments. 1t would not be possible for
the present congress to take any ac-
ton whatever, but the next congress
will be almost certain to do some
thing drastic. II it reduces the tar
III 81 1-3 per cent it will mean that
the sugar industry will die linger-
Ing death and pass out OF existence
IN the course of four or five years.
The whole thing is the work of
the sugar trust" said Senator Thorn
ton angrily. ut was prearranged SO
that the trust could control the mar
ket and raise the price Of sugar.
am told thaE had III not been for the /.
Louisiana cane sugar crop iii 1911
.sAAeA takS LSStSs ssu3fl1 IISp bi1Ss pIiCE5 OI
sugar would have gone to 10 cents
a pound. Nobody knows what it will
be when the sugar trust gets the
next congress to throttle the in
dustry. .
Senator Thornton's reasons for be-
heVing that sugar will be made the
goat Of the tariff situation are as
follows:
The Democratic house passed
q free sugar bill, all Democrats vot-
Ing for it except those from Louisi-
ana and Colorado.
q. Every Democrat In the senate
except the two from Louisiana voted
for a reduction In the sugar duty OF
SO l-3 per cent, the great majority
Of them being desirous OF a free su-
gar bill, but thinking that the reve-
nue. was necessary for the expenses
OF the government. Two OF them,
Bacon Of Georgia and MARITIME of
New Jersey, said on the floor Of the
senate the day the bill was passed
that they regretted they did not have
the chance to vote for the house free
sugar bill. With the exception Of
two or three, all the Democratic SEN
ators would have liked to pass a
free sugar bill, but were. restrained
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