United labor bulletin., 1912-04-18
ADOPT RESOLUTIONS
AGAINST SUGAR co.
Position of National Representa-
tives in Congress - Rucker
and Martin Dem. Are
for a Tariff.

BY adopting a resolution introduced
by ]. L. Compton. the Trades Assembly,
Sunday, again took smack at the Great
Western Sugar company, manufacturer
Of beet sugar in the state Of Colorado
The resolution folicws:
whereas, The Great Western Sngar
Co, with headquarters in this city. is
seeking to influence the various civic
| and labor bodies of the state, in resist
| ing a reduction Of the tariff on sugar by
the senate of the United States, and,
Whereas, The Trades Assembly OF
the city of Denver has put itself on rec
ord as in favor of a reduction of the
tariff, now, be it
Resolved. That the assembly in open
session assembled instruct its delegates
TO warn their unions against endorsing
any resolutions OF communications en-
anating from that company. and, be 1t
further
~Resolved. That the secretary be in
structed to write to President Gompers
and the legislative committee OF the
American Federation of Labor to use
every means in their power to influence
the senate to act with congress in favor
ing the reduction of the tariff on sugar.
Views of Representative Martin.
Trades and Labor Assembly, Denver,
Colo:
|
ceipt of telegram of James A. Conkle,
president of the Trades and Labor AS
sembly, and copy of resolutions in favor
of the bill to place sugar on the free list
: | am sorry that | could not see my way
clear to support this bill. but as it was
framed with the full knowledge that If
| il became law ii would wipe out the
beet sugar industry in the United States,
| | could not give it my support OF
1 frri yp11
Colorado is in favor of wiping out the
great and growing beet sugar industry
of that state and that resolutions in IA
vor of free sugar are passed in the pc
| lief that the domestic industry would
continue to flourish. There is, however.
no such belief in the minds of the men
who framed the free sugar bill. They
had simply two ideas in mind: First.
this bill will not pass, but viii be good
politics; second. the domestic sugar in
dustry is too expensive a luxury to be
maintained at the expense of the whole
people and the injury of Louisiana. Colo
rado, Michigan and two or three other
states will be the benefit of the rest OF
the country. Without assuming to criti-
cize this view. l take the position that
at least such action should not be con
Cured in by representatives who know
| that their states will be injured | will
frankly admit that have not yet
reached that exalted plane of statesman
ship which enables me to place the well
fare of other states ahead of my own
| Very truly yours.
| JOHN A. MARTIN.
| Views of Representative Rucker.
Mr. j. f Bedford. Secretary the Denver
| Trades and Labor Assembly. Denver.
| Colo;
| Dear Sir-I beg to acknowledge re
ceipt of yours OF the 18th instant trans
hitting resolutions adopted by your or
| sanitation at a recent meeting relative
| to the duty on sugar.
| | have taken my stand upon this ques-
| ton and while l very much depreciate
\ the fact that we disagree in our views,
| am glad to have an expression OF YOU
opinion. l trust. however, that you vii
read my speech upon the sugar schedul,
and that 1t may convince you of the fa'
llacy of the contention that sugar will
be cheapened by the bill.
As soon as receive 1t from the presi
viii send you twenty-five copies OF thid
speech and will greatly appreciate II X
you will hand them out to members OF
your organization. and they will then he
lenabled to ascertain my reasons for the
latitude which | have maintained upon
this question. Yours very truly.
A. w. RUCKER