Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1913-07-25

ha'e got involved in this indus
try"
Thus far the evidence has dis
closed:
i. That eighteen months ago
he Honolulu and Louisiana planters
land' 1t will be shown, the beet
sugar mill proprietors) began their
campaign to maintain the present
tariff.
2 When Congress assembled
these gentlemen likewise assem-
oled and made common cause.
% They established expensive
headquarters-iude three separ-
ate headquarters. They held in
Vulnerable conference. They
agreed upon a concerted plan of
action. At the time of this inter
view the evidence disclosed a total
expenditure here at Washington of
something over $4,000. What
may be shown by further ~investi-
cation to have been expended in
Washington or elsewhere can only
be surmised..
Il At least five men who r
here as members of the lobby have
testified that they were under pay
from ten to twelve thousand dol
lars per year each.
rs These gentlemen have an
peared before committees, have
been to see the President, have
visited, first and last nearly every
member of the Senate, have filed
oriefs presenting their cause, and
have filled the newspapers with
advertisements signed under the
name of THE Domestic Sugar Pro-
ducers." The particular feature of
their work is the least objection
able.
&c Months ago they began an
attempt to iniame public opinion
and legislative opinion by this de-
vice. They employed skilled news
paper men and caused news arti-
cles or descriptive stories TO be
written into which they slyly in
serted an argument in favor of the
beet sugar industry. Practically
all Of these articles were so pre-
pared rs 20 lead the reader to be-
iievo that they we're ordinary news
paper articles put forth as matters
Of news whereas in fact they were
written and disseminated for the
purpose Of defeating reform in
the sugar schedule. These articles,
including editorials were accepted
by numerous papers throughout
the United States. They appeared
under date lines indicating that
they wer telegraphed in the re-
gular way employed by newspaper
correspondents and press associa-
tiOns, Surely this was insidious. It
was sly; it was full of plots; it was
intended to entrap; it was crafty
and willy.
~ But these gentlemen were
not content with creating a public
sentiment through the press. The
deliberately sought by the adoption
Of business methods working
through bushes channels, to bring
pressure to bear upon Senator's and
Representatives in Congress from
their home constituency and to
convince these legislators that
there was a genuine demand by
their home people that the Under
wood bill he not passed. To this
end they started what they describ-
ed as the endless chain system. The
sugar planters of Louisiana appeal
cd to all Of the business interests
of New Orleans. The beet sugar
people rCsorted TO like methods.
The sugar planters Of Hawaii ap-
pcaled to all their business connec-
tious in the States. They requested
these business connections at once
to write or wire their congressman
and Senators protesting against
the passage of the bill upon the
ground that its passage would in
jure those home citizens thus APP
pealod to. The matter may be sum
med up almost in the language
Of one of the sugar Lobby: eve
(the sugar mem we're against the
bill for business reasons; we APP
pualed to the business men of New
Orleans to help defeat the bill for
business reasons, and these last in