Gilpin observer., 1913-05-22
|kEAT|NG ANSWERS PATTERSON
ARTICLE ON THE SUGAR TARIFF
BY Edward Keat&ng.

me the Rocky Mountain News OF Sun
day, May IL. contain'ng an article
by Senator T. M. Patterson on, "Why
Free Sugar Would Cripple Coloraios
Great Industry.
do not think, l am exaggerating
when say that no recent contribu-
ton to the discussion Of the sugar
tariff has brought such Joy to the
hearts of the hordes Of sugar lobby
lists in Washington as this state
the News.
For weeks, these hired men of
THE sugar TRUST have beseiged the
offices Of Senators Thomas and Shat
froth pleading and cajoling them to
enter into a combination with the
sugar senator's from Louisiana for
the purpose of blocking the Democra-
tic tariff revision program. Apparent
ly they received little or no emcour
agement. I'm fact, one of the press
agents of the sugar interests public
ly announced that the Jig was up"
and that the Underwood bill would
go through the senate without amend
ment, or rather without material
amendment
Then came the Patterson ARTICLE
and the sugar lobbyists were filled
with new Life. They evidently re-
gard the former senator's pronounce
ment as their last and best card. If
Patterson, backed by his powerful pa
per, cannot drive Colorado's senators
into the sugar camp, then nothing
can move them, is the way the lobby
lists figure the game.
viii Defeat
the Entire Bill.
Il am discussing frankly. because
believe that the people of Colorado
should understand the situation.
II Senators Thomas and Shaffroth
should follow Patterson's advice and
JON the forces of the Louisiana SEN
ators, then the tariff will not be re-
vtsed at this session.
There are 90 members in the SEN
ate-51 Democrats and 45 Republi-
cans. II four Democratic senators
desert their party, the protectionists
will control the situation, and no
tariff bill will be passed, which does
not conform to the views Of the su-
gar trust and the wooden trust. These
two great combinations are the head
and front of the opposition to the
Underwood bill-"the keystone Of
the arch of protection, as senator
Aldrich happily phrased it.
1t ds Uncomfortable that the house
and the president would capitulate
to this piratical combination. The
president has declared. with an en-
phasis worthy of "Old Hickory, that
II ann neither seeking nor accepting
compromises, and the position of the
house ds equally unmistakable.
II the senate surrenders to the
twin trusts, the mutilated bill will
be defeated in the house. or veto
ed by the president. and the respon-
sitthty for the nullificacion Of the
peoples Will must be placed where
tt belongs.
Patterson's
Position.
Senator Patterson, in justification
Of his advice TO the Colorado sena.
tors, says: II enthusiastically urg-
ed Mr.. Wilson's nomination for the
presidency and his election because
believed he was a statesman who
would fearlessly insist upon a gen.
eral tariff revision downward. and
upon the removal OF the unnecessary
tariff props from industries which
time and experience had proved coult
stand alone"
He then endeavors to prove that
THE very lowest price for which
American, beet sugar can be made Is
$2.70 per 100 pounds. and the highest
cost Of Cuban cane sugar. Including
refining charges. is GIGS per loo
pounds.'
Basing hds condition ON this state
ment Of fact. he argues that the
American beet sugar industry can
not survive " the tariff Is reduced
below one cent per pound.
II the senator's figures we're cor
rect, the duty Of one cent a pound
which he says he is willing to ac-
cept, would not be sufficient to save
the beet sugar industry. II you add
one cent a pound to the "highest
cost OF Cuban cane sugar. quoted
by the senator, you VIII have $3.50
as the price for which Cuban refined
sugar may be laid down In New York
duty paid.
This would be four cents hund
red less than the "very lowest price