The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-09-06
FREE SUGAR FAIlAcY.
cogent Argument Against Destruc-
ton of the Domestic Industry
-Irrefutabie Reasons for En-
couraging Sugar Production in
the United States.

the United States.
One of the most forcible series of
arguments against the policy, of the
present national administration with
regard to the sugar tariff which has
been adduced, is contained in q let
ter addressed to the New Orleans
Times-Democrat by e. E. Dickinson
of Lafourche parish, La, a gentleman
whose high character, marked ability
and thorough familiarity with the
sugar question are widely known.
We are glad to accord space to a
reproduction of the following por-
ton of Mr.. Dickinson's unanswer-
able array of facts and reasons for
encouraging rather than destroying
the domestic sugar industry:
From a national viewpoint the
facts and arguments against free su.
gar are many and some of the more
forcefu1 are:
81. AS an Economic Proposition
Primary wealth comes. from the
ground. The United States produces
$100,000,000 OF sugar in the states,
and about the same in her insular
possessions, thus making $500, 900
per annum produced from the soil as
new wealth in the United States.
Free sugar would destroy this. out
put and would send to foreign coun-
tries this S2OO,OOO,OO0 for their own
sustenance and betterment, and thus
deprive this country of that amount
put in circulation here. As the gold
reserve is only $140, 100000, sending
that amount of money out of this
country might seriously affect the
money situation, and it would serious
ly affect the business and labor sit
uation, as hundreds of thousands of
workers and those dependent upon
them would have to go out in the
highways and byways and look for a
living and sustenance along other
lines of endeavor.
"2. AS an Economic Proposition
Statesmen of experience and wisdom
in every country in Europe where
sugar can be produced and in other
countries have given much time and
thought to the encouragement of SUI
gar production through tariffs, boun
ties and otherwise. The United
States alone is discouraging the
production of sugar by bringing its
producers in this country into COM
petition with producers in other coun-
tries on conditions that are absolute
Il unfair to our producers. Were it
possible for our lawmakers to get the
sugar producers OF other countries to
do away with these tariffs, bounties,
subsidies and other assistances to the
sugar producers of Europe, I feel
that the large production of sugar
would be automatically curtailed at
present world prices, and that were
the excise duties taken off sugar so
that the price of sugar in Europe
would be as low to the consumer as
it is in America, the consumption
would be so much larger that the
surplus now produced would be wiped
out and we would thus be put upon
an equality with other sugar produ-
GERS instead Of an inequality.
SO. AS an Economic Proposition
Sugar is the only commodity that /
know of that is produced from the
soil as a raw product and turned out
as a finished product at practically
the same point, as is done in the
matter of domestic beet and cane su-
gar for immediate consumption, thus
saving to the consumer in the imme
diate territory of production high
freight rates from the seaboard re-
finer to the consumer.
Sugar as Revenue Producer
Sugar brings to the government $751;
100000 per year, a sufficient sum to
build three battleships per annum,
which we are sadly in need of if
We are to keep our position amongst
the great nations of the world, or,
should no new ships be decided up
on. to assist in maintaining our pres
ent navy. There are smart and wise
men who are excellent at figuring,
also at law, who have negative opfn-
ions both as to the sufficiency and
validity of the income tax.
.5. AS Just Proposition-The
government when sugar was dear
100 per cent dearer than it is to-
day-induced citizens to stimulation
in spending both time and money to
perfect themselves in the production
of sugar Today, when through their
exertions, their efforts and work
IL ey have succeeded in making good
sugar cheap, the government notifies
them they must make it still 33 1-3
Der cent cheaper, and in trying to
do SO, ruin themselves or go into
other walks of life, which is just
like telling a lawyer, doctor, minister
Or laWmaker to be a carpenter,
blacksmith or shoemaker, or vice
versa.
"6. AS Just Proposition-The
platform Of the Democratic party and
the voice of the chief executive Of
the land proclaimed for an imme-
diate downward revision of the tar
iff,' also that no legitimate industry
would be ruined and in no manner,
shape or form was it suggested or
limited that sugar would be put en-
the sacrificia1 altar of free trade, and
it was with this understanding that
the people of Louisiana voted for
the Democratic party, and it was
with this understand ing that the
nomination of the present chief ex-
ecutive was made possible.
"7 As an un-Demoeratic Measure
1t has always been my understanding
that the Democratic party has been
the friend and alder of the small
producer, the champion of independ-
ent factories, and the enemy of
trusts and combinations in restraint
of trade. It looks like a sad change
of policy and a strange reversal Of
form when it is willing to destroy