The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-06-12
terests to finance the .washingto
light against free sugar.
Wilson's Attitude.

4uSSONi60SAOA " IIC 6UHAI lOOOy
by the senate lobby committee yester-
day was to a marked extent a con-
troversy over whether President VIII.
son had given sugar producers reason
to believe they would have nothing
to fear" from free sugar under his
administration.
l. Out Of the days testimony, in which
Louisiana and Hawaiian witnesses as
serted they had not received fair treat
ment from the president and had been
misled by others as to his purpose. the
committee succeeded in drawing what
are believed to be some Of the most
important facts thus far developed.
Some Of h sugar men frankly admit
ted that they constituted a lobby al
though they objected to the charge
that any of their actions had been
"insidious," or in any way illesitimate
or underhanded. They admitted that
comprehensive campaigns had beer
organized and carried out. to create
"backfres" on senator's and. repre-
sentattves from their own states. in
the hope Of winning their support to
the anti-sugar, side.
The prosperity Of Louisiana was at
stake" said Jules Godehaux. a sugar
planter. We tried to get the people
We did business with to write to sem
ators and representatives telling them
that free sugar would destroy the
business 'of the state. We asked them
to write and wire to Washington and
to ask the merchants they did business
with throughout. the United States to
do same. We tried to establish an
endless chain Of letters and kilograms,
to draw the attention Of congress to
our arguments"
Had Used Efforts.
John F. Hamburg Of New York,
manager for a large Hawaiian sugar
hrm. admitted that his firm had urged
all of their 1900 or more customers
to write to senators nj representa-
tives pointing out the destruction to
business that would follow free sugar.
We had to do that to overcome the
effects Of some Of the misstatements
that had been made in the free sugar
campaign" he said.
Plainly restful of the presidents
recent statements as to the operation
Of an "insidious lobby in Washington,
the Louisiana and Hawaiian sugar
men enlivened the hearings with fire.
quent attempts. to tell Of the pledges
they believed they had received that
sugar would not be made entirely free
Jules 9odchaux and A. F. Dickinson
the two Louisiana witnesses. declared
they had tried in vain to see the presi.
dent and had been informed he had
all the Information he wanted on the
sugar tariff. Mr.. Dickinson declared
the president had never talked with
any practical sugar men" about the
Louisiana situation. and that he had
obtained most Of his information from
National Committeeman Robert Ew.
Ing. a newspaper man; Sol wexler. a
banker: Representative Broussard and
2eNaf0ra Randall and Thorn<on ~,,t,o
was sitting in the committee room.
Basis of Charre.
Charges Of sugar men that they had
been given assurances of the presi-
dents sympathy on the sugar question
were based on statements Representa-
tive Broussard had made to the wit.
nesses. after a visit to President-elect
Wilson at Sea Grit.
IT was assured by Mr.. Broussard,'
said Harry Irwin. representing the Hi.
plan endorsing a tariff reduction such
as would not destroy any legitimate
industry was prepared in Mr.. Wilson'S
presence and sanctioned by Mr.. VIII
son with direct reference to the sugar
situation"
The fact that the Baltimore conven-
ton did not endorse free sugar. and
other circumstances Of the campaign,
the witnesses said. had led to support
Mr.. Wilson in the belief they would
have nothing to fear'' from any
movement for free sugar..
I'VE cast $4,000 or 10000 votes Tor
Wilson. and subscribed money to hi.
campaign in Louisiana said Jules
Godchaux holly. ION the assurances We
thought we had that he would not
favor free sugar"
After they got to Washington. Mr..
Godchaux said, the sugar planter.
made vain efforts to see the president
and talk with him. I'VE went to the