Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-06-18
BEHIND THE SCENES
IN SUGAR L0bbY'S
WASHINGTON CAMP
LETTERS and TlEGRAMS FILED WITH SENATE COMMITTEE THROW MUCH
LIGHT ON ACTIVITIES OF SUGAR MEN IN THE PAST CONGRESSES
DR. WILEY AND SENATOR NWANDS BROUGHT INTO FIGHT AGAINST
FREE SUGAR.
SUGAR TRUST FURNISHED SUGAR
ARTICLES IN REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

Washington, D. c., June 1S.-Mor
letters and kilograms from the privat
files of the anti-free sugar lobby pu
into the record>of the senate invest
eating committee today purported t
show that the beet sugar men ful
nished the sugar tariff arguments cor
tanned in the Republican national can
paign text book of 1912, signed Dr.
Harvey Wiley, former governmen
pure food chief to deliver lectures
expressed great doubt" of forme
President Taft's ability to carry sucl
states as California, Utah, Idaho ant
Colorado and added, "if we don't hea(
him off we might be able to get {
promise relative to the sugar and to
bacco industries" The introduction
of the private letters was opposed by
Henry T. Oxnard, and Truman G
Palmer, both prominent in the beet
sugar campaign. Through their at
torney they protested that the com
mittee had no authority to bring in
any correspondence dated prior to the
present session of congress on the
ground that it was used only to in
vestigate if a lobby threatened legis-
lation now pending. Many of the let
tiers referred to activities years ago.
After the committee considered
their objection in executive session,
Chairman Overman announced that all
Oxnard and Palmer letters would be
admitted on the ground that they
were corroborative evidence to oral
testimony already heard.
"Mr. Oxnard testified that for twen-
ty years he had been active in the
campaign against legislation to re-
duce the duty ON sugar" said the
chairman.
"Mr Palmer. before this. committee,
gave similar testimony. The commit
tee believes these letters are corrob-
orative of testimony that has been
given here that there is lobby in
this country, organized to defeat any
legislation for the reduction of the
sugar tariff. These letters are admis-
sable as evidence, we believe, as show
ing common design and plan bear
ing on what has been done in the
past, and what is being done here now
to oppose the sugar tariff reduction.
Friends of Oxnard and Palmer de-
clared an effort would be made to
have the senate itself limit the scope
of the committees investigation.
An unsigned letter to Mr.. Oxnard,
dated Irving Park, Chicago, July ~,
1907, was in part as follows
major Cove wrote to me some !
time since in regard to the formation
of the senate Philippine committee in
the sixtieth congress and | wrote him
that that matter was fixed last win |
ter. Cove writes that Teller will take
it himself, rather than to have 1t in
uncertain hands. Any friendly Dem
ocrats seen during the summer will
count they say-that is it is wise to
have as many Democrats understand
it as possible"
A letter August 27, 1907, from Ok
nard to Palmer:
better not even try to get any reso-
luton through regarding Cuba, as
hat might start our enemies going
read carefully the Beet Gazette My (,
Judgment is that you had better not
allow Roderus to get your name too
,ften in print as some one will begin |,
@ comment on it. 1t seems to me
hat you can do better work for the :,
cause by not being thought connected :
With the paper in any way" {
July 18, 1907, Oxnard wrote from !,
Iew York to Palmer: i,
81 prefer that you leave the Cuban !,
question alone for the present. If we 9
,egin talking it will start them rails !,
ng money and talking back. 1t opens !
he fight which l think had better be .
.ept quiet at present. :
Regarding the trust, I would neith- =
r attack nor defend them. We don't :,
vant a fight with them if we can help =
t. Nor do we want to let them fight q
S quietly if attacked" II
Oxnard wrote to Palmer on July l., I
Dos: q
after going over the situation with
ur friends here most carefully it =
as deemed best that should not put n
/ an appearance at the Denver con- b
ention and I feel that it might be NJ
etter if you also stayed away. 1t Is "
Il right for Morey and Cove to be fe
,ere. But I feel that our presence NJ
ould do no good and might do some IL
arm with our Republican friends at g,
Yashington next winter. ALI here ST
Ike the same view"
A letter from Oxnard to Palmer in D;
ugust, 1907, in part:
Regarding the vacancies on the hi
hilippine committee, it is true that h;
othing can be done until next winter, 81
1T spoke to Foster and Newlands;
) told me he was 0. X, and asked nj
lem to apply for vacancies made by lie
le Tennessee and Idaho senators. o,
hey told me they would, and there
e matter stands. I understand from CO