The Dolores star., 1913-06-13
our WASHINGTON LETTER
Dsisgs b asl Absst TIE Naiisaal
ca1itd.
BY Congressman Clyde II. Tavenusr.


ate exposing the methods used BY
the beet sugar trust to manufacture
false and artificial public sentiment
against the tariff bill. Senator
Thomas, Of Colorado, has perform.
ed : public service second only to
that Of the President In calling at.
tention to the insiduous tariff lob
by, the most powerful which ever
operated in Washington.
Senator Thomas's speech gives
the pubic some idea Of the pressure
national Legislators must withstand
when they attempt to pass laws
which the special interests oppose
but which the people watt.
Senator Thomas and his col.
leagues, Senator Shafroth, as well
as two representatives at large. Ed.
ward Heating and 4. T. Taylor.
were elected In Colorado last fall on
the Democratic ticket by pluralities
ranging from As 900 to 50, 600 votes.
While the platform did not speci.
fically endorse the removal Of the
duty on sugar, it endorsed all the
actions of the last Democratic
House. one Of which was to pass
q free sugar bill; and Representa-
tive Heating ran on q straight free
sugar platform. 1t was evident
that Colorado, with its extensive
sugar industry, voted for Tree sugar
by q plurality Of $4,000.
The special session Of Congress
met. The tariff bill, providing for
free sugar was introduced. And
then what happenedl From all
parts Of Colorado letters began
pouring in on that states Senators
and Representatives protesting
against free sugar. So numerous
and vehement were these letters
and kilograms that they apparently
indicated . tremendous revulsion OF
feeling in the state toward the
sugar tariff. Any honest legislator
might we'll hesitate before he voted
against such an overwhelming ex.
preston Of public opinion.
Senator Thomas. however. went
behind the returns. He got in
communication with Thomas S.
Price. an intelligent man formerly
employed by the Great Western
Sugar Company, at Longmont.
Colorado. who told the Senator
how the fictitious public sentiment
was manufactured. He wrote
"You will NO doubt receive let.
tiers from employees Of the factory
here, q they ere compelled In an
underhanded way either to write
them or take chances Of losing then
Jobs by refusing"
Price enclosed . form letter
which the sugar companies ordered
their employees to copy, sign and
mail to Washington. This letter
does not speak for the sugar com.
pany. but Is ell for the poor farmer
and the poor wage Garner. After
instructing the emplo, es how to
direct the letters. the instructions
were: "A letter to Hon. Woodrow
Wilson, President Of the United
States. Washington. d. c.. will do
. lot Of good. lfyou are Demo-
crat, tell them SO. 1t will carry
more weight.
In this way thousands Of en-
ployes Of Colorado sugar mills have
been Influenced" to write to their
Senators and Congressman. urging
them to vote against free sugar. |
Senator Thomas charged that q
similar campaign was carried on
among the sugar beet growers and
with banks and commercial associa.
tions. all Of whom have been add
ing their letters to the food now
pouring in upon the Colorado legis.
lators.
These companies have made an
enormous amount Of money. not
only upon their capitalization. bu,
upon their overcspitalisation, dc.
clared Senator Thomas. Two oil
them operating In Colorado repre-.
sent collectively . capital Of $50.
ooo, 900, $50, ooo, 900 Of which Ii
water, pure and simple. Yet they
have paid dividends constantly up.
on their preferred stock, and for q
large part Of the time on their
watered stock. and one Of them has
Q surplus Ia the treasury In excess
Of $io. 900, 900.
This fight merely means that
these hugely overcapitslized indus.
tries want to retain their franchise
to rob the people BY taxing the
accessories Of life, to the end that
they may pay profits upon the cap
Il sL.a 49,. ksu-