The Meeker herald., 1913-07-19
That lnsidious Lobby

The sugar lobby is the most insid-
ious and the most dangerous organi-
zation ever formed in the country for
the purpose of influencing legislation.
This statement is sustained by the
testimony wrung from unwilling Wit
nesses by the senate committee en-
trusted with the duty of probing
President Wilson's charge that ,
powerful lobby was endeavoring to
defeat the Underwood tariff bill.
OF course, no lobby In the history
Of the country ever fought for 30 big
prize.
AS has been repeatedly pointed
out the sugar tariff enabled the sugar
trust to add from one and one-half to
two cents TO the price of every pound
Of sugar consumed In this country.
This means an increase in the ma
tion's sugar bill of $l15, ,OO0, 600 to
$l25, 900. 600 q year. OF this sum 49,
600, 900 went to Uncle Sam and from
*es, ,OOO, 600 to 47s, 900, 600 year went
to the trust.
Is 1t any wonder that sugar mag
nate Oxnard declared that he thought
$3.50, 600 "a very small sum" to ex-
pend In an attempt to defeat the Gu
ban reciprocity bill, or that, when
questioned concerning his expendi-
lures In another sugar campaign, he
was unable to recall whether he had
spent ''$234, 900 or twice that sum-
What were hundreds of Thousands
Of dollars to these men who were
playing for millions?
1t is impossible within the limits
of this letter to give an adequate syn
opsis of the amazing testimony pre-
sented to the senate investigating
committee. / am determined, how.
ever, that the facts shall be placed In
the hands Of the people Of Colorado,
and after the committee completes
its labors 1 will see that abstracts Of
the evt 'ence are scattered broadcast
over the state.
To my mind the most important
fact developed was the sugar trusts
attempt to buy up the press of the
United States. Oxnard brazenly de-
clared that "they subsidized every
paper they could reach" and letters
seized by order of the committee
showed that an attempt was made To
color the reports sent out from WASH
ingtOn by the assooiated press.
IN ananding, IN naalaeX. tAAstEpst
disreRarded political afliliation. It
paid Democratic editors as readily
and ~ generally ~ II did Republican
or Progressive editors. So far as
Colorado is concerned its work
among the Democratic editors must
have been distinctly disappointing,
for know of only three or four 80
called Democratic papers which have
even wobbled on this issue.
1t is quite different with the Re-
publican papers Of the state. Most
of them are printing matter supplied
by Truman G. Palmer" and other
sugar trust press agents and 1 pre-
sumo they are receiving for the ser
vice at least as high . rate as they
would charge the ordinary advertiser
for "pure reading" notices.
1t Is only right that the men and
women who read these subsidized
papers should know the truth -
should know that the editors have
bartered their honor for the sugar
trusts dirty dollars.
The New York World suggested
the other day that the senate COM
mittee make an effort to secure a
complete list of the papers which
had been reached" by the sugar
agents. The World argued that it
was unfair.to have this insufYerable
stigma attach to all newspapers and
that the goats should be separated
from the sheep.
Unfortunately this seems to be i'm
possible. Up to date the senate COM
mittee has secured cnly q small part
of the trusts correspondence, and it
is probable that the remainder has
been destroyed.
Sugar" Oxnard testified that on
the first or each year he burned all
the letters and other records con-
nected with his work as q lobbyist.
1t also developed that other lobbyists
were not required to account for the
money entrusted to them.
So, many chapters Of this story of
corruption will never be set down in
l
and many proud names will be saved
from disgrace, but enough has been
revealed to arouse the American