The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-25
Fight FOR FREE SUGAR.
WITNESS WRITES OTHER SIDE
OF LOBBY STORY.
Employe OF Refners Describes Efforts
Co Influence Public Opinion. Lob
by Committee Adjourns.

turned over new leaf In the story
OF sugar today and heard the details
Of the nationwide and long continued
campaign the advocates of free sugar
made to remove the duty on that ar
ticle. Frank c. Lowry. sales agent Of
the Federal Sugar Refining company
secretary and organizer of the Com
mittee OF Wholesale Grocers," wrote
the free sugar chapter for the COM
mittee. while Senator Cummins acted
as guide through the smoke OF the
battle of arguments and Senator's
Nelson and Walsh lent their assistance
when the issues seemed to become OBJ
scure.
Tonight the committee adjourned,
subject to the call OF the chair.
Robert 8. Lovett. chairman of the
Union Pacific board of directors, had
not been summoned to appear tonight
and his subpoena may not be served
until the inquiry Is taken up again.
Lowry's examination featured the
elosing session OF the committee. He
told Of his attempts to accelerate pub
nc opinion and TO persuade congress
men and senator's and spoke frankly
OF his efforts I'm the national campaign
Of last fall. He said he furnished
most Of the sugar information which
appeared In the Democratic campaign
text book; that ne prepared data on
free sugar for n Dmocratic campaign
document which the present secretary
OF the navy. Mr.. Daniels, said would
get circulation OF a million In pam.
plet form, and that he had wired urg-
Ing every member OF the resolutions
committee at the Baltimore conven-
tion to put free sugar plank in the
Democratic platform.
Lowry testified that he had con-
dvcted his fight solely for the Federal
company and that other refineries had
not hgured I'm H. After many ques-
tions by Senator Cummins the witness
agreed that although all the sugar re-
finers did not seem to favor free sugar,
they would benefit only In a less de.
gree than the Federal by a reduction
In duty. Lowry said. however, that an
omcial Of the American Sugar Refin-
ing company. the socalled trust. had
told him that free sugar would put
ps out OF business"
Senator Nelson was especially in
terested In the Committee of Whole.
sale Grocers," and wanted to know
just how II was formed.
There was no formal meeting. I"
said Lowry. ''I wrote to 25 or 30
Wholesale grocers and suggested that
We form such a committee"
They were just dummies then ?"
suggested Senator Nelson.
II don't think they were very
dumb" replied Lowry.
The whole proceeding was carried
on by correspondence?
Yes. SIR"
You appointed the secretary and
chairman and organized the commit
tee7"
Yes. SIR"
What authority had you to- select
a committee for the wholesale gro
GERS Of the United states?" asked
Senator Cummins
II didn't" said the witness. ct Sc
iected n committee for the people OF
the United States"
senator Cummins read n telegram
f'om Lowry 20 West Tubbs. secretary
OF the American Society of Equity
Madison. Wis. and a circular letter
from Lowry reading In part:
Il wired you yesterday asking you
To telegraph your representative In
washington To do everything In his
power to break the deadlock existing
In 'he ways and means committee
over the sugar schedule. This Is the
kind of work that helps the cause.
The beet sugar men have been
spending large part OF their time
trying To confuse the issue. was
afraid they might be successfu al and
therefore desired that the ways and
means committee be impressed with
the fact that the country as a whole
was watching their efforts and would
call O. them for an accounting II they
failed 10 act.
II am satisfied they received n
great number OF kilograms yesterday
and l privately learned last night that
favorable action has been taken
by the committee"
Don't you call that a lobby" asked
Senator cummins.
ut ~ not a lobby at all--that is the
direct primary idea" said Lowry.