Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-08-27

CAMPAIGNFOR
FREE SUGAR, TOO
TBy Latest NALL

s.r+
WASHINGTON. - The senate COM
mittee in pursuit OF ''the lobby" turned
over a new leaf in the story OF sugar
today and heard the details of ma
tion-wide and long continued campaign
the advocates of free sugar made to
remove the duty on that article. Frank
C. Lowrey, sales agent of the Federal
Sugar Refining Company, secretary
and organizer OF the COMMITTEE Of
wholesale grocers," wrote the free SUI
gar chapter for the committee, while
Senator Cummins acted as guide
through the smoke of the battle Of ar
guments, and Senators Nelson and
Walsh lent assistance when the issues
seemed to become .obscured..
Tonight the committee adjourned.
subject to the call of the chair. The
three Democratic members will be re-
quired to attend the Democratic eau
Gus on the tariff bill, which begins to-
morrow, and Chairman Overman did
not know when the hearings would be
resumed. Robert s. Lovett, chairman
OF the Union Pacific board of direct
ors, had not been summoned to appear
tonight and his subpoena may not be
served until the inquiry is taken up
again.
Lowrey's examination was the fear
ture of the closing session of the COM
mittee. He told of his attempts to
accentuate public opinion and to per-
suade congressman and senators, and
spoke frankly of his efforts in the ma
tional campaign of last fall. He said
he furnished most of the sugar infor-
nation which appeared in the Demo
cratic campaign text book; that he
prepared data on free sugar for q
Democratic campaign document which
the present secretary Of the navy. Mr..
Daniels. said would get circulation of
100000 in pamphlet form, and that
he had wired urging every member OF
the resolutions committee at the Bal
timore convention to put free sugar
plank In the Democratic platform. The
witness was on the stand for four
hours, and when he left he promised
to produce any correspondence In his
files relating to the organization Of
the grocers' committee for his free
sugar campaign. Many Of the circu-
lars sent out by him on the letter head
of the organization were read into the
record by Senator Cummins.
Mr.. Lowry testified that he had con-
Quoted his fight solely for the Fed
eral company, and that other refiners
had not figured in 1t. He thought the
expenses had amounted to about
s26 1000 In four years, exclusive of his
salary and commission as sales agent,
amounting to about $4,000 In that
period. He got nothing for his tariff
work, he said. After many questions
by Senator Cummins, the witness
agreed that, although all the sugar re-
finers did not seem to favor free SUI
gar, they would benefit only in less
degree than the Federal by q reduc-
ton In duty. Mr. Lowry said, how
ever, that an official of the American
Sugar Refining Company, the so-called
trust, had told him that free sugar
would put us out of business"
Grccers' Committee.
Senator Nelson was especially inter-
ested in the Committee of Wholesale
Grocers, and wanted to know how it
was formed.
There was no formal meeting" said
Mr.. Lowry. Il wrote to Is or 80 whole
sale grocers and suggested that we
form such committee"
They were just dummies then"
suggested Senator Nelson.
II don't think they were very
dumb" replied Mr.. Lowry.
"The whole proceeding was carried
on by correspondence"
Eyes, sir"
! 'sYou appointed the secretary and
chairman and organized the commit
tee?n
Eyes, SIR
Mr.. Lowry told OF efforts to break
up the committee.
The domestic sugar people sent
out men," he said, ito try to break
it up. They said Lowry is bad
man; you will be subpoenaed before
a congressional committee in Wash
ington.' But they stuck"
/ what authority had you to select
a committee for the wholesale grocers
of the United States? ?" asked Senator
Cummins.
81 didn't" said the witness. 81 Sc.
lected committee for the people OF
the United States"
Senator Cummins read telegram
from Mr. Lowry to West Tubbs. sec.
rotary of the American Society OF
Equity, Madison, Wis, saying: 1T
is of the utmost importance that you
Immediately telegraph Oscar w. On
derwood, chairman of the ways and
means committee, or your congress
men in Washington, impressing upon
them the Importance of taking imme
diate action toward reduction in the
: duty on sugar. Secure the coopera
. ton of as many others as nossihle in