The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1913-06-25
EXPOSE OF SUGAR
LOBBY SECRETS
Private Letters Seized and Read
by Senate PTObGTS
MIGHTY EFFORT TO INFLUENCE
Purchase of Chicago Newspaper Bonds
in Order to Secure Part Control One
Of Many Ways to Get Peoples Ear.

The inner workings OF the beet
sugar lobby were laid before the SEN
ate Investigators through the seizure
by one of the deputy sergeant-at-arms
of the senate of many letters ad-
dressed to c. c. Hamlin, until recent
ly chairman OF the executive commit
tee OF the United States beet sugar
industry and now representing the
beet sugar people in Washington.
The sixty-nine letters read into the
record indicated THAT sums of money
larger than have been mentioned were
available under assessment levied
against beet sugar factories and also
indicated:
That beet sugar interests, under the
guidance of c. B. Warren of Detroit,
president of the Michigan Beet Sugar
company, and Republican national
committeeman from that state, began
negotiations to purchase $4,000 OF
bonds of the Chicago lnter-Ocean for
the purpose of controlling the paper
That Aaron Cove, an agent OF the
beet sugar interests, was incurring ex-
penses which be did not wish to item
ize if the books were ever to be
audited.
That Cove in letter stated that he
had succeeded in getting the Associat-
ed Press to agree to carry a 65O-word
pro-sugar story and that he had taken
up the question OF publicity with Mel
vile E. Stone, head OF that organi-
Zation.
That the sugar lobby was busy pre-
pairing data for speeches on the tariff
to be made by members in congress.
That Henry T. Oxnard entertained a
senatorial committee to influence its
opinion of the tariff.
That paid agents were busy in CON
ventions and meetings over the entire
United States causing resolutions to
be adopted satisfactory to the tariff
ideas of the beet sugar makers or
stopping the passage of the adverse
legislation.
That Senator Smoot was informed
of the project to purchase control OF
the Chicago Inter-Ocean and thought
it important.
That an agent of the sugar makers
Travelled over the country and sue
ceeded in getting inspired stories
into several daily papers.
c. c. Hamlin wrote to c. b. Warren
of Detroit March 20, 1912, the copy of
letter showed:
81 have had two conferences win
Mr.. Hinman, who controls the Chicago
IntGr. Ocean. 1t seems that Mr.. Hin
man has purchased or arranged 20
purchase 100000 of the bonds OF the
Inter-Ocean formerly held by the
Yerkes estate but as ! gather 1t he is
not in shape to handle the proposition
personally and desires to place these
bonds. Of the 100000 bonds men,
toned $165,OO0 has already heen
placed and Mr. Hinman desires as
sistance in handling kb0 remaining
s35, 1000 In placpgh1Ee Fbonds already
sold Mr.. Hinman has had the assist
ance Of Vice President Sherman and
ex-Speaker Cannon, both of whom are
interested in seeing him carry through
this transaction. His proposal is that
we assist him in taking .rare of the
remainder of these bonds 1t certainly
seems to me it would be good business
for our people to make this invest
ment and thereby establish an organ
in the middle west which will give
our industry the attention it deserves" !"
The sugar lobbyists Who have been
on the witness stand listened to the
reading of the letters highly incensed,
declaring that their constitutional
rights were being violated.