The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-12-19
LOUISIANA IS
LEADING
FIGHT
Suits With Damages Asked fo.
Aggregating Forty-four Million
Dollars Have Been Filed with
State Government Leading in
List of Claimants Against Sugar
Trust.
(Mail Special to The Advertiser.

MIL special to lhe Advertiser.
WASHINGTON, December 4. - The
fight which the Louisiana cane interests
are making against the sugar trust has
assumed new and altogether nnex-
| pected turn. When the sugar schedule
was written into the Underwood Tariff
Law, few months ago, the general
impression was that the Louisiana sugar
industry had received blow many
thought would be mortal.
Democratic members of congress,
from the Southern States, deplored the
fact that they had been compelled, AS
they put it, to deliver a blow to the
| leading industry of one of the leading
Southern States, which they admitted
| meant ruin. The Louisiana people,
themselves, TO great extent, were OF
the opinion that they had been slaugh-
tered in the E0Gse of tSoi friends, as
they put it.
But the Louisiana sugar industry has
never given up its fight. That industry
has maintained its offices at Rooms 929-
93l Woodward Building, this city, and
is making a vigorous contest to secure
| a continuation of the present duties
until the end of the fiscal year, that is,
until June 30, 1914.
This effort has been led by Represen-
tative Estopinal, of the First Louisiana
| District who has joint resolution
pending to this effect. He has secured
the endorsement of a great many of
| the members of the house, who favored
the sugar schedule of the Underwood
| Bill. These congressman are support
ing the Estopinal resolution because the
author of this measure voted against
the interests of his own State, in order
to prove his party regularity in sup
porting the Underwood Bill. Many of
the house Democrats are now attempt
ing to reciprocate by assisting him to
secure the passage of his joint reso
luton.
Suit Against Trust.
The unexpected turn, the sugar fight
by the Louisianans has taken place in
| New Orleans and not in Washington.
Within the past few days, suits have
been inaugurated, in the United States
district court in New Orleans, against
the Sugar Trust, which threaten to alb
solutelv cOnfiscate the property of that
gigantic corporation, which has, for so
many years absolutely dominated the
sugar industry Of Louisiana
The suits were brought only after the
facts had been reviewed by some of
the foremost lawyers, not only of Louis
lana but of the United States. They
have been instituted as II result of dis
closures made by the United States in
its criminal suit against the Sugar
Trust few years ago. The United
States won that ease, and as 1T proved
the allegations set forth in the suits
now instituted by the Louisiana plant
ers, the latter feel that their cases have
to n great extent already been settled.
The Sugar Trust, which has been
threatening the Louisiana sugar indus
try with destruction since the passage
of the Underwood Bill will cut a sorry
figure before a Louisiana jury when II
comes into court and attempts to plead
its cause.
Wash Sales to Lower Price.
The suits are brought under the
terms of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Ii is maintained that the Trust by the
manipulation of the New Orleans sugar
market battered down the price of
sugar two -ffths of a cent a pound III
some instances and half a cent a pound
i'm other instances Wash sales are also
charged against the Trust.
In each suit the complaining parties
demand three times the amount OF the
actual damages sustained, as is proviN'
ed for in the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Letters Seized.
When the United States marshal
raided the Sugar Trust Offices in Wall
street several years ago and secured
the evidence upon which the govern
ment successfully prosecuted the Grim
ina cases against that gigantic offend
cr a great deal of correspondence was
captured Of j. r. WitherspOon, the New
Orleans manager of the Trust, with
President Henry q. Havemeyer, his sue
cessor, President w. b. Thomas, and
II. g. Mott, the purchasing agent of
the Trust in New York. This CORE
spOndcncc proves conclusively the con
tcntion of the Louisiana planters.
Two of these letters are character
Z istic. They nre as followsi
New Orleans, October 27, 'OI.
, Mr. II. g. Mott,
No. ~ Wall Street,
New York.
Pear Sr;--It was mentioned yes,
teripy that some of the parties
here who have sold ms large lots
Of sugar, az fixed price under the
| New YORK pfirc daY of uTflNuli
w,uli probably enter into M ar
uugoment with the Federal Re-
huery OF Now York, whereby this
concern throughout November and
D.rrmhri would bny small lots on
the hcw i0rk market at not lers
thar iil fur 3d irst and thereby
hN the Sow ioik quotations az
ih.r hgurt, which i1 tnrn Nould Boo
ihr supposed figure tor settlement
of suHur nullug here.
While thlt would 40 most eop
trmIiHoHs llaH. ttlll ihrr arr s0mr
) people ifir nui GOO good iu make
tht Htirmpf, aHd NJ ihr lriff8l lf