The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-08-09
THORNT0H's THUNDER.
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ocrat, can be found hardy enough to
deny it even at this time.
This is due to the admitted facts
of the case. viz: The UNIVERSAL con-
sumption of the article, the conse-
uuent fairness Of the distribution of
the tax among all classes OF the peo-
pie, the ease and certainty of its
collection by the government, and
the fact that three-fourths OF the
duty goes inc the government treas
ury for the benefit of all the people,
while only one-fourth inures to the
protection Of the sugar producer.
But the Democratic house has de-
creed free sugar, and the Democratic
finance committee and Democratic
senate caucus have ratified the ac-
ton of the house, and the blow Will
probably fall on Louisiana unless the
consciences Of some senators are
quickened sufficiently to make them
stay their hand before the final act
of the tragedy is concluded.
mo attempt has been made, and
none probably will be made, on this
floor to show that this act Of the
Democratic party is not most rad1-
cal departure from its 'time-honored
and time justified precedents.'
IAN effort has been made, how
ever, on this floor to prove that the
Baltimore platform of the Democrat
! ic party calls for free sugar, and to
justify this legislation on thar
ground. This is a very far-fetched
conclusion, but some justification
must be sought for this sudden de-
parture from the 'time-honored and
time-justified precedents' of the Dem
ocratic party, and this is case OF
any port in storm.
81 not only deny that the Demo
cratic platform calls, even by infer
ence, for free sugar, but claim that,
on the contrary, it's spirit, if not its
letter, clearly forbids such legisla
| ton. though / admit that under its
letter, though not its spirit, mate
rial reduction of the duty on sugar is
justifiabIe.
Through the address of my col
league, Senator Ransdell, on May Il
last we have the statement of Con
gresham Broussard, who was him
self a member of the subcommittee
selected to draft the platform.
"Mr. Broussard, who was particu
Iarly interested in the formation of 6
platform that would not indicate 6
spirit OF hostility to the great su
gar Industry of his state, and who,
feel morally sure, was placed on thai
committee because of the fac
that he represented the greatest su
gar producing district of Louisiana
Though l have no warrant from hin
to make this statement), and who hao
exceptional opportunities for know
ling the mind Of the committee or
that question, not only most emphat
ically denied in that statement tha
the language of the platform was in
tended to convey the idea that the
Democratic party advocated free su
gar, but asserts positively that OF
| the contrary, the committee refused
to consider the kilograms with which
it was being bombarded at the time
by Frank C. Lowry, agent and repre-
sentative OF the Federal Sugar Re
filming Company. asking the commit
tee to include in the platform a planl
for free sugar.
Mr. B1oussard says further tha
I Kentucky, Mr.. James, for free su
gar, made before the drafting o
the platform, met with no response
from either the subcommittee tina
drafted the platform or from the full
committee.
It is absolutely certain Mr.. Brous
sard was convinced of the truth o
this statement. He was a Wilson
delegate at the Baltimore conven
ton, and was very largely instru
mental in influencing the Democratic
party of Louisiana to select a mum
Der of WILSON, delegatesl He re
turned to Louisiana and assured tn
people of that state that in the even
of the election Of Governor Wilson
through the success of the Demo
cratic party, the great sugar in
: dustry Of Louisiana would neither b.
5 destroyed nor materially injured, AM
5 dwelt on the platform declaration
t Of the Baltimore convention as al
: evidence of the correctness of hi
: statement.
/ Colonel Robert Ewing, nationa
4 committeeman from Louisiana, Xix
' Mr.. Broussard, a strong Wilson man
and, like him, powerfully instru
: mental in securing the selection Q
: Wilson delegates, and who went t
/ the convention as a Wilson delegat
: himself, and who had great oppo1
: tunities of knowing what might b
: called the secret history of tn
Baltimore convention, was also full
satisfied that under the platform o
the party the sugar industry of hi
: state would be safe, and he, toe
preached that doctrine to her pee
pie, never believing that anythin;
more than reduction of the pres
ent duty would be possible under
Democratic administration