The Elbert County tribune., 1913-06-13

recent speech IN the Senate exposing
the methods used by the beet sugar
trust to manufacture false and artificial
public sentimant against the tariff bill
Senator Thomas, OF Colorado, has per
formed public service second only TO
that of the Presidant in calling Iatten-
tion to the insidnons tariff lobby, the
most powerful which ever operated in
Washington.
Senator Ihomas's speech gives the
public some IDEA OF the pressure nation
al Legislators must withstand when they
attempt to pass laws which the special
interests oppose but which The people
want.
Senator rhcmas and his colleagues,
Senator Shafroth, as we'll as two repre-
sentatives at large, Edward Heating
and +. L. Taylor, were elected in Colo
rado last fall on the Democratic ticket
by pluralities ranging from $4,000 to
10000 votes. While the platform did
cot specifically endorse the removal OF
the duty on sugar, it endorsed all the
actions OF the last democratic house, one
OF which was to pass free sugar bill;
aud representative keating ran on The
straight free sugar platform. 1t wa
evlde that Colorado, with its exten ?
slve sugar Industry, voted for free sugar
by plurality OF 5000.
The special session of congress met.
The tariff bill, providing for free sugar,
~as introduced, Ann then what hap
penedY From all parts of Colorado let
ters began pouring in on that states
Senators and Representatives protest.
ing against free sugar. So numerous
and vehement wers these letters ano
kilograms that they apparently indica-
Ted tremendous revultion OF feelius
IN the state toward the sugar tariff
Any honest Legislator might we'll hest
Sate before he voted against such an
overwhelming expression Of public opin
ion.
Senator Thomas, however, went be-
nind the returns. He. got in comunicn:
tion with Thomas s. Price, an intelii-
gent man formerly employed by the
Great Western Sugar Company, at
Longmont, Colorado. who told the sen
ator how the ficticious public sent--
mont was manufactured
He wrote:-
"You will no doubt receive letters
from employees of the factory here, as
they are compelled in an underhanded
way either to write them Or Take Chan
ces or Losing Their Jobs BY Refusing"
Price enclosed a form letter which the
sugar companies ordered their employes
to copy, sign and mail to Washington.
This letter does not speak for the sugar
sompany, but is all for the poor farmer
and the poor wage Garner. After in
structing the employees how to direct
the letters, the instructions we're: "a
letter to Hon WoodroS Wilson, Pres.
ident of the United States, Washington
D. c., WILL DO A LOT OF GOOD.
II you are Democrat, tell them SO. #
sillicarry more weight.
In this way thousands Of employs
of the Colorado sugar mills have been
influenced" to write to their Senators
and congressman, urging them to vote
against free sugar. Senator Thomas
charged that similar campaign
was carried on among the sugar beef
growers and with banks and CONNER
iai associatIons, all of whom have been
felss heir .etters 10 the flood now
iouiing la upod the Coioraao Legislators
These companies have made an enor-
mous amount of money, not only upon
.heir capitalization, but npon over Cap
ita anzauon, declared Senstor Thomas.
NO OF them operating in Colorado req
'esrnt collectively capital of S5U.uuu.
wv S3U,UOO,OUU ot when is water, pur,
aud simple. Yet they have paio di,l-
dends constantly upon their preferred
stock aud foi "a large part of the time
on their watered stock, and one of them
has surplus in the treasury in excess
Of sl0,000,0o0.
lhis fight merely means that these
~ ssii aia1cG iunus NJ ~ar
enssf r-'ncnise u roo me ,,eu
80 ,aAing tIu nacessa,Ies oil IIie. q
tue epd tnaa ehey hay pay profits upon
the capital that they have invested, ana
upon the capital they have manutac-
tured with printing presses and fount-
ain pens.
Senator Thomas ringing challenge to
tne sort of public opinion these bIoated
corporations have manufactured de-
serves to be read in the public sahools
as an example of the new, rugged pa
triotism which now has control of Con
gress. He said:
"Mr President, while have the most
profound respect for the net;tiors cent