The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-06-19
ACTIVITY OF SUGAR INTERESTS.

ACTlVITY OE SUGAR LIN I6E EVE OIL
The influential inculcation of the doc,
trine of free sugar prevails in admin
istration circles in Washington. and
among the majority of the members Of
both Houses Of Congress. This is an
accident caused by division Of the
Republican party forces brought about
by Colonel Roosevelt last year in his
own personal interest. The majority
against the free sugar propaganda,
counting the combined vote for Roose-
welt and Taft, as against Wilson, which
it is fair to do, was well over a million
votes.
The administration officials do not
admit that their influence and advocacy
Of free sugar is lobbying, or in any
way reprehensible; but if the sugar
interests speak up for their own pro-
lection, and make presentations to the
effect that their business will be badly
injured or perhaps broken up if the
tariff is taken off from sugar, then
we have a hue and cry arise at once,
that is pursued with vigor and venom
against E'the sugar lobby 1t is rep
rehensible activity for beet sugar men
to do, say, or write anything in the
interest Of protection for sugar. But
those who lobby and who in high places
insist upon the free sugar propaganda
are, on the other hand, patriotic citi-
zens, whose efforts deserve the warm
est praise from the public.
The gentlemen who are demanding
free sugar have never invested dollar
in the sugar enterprises Of the United
States. So far as known, they have
never invested dollar in any sort of
industry in this country, They are
theorists and logicians. who have taken
the utmost pains to keep out of the
turmoil of practical affairs, and can
theorize in unbounded liberty about
things which actually they know moth
ing about. And when men Of practical
experience and business knowledge un-
dertake to show them the error in their
theory, rebuke is measured out to them
in denunciation which would hardly be
expected if the sugar men were doing
unpatriotic, repreheusible,
and all wrong, and were, in fact, mar
plots and undesirable citizens.
1t is an extraordinary situation when
the practical men Of this country are
thus put upon their defense as persons
under suspicion and contumely, for
no other reason than that they have
undertaken to develop the resources
and possibilities of their native land.
We do not understand how such re-
versal of true conditions Of affairs has
come about. Surely common sense is
under a. cloud and practical wisdom
is scorned when this sort Of public
sentiment can prevail. The actual
workers in this country, the men who
put their time, money, and energy into
production In the United States are
held to be censurable, while those who
stood by and did nothing are held up
as the true patriots, the men whose
plans must not only be adhered to,
but who are IN position to stigmatize
the real workers as objects of suspi-
cion.
Why should not the men interested
in the production of beet sugar come
10 the defense of their industry when
it is attacked7 Why should they not
try to enlighten members of Congress
and even the stubborn executive, who
not only refuses to listen to reason,
but scornfully rejects it7 Why. we say,
should not the sugar men be allowed
TO undertake enlightenment in these
lark placesf Surely it is bad state
Of affairs when the real workers in
this country are held up to derision
by critics who have never done any.
thing practical for the development of
'ur resources, and whose theories are.
30 far as they have been tested, in.
furious, if not calamitous, A condi-
ion Of false public sentiment. such as
his, surely cannot last long, and there
must be a reversal which will over
vhelm the theorists and bring credit