The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-12-28
BEET SUGARS BLACK EYE.


The destruction OF the beet sugar
industry is one OF the economic crimes
directly chargeable to the Underwood
Simmons low tariff bill. Under the
Republican protective tariff. like the
tin plate industry. this industry was
brought into being From very
small beginning il began to flourish
into sturdy ever-expanding industry.
Capital was invested and the farmers
were induced TO 20 into the cultured
Of beets. Everything was going along
swimmingly until the blightins hand
OF Democratic free trace was laid on
the industry. and IL. immediately be-
gan to wilt and wither. The sad
story OF the blighted cane and beet
sugar interests has been told in these
columns before. but TO enforce the
matter upon the minds OF the people
II will be well to consider just what
IL has done TO Kansas. A Topeka cor
respondent. in describing the situation
in that State. maintains that sugar
cannot continue to be produced there
under the present tariff law after the
war in Europe is over and conditions
become normal again. "The Democrat
&c policy Of putting the products raised
by farmers on the free list is certain
TO uproot the sugar beet producing
business OF this State Plans have al
ready been made 10 shut down the fac
tory AZ Garden City and to use the
land of the Garden City Sugar and
Land Company for other purposes"
At present the conditions in Europe
are keeping up the price of sugar.
but when the war ends, as IL of neces-
sity must soon. then will come the de-
structive competition with cheap for
eign labor. and the cheaper produc-
ton OF the beet by European farmers.
As the manager OF the Garden City
plant says. the matter OF shutting up
shop is all on account OF the destruc-
tive Democratic tariff In explana-
ton of this he says:
Our operating costs are open to the
IL no secret OF what our
cost sheets are-and the facts that these
sheets tell all too plainly have cost me
many sleeplcss night We paid So so a
ton last year for beets at the factory
ON this basis was about s2.s0 a hundred
IN the beets- Raw sugar sold in New
YORK at sl.s2 a hundred. and the cost
or extracting sugar from bcets IL much
more than the cost OF refining raw sugar
u was possible some OF the time for
the renners Of this raw sugar TO put II
~ h. IN lrnN nj - a b. l..
refining costs OF tl.25 n hundred had to
be added 60 the $3.50 which the sugar
obvious where we get on on this PROPOSE
ton. We know where we will go-we
Will go busted, to use an inelegant. but
expressive word And n any OF these
way that will be found to keep the
sugar business going wish TO demon
factory that we shall be glad To sell
them, cheap-mighty cheap"
Two effects OF the European war
on the sugar business. which are GER
tain TO come. are pointed out. The
worlds consumption OF sugar will be
decreased and the production will be
increased. The use OF sugar will be
decreased because Of the poverty that
Is certain TO come from this struggle.
Europe will be in a very serious flnan-
cial condition when this war il over.
no matter what else may occur The
consumption OF sugar depends largely
on tho financial condition OF the peo-
pie. Our consumption Of sugar is high
In this country because we are a rich
nation. After the war is over there
IL going to be a vast amount OF cheap
labor in Europe. which must be used
or starvation will come. Much OF the
manufacturing industries will be de
stroyed. and there will be an increased
effort made along agricultural lines
Sugar Is a standard product II Is
readily sold in the worlds markets
The women and children will work
in the fields more and more after this
war IL over. and there will be crippled
men who will not be efficient work
men. but still can do the hand work
in the beet fields All this cheap labor
will be available for the sugar opera.
tors % the old country. and they will
use IL 10 the limit What chance have
We here unless a tariff IL enacted that
will give the American producer =
fair show We have been dependent
10 a large extent on Europe for many
things that are now shut or from rs
BY the conflict In a few more years.
under the nurture o. the Republican
protective tariff. we would have been
wholly independent Of all countries Tor
our sugar supply but We never can
attain that position under the false