The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-09-29
Wartime Prices
And Opportunities

Secretary Sweet observed that cot
ton, while 1t WAS the biggest and
most pressing difficulty that the Sou.
thern farmers confronted, was not
the only one.
Just yesterday" he said, mem
Der of Congress from South Carolina
came In greatly disturbed over the
tobacco situation in his section. He
has received word that his people had
learned that the big tobacco concerns
were going to withdraw their buyers
from the field fearing that drop
in prices was impending, and realiz-
ing that If they should buy at higher
prices, and later a generally lower
level should be reached, they would
be badly stuck. We looked into that
situation and were informed by one
of the big tobacco companies that
while 1t expected to be cautious 1t
did not anticipate taking its buyers
out of the field. AS to tobacco, like
cotton, It seeing probable that condi-
tions will improve soon. The whole
business world will get adjusted to
war circumstances. Prices will be
higher generally; that is perfectly in
evitable when the worlds require
ments are increased and at the same
time its producing capacity is de-
creased. There may be some excep-
lions, but in general they will be only
about such as to prove the rule"
Sugar May Reach Fifteen Cents
asked Mr.. Sweet what he thought
would be the effect of the war on the
American sugar industry and on the
supply and price of sugar generally.
You should have seen him smile!
Sweet is a Democrat, coming from
the biggest sugar beet State in the
Union-Michigan. But he does not
believe in duty on sugar.
AS Democratic Congressman he
voted for free sugar and the fact
was used against him in his cam
paign for reelection. He told his
sugar people that he had done what
he believed right, but he was de-
feated.
1T was generally believed" he said
that when the protective duty was
taken off, the Louisiana cane indus
try would be ruined, and, that good
deal of the beet sugar manufacture
would be killed. For myself,
always believed that in some sections
where 1t had the protection Of freight
rates in Il local market the beet
sugar business would be safe enough.
But that was to be determined by ex-
perience.
"Now, however, there is no longer
uncertainty. Sugar has gone up from
4 to s cents pound, and see some
extremists prophesying that it may
go to TO-"
"Then you don't expect the Ameri.
can sugar industry to be injured at
all?" | asked.
injured? It'll make more money
than ever.
Why" continued the Secretary,
there is not cane sugar mill or
beet sugar factory in the country that
cannot earn big profits now, and
probably for long time to come,
without protection.
The reason is simple. Germany
Is one of the greatest sugar produc'
ing countries In the world. Austria
Hungary and France are less, but
important producers. Germany has
supplied most of the British require
ments for sugar from her beet es-
adjustments. That supply is cut off
in an hour-the hour in which war
was declared.
What is the consequence? Britain
becomes a competitor for the cane
sugar of Cuba which has supplied
most of our requirements for long
time, aside from what we produce in
this country, Hawaii, and Porto Rico.
Cuba has had just about enough TO
supply us, though the average con
sumption in this country has been
growing very fast, especially Of late
years,
Now Britain must so elsewhere,
and bids for Cubas stock. You can
see what it is doing to prices in our
market"