Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-10-11

WHO PROFITS BY FREE SUGARl
THAT the Democratic National Committee hooked
up with the sugar importers in the matter Of
sugar tariff is amply proven by the testimony OF Frank
c. Lowry sales agent of the Federal Sugar Refining
Company. In his testimony before the Lobby Investi-
eating Committee Of the Senate Mr.. Lowry admitted
that he had carried the agitation free sugar
working under the guise of a committee that had no
real existence and that he had prepared free sugar
literature which circulated by the Democratic Ma
tiona Committee The whole scheme he said was
financed by the sugar refners money It was entered
into to hoodwnk the American people into believing
that free trade would mean cheaper sugar
Why do the big rehners want free sugar.
There two main One is that the pro-
tective tariff great industry has grown up the pro-
duction Of sugar from American SOIL particularly in
the manufacture Of beet sugar This sugar is turned
out ready for the table from local factories and sells
in competition with the sugar of the rehners Every
pound OF sugar grown under the American flag means
one pound less of foreign sugar which the
refners collect profit The other that the
refners, being importers of sugar are naturally
interested in getting their material choapy
possible.
Six men, according to the report OF Democratic Con-
gressional committee control the refining business Of
the country and with the home industry the way
under free trade they will be able to put into their own
pockets the S5OOOOOOO that formerly went to the gov
eminent The attitude OF the rehners toward
the American farmers who grow sugar was well ex-
pressed by c. r. Heke former secretary of the Sugar
Trust, before the Hardwck Congressional Committee.
In answer TO the question: Nov If the duty
moved absolutely sugar could produce either
bees in this country" he replied. ut would
destroy the industry absolutely in this country
would YOU approve OF that?" he asked. And he
replied, Eyes"
Il is admitted even by the Democratic sponsors OF
the sugar bill that their law when in full operation
will wipe out the S4OooOoOOo investment in sugar
growing in the States from Ohio California
which engaged in raising sugar beets and in the
cane-growng sections of Louisiana. Texas, Hawaii and
Porto Rico Consequently the farmer engaged in pro-
ducing sugar from American soil will get any bene-
ut from free On the contrary he will be driven
out Of business. So will the owners OF American mills
that crush sugar extract sugar from bees, and
the laborers in those mills will seek other
ployment Added to this the loss the gov
eminent means additional taxation Of the people.
The Democratic promise, inspired by the sugar redn
that putting the free list would save
the consumer two cents pound all sugar they
used AS everyone knows this promise has not been
kept Sugar is selling today for two cents a pound
higher instead of two cents pound lower than il did
before the duty reduced by the Underwood tariff
/ law True the in Europe has had some effect on
] the price, but even before the thought of-n
May and June 19t4-sugar selling higher under the
low tariff law than It had been in January and Feb
ruary OF that year when the protective duty still
| in force. Hence that the consumer derives
| benefit from free sugar.
What free sugar really to the rehners can
readily be understood from the huge profits they ac-
qulred the last time had free sugar in the United
States. Following the year 1891 when raw sugar was
duty free the Trust increased It's dividends
from per cent TO 21k per cent. and in the next
seven years Of free and low duty sugar it only
paid S4S500OOO in dividends, but also accumulated
surplus Of $50000000. And yet in view Of all this,
sugar is scheduled to the free list May 1, 1916.
unless the crying need Of revenue for the Federal
Treasury induces the Democrats to vote postpone
! ment
That crying need already is made manifest by utter
ances Of Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo II his
I present plan be adhered to- Congress will be asked
to bacl-track free sugar, for the time being at
least The Democratic occasional already is being
formed McAdoo can do it in the present
OF the situation