The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-01-29
relegated to the realms of unsavory


Meanwhile-unless free trade" be q
fetish with our good Democratic friends
why should they not admit that the
conditions in the sugar industry fol
1914 absolutely prove that their tariff
program is wrong9 Why not repent
while there Is still time and save this
Industry
There seemed to have been four dis
tinct periods during 1914 as regards
sugar prices in the United States:
First There was season of low
prices due to heavy domestic produc'
ton in the United States and Cuba and
to temporary depreciation caused by
tariff reduction.
Second-There was recovery in
prices to the previous level, followed by
higher prices due to the elimination OF
some of the domestic producers and
the consequent prospective shortage OF
the domestic crop. The seaboard re
fineries were in complete control of the
situation. These refiners represent
what Is popularity known as the sugar
trust"-the chief beneficiary of free
sugar" law.
Third-There was period of alb
normal high prices caused by Euro
pean war at a time when the domesti C
crop was off the market and prices de-
pended on imported foreign sugar.
Fourth-There has been recovery
back to normal prices due to the mar
keting of the domestic crop.
This record tells its own story. Tariff
reduction brought purely temporary
benefit to the ultimate consumer. Just
as soon as it had worked even limited
elimi of domestic competition,
the big foreign importers-in undis
puted control Of the situation-manipu
lated prices back to higher level than
eyer before. The government had sim
ply thrown away rs per cent of its in
come from sugar duties and no benefit
had come to the ultimate consumer,
while the ultimate consumer was bur
dened with war tax" to pay the
deficit in the governments revenues
caused by just such economic absurd
ity as this voluntary throwing away Of
one quarter of the governments reve
nues from sugar duties.
European war entered the equation
and of course made its impression. But
even the abnormally high prices re
sultant from European war were drive n
down to living level when the domes
tic beet sugar and cane sugar crot
came upon the market. And mark you
this: 1t is freely admitted by the au
thors of the Wilson. Underwood tariff
law that domestic sugar production
cannot continue under it! Senator
Williams frankly admitted this during
the recent tariff debates on the floor OF
the senate.
Under all these circumstances the do
nestle sugar makers of America-from
the farmer who raises the beet to the
domestic refner who turns it into mar
ketable sugar-are absolutely justified
in making the following proclamation
The one big lesson taught by the
sugar history of 1914 is the one often
repeated by those who are best informed
regarding the American sugar industry,
namely, that the only sure guarantee
to consumers of permanent supply of
cheap sugar is to be found in the main
tenance and development OF the domes-
tic sugar industry"
Present tariff law frankly proposes to
ultimately cruelty the domestic sugar
industry. Why is it necessary for the
country to wait nearly two years for a
volcanic political eruption in order to
be saved from this preassured resultH
The progressive party leaders of Bay
county at meeting last week decided
to DISSOLVE the party organization and
return to the republican fold. As a
result it is said that Roy o. Woodruff,
who was mayor as republican and
served rs congressman as progressive,
but was defeated for re. election last fall,
will again try for the republican nom.
nation for mayor of Bay City. Mr..