The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-04-19
DEMOCRATS WOULD DESTROY
BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.

Washington, April 19-(Special Cor.
respondcnce )-"If the democrats of
the senate think they have made any
friends by putting the sugar industry
on a four year reprieve, they are sad.
ly mistaken" said prominent Colo
RADIO business man visiting in Wash.
ington. "The people of my state are
thoroughly disguised with the demo-
cratic senate caucus action in Stating
sugar for the free list in 1920.
1--WE have been making good profits
from beet sugar on account of the
European war, although the beet SUI
gar industry was in a precarious state
prior to that time. 1t has been the in.
tcntion OF our beet sugar men to de-
vote their war profits to the building
of new mills and factories, and remOd.
cling the old ones, but with free SUI
gar provision hanging over their heads
not one penny will be invested in the
extension of this industry, because no
man would be warranted in spending
his money for permanent improve
mcnts. Until our beet sugar men can
be assured of protection to their in.
[dustry, no new capital or credit will
be forthcoming And understand
the same conditions will govern in the
state of Louisiana.
Il am informed that this caucus
action was offered as compromise to
Senator Hardwick's proposal to place
a consumption tax on refined sugar
plan which would put the beet sugar
business out Of commission, and which
l am told had the approval of our own
Senator Thomas of the finance commit
tee. The state of Colorado stands
first in beet sugar production, with
an acreage of 10000 and probable
yield of 225,0O0 TONS Senator Thomas
appears ito be the implacable enemy
OF an industry in which his own state
leads. ,Sepator Hardwick's Irritation
with C. A.FSpreckels, of the Federal
Sugar Refining company will never be
productive Of any good in my state.
The consumption tax proposed by him
was drawn by L. c. Lowry, the lobby
list of the seaboard sugar refiners, who
are thick with the administration. The
democratic national committee spread
broadcast the free sugar propaganda
of the seaboard refners during the
last campaign.
"There seems to be something abso-
lutely sinister in the action OF demo-
cratic leaders with regard to the SUI
gar schedule. When it comes to the
Hawaiian, the Louisianan and the beet
sugar industry. every one OF these
democrats turns thumbs down. What
have the domestic sugar producers
done to deserve this disfavor? The
democratic minority of the finance
committee OF the senate in 1912, re-
ported: The tariff on sugar is peculiar.
lily revenue tariff. Very much the
major part Of the tax levied on the
consumer goes actually into the Unit
ed States treasury
1.-THE tariff plank in the democratic
platform stated: we favor the ulti
mate attainment of the principles we
advocate by legislation that will not
injure or destroy legitimate industry.
This plank was inserted to give assur.
ance to the domestic sugar producers.
Between the time. of Woodrow Wilson's
nomination and his election rumOr
started that he favored free sugar
Our producers put the question to him
and his reply contained further as.
surances that the sugar industry would
not be destroyed. Charles r. Heike,
secretary OF the American Sugar Re-
timing company, member of the sea,
board gang, testified before the Hard
wick sugar investigating committee
that if the duty were removed abso-
lutely on sugar, it would destroy the
industry in this country. and that he
would approve of that. Mr.. spreck-
els declared that he stood for free
sugar, absolutely. OF course the sea-
board refiners want to kill the beet
sugar industry, because they will then
dominate the market and can exact
any price they like.
But the domestic sugar producers
now know definitely where the demo.
Gratis stand in this matter. and they
will work tooth and toe nail to put
the republican party into power in
March, 1917. Then we will know
where we get Off"