The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-05-18
ID THERE NO LIMIT?

S>''SSSo SA'"e "oSAN6'y PoSSOoo SuO Po"OA
to raise prices at will. A few years
ago the American Sugar Refining Com.
pany bribed the government dock
before the frauds were discovered.
Then the company was compelled to dis
gorge and the secretary was sentenced
to five years in federal prison.. Ac-
cOrding to the view of the average con
sumner, the manner in which the market
is being manipulated at present is also
robbery, even though those RESPONSE
BILE escape the penitentiary.
These be halcyon days for the sugar
interests. The American Beet Sugar
Company statement for the year end
ed March 81 shows gross receipts Of
$lO, 49, 93, gain of $2,l74,S70. The
aggregate net income was $3,174,831,
an increase of 81 ,573,1SS. After paying
preferred stock dividends $2,S74 1871
was left over for the common, the
equivalent of more than 10 per cent.
AS the insiders probably hold the most
of the preferred as well as the common
stock, the profits Of these fortunate in
dividuals mount up to a very fancy fig
ure. 1t is no wonder, therefore, that
the company is planning to incr ease
its output and has let contracts for
acreage to be put to beets in California
and Colorado that call for about $4,000
acres more than last season. There is
no limit to the game while the war lasts,
at the close of which these same inter-
ests will undoubtedly put up a poor
mouth and ask for increased protection
for their infant" industry.
While there is probably no escape for
the consumer in this era Of extortion
prices for sugar, it is a sad fact that
the beet growers are not profiting by
industries may demand a share in pros.
perity and get it by main strength,
but the beet growers are under con.
tract and are held in bond. According
to cablegrams received in New York
some time ago, the French govern ment
has decreed that the price of sugar
beets in the republic for the coming
months shall be $965 per ton, this be-
ing the price to be paid to the French
growers by the manufacturers. The
same advices contained the further
news that the Austrian governmental
authorities have fixed price of 1912
as figure to be paid to the Austrian
farmers.
These facts are being used by the
free traders in connection with the con-
stantly rising prices of sugar. For in
stance, Claus A. Spreckels, president Of
the Federal Sugar Refining Company,
who undoubtedly has an Ak to grind,
says the figures from abroad furnish
striking commentary on the beet
sugar situation in the United States.
Continuing in this strain, Mr.. Spreck.
els concludes as follows:
Contrast these French and Austrian
figures with the price Of $3.50 per
ton which the beet sugar interests of
the United States are paying the west
ern farmer for his beet roots. Con
tracts with the western growers are be-
ing made right along on this basis,
which obviously is quite out of line
with the price levels that would obtain
in free market. Speakers in con
gress lately. have been pointing out
that the beet sugar industry has been
great benefit to the American
farmer. Facts such as these do not
substantiate this position. 1t is cleal
enough that notwithstanding the high
tariff under which we are working, the
American farmer has received no more
for his beets than the farmer in Europe
and at the present time is receiving onl,
little more than half the price paid tt
the European grower. 1t is true enough
that there is money in the beet sugar
industry in the United States, but it i,
being made by others than the farmers
There should be some limit to the toll
taken from the consumers in the United
States. The argument that high price.
in this country are due to the war il
Europe is good as far as it goes. Il
quite fails to calm the rising indigna
tion of the American citizens to whom
the high cost Of living has bee pine j.;
positive menace, especially when the,
reflect that many necessary articles cost
more in this country than they dc
abroad. AS an example it mil ht bt
mentioned that wheat is about 10 cent.
higher in the United States than just
across the line in Canada. There doe.
not seem to be any excuse for this diff
ference in price, which is supposed to b,
regulated by the demand from the othe
side of the Atlantic.
Americans are patient and long sui
fering, and great majority of them be
lieve in the principle of protection fo
tHC HoHlC lHuuStTlcS. NeNeFLnelcSS, tNeN
do not enjoy being knocked down
and robbed because there happens to b,
a war in Europe or for any other cause
whatsoever. They even object to hav
ing their pockets picked, be it accom-
plished ever so deftly by past master.
of the profession. Consequently it i.
to be expected that the latest putting OF
the screws by the sugar interests vii
cause somewhat of an explosion in the
households throughout the land and al
earnest desire to get even with thu
men responsible for it. AS above stat
ed, the situation would not be quite sc
bad if the actual producers were al
lowed to share in the loot, for the con
sumner, even though mourning his los.
and the constant drain upon the famil,
income, would derive a little satisfac
ton if the controlling interests coult
be separated from some of their i'll
gotten gains by the farmers. But tn.