Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-10-26
CONGRESSMAN JOSEPH
fORDNEY GIVES VIEWS
Tells How the Democrats Nearly
Ruined the American Sugar
Industry by Tariff.

The following is statement by
Congressman Fordney reviewing re-
cent tariff legislation affecting sugar.
"A large majority of the people Of
the United States favor the main
tanning of protective tariff that will
prevent the flooding of American
markets with the products Of foreign
poorly paid labor II is not surpris-
ing, therefore, at election time, to
find Democratic candidates playing for
protectonist votes, without some of
which the Democratic party cannot
win a national election Democratic
candidates seeking the support Of
beet growers and others interested in
the domestic sugar industry is an H.
lustration, especially interesting and
/ instructive to Michigan and other
sugar producing states, where the
sugar industry has proven to be a
most desirable asset Is the present
administration friendly to the sugar
industry? Democrats boast that the
tariff has been retained on sugar, but
they are judiciously careful not to eX-
plain the why's or wherefores.
Here is the record OF the present
administration in regard to legisla-
tion affecting the import duty or
sugar:
Early in 1913, when the Under
wood Tariff law was under considera
ton, the president directed congress
to place sugar on the free list. This
caused storm of protest among pro
tectionists in congress. who furnished
an abundance of evidence showing
that without tariff protection, the do
nestle sugar industry would Surel.
be annihilated. The only satisfaction
obtainable from the White House
however, was the statement that j
the sugar industry could not exist il
this country without protection, i
was hot house industry and mus
go. An uphill and bitter fight ensued
and in which protectionists succeede,
in defeating the presidents plan 70
the immediate removal of all impor
duty on sugar, and the Underwoo,
law, was enacted, provided for 2
per cent reduction Of the duty ol
sugar to become effective March lst
1914, and for the placing of sugar oi
the free list automatically May 1st
1916.
This threat of free sugar caused
rapid decline in the value of suga
factories and other sugar producing
property. In several instances bee
sugar factories were unable TO Sc
t cure the necessary credit to continu
, in operation, and nearly so per cen
OF all the sugar plantations in Louis
{ lana were abandoned and an alarming
+ number were forced into bankruptcy
"The spring of 1914 was indeed
, gloomy period for American suga
1 pl loducers-they faced a total loss an
there appeared to be no alternativ,
In August, however, the war broke ou
? in Europe. It caused an increased de
) portion of the worlds supply.
brought abnormal prices and save
: the industry from being wiped ou
During the fiscal year 1915. tn
Underwood Tariff law yielded bU
S209 100000 in customs receipts, Z
which sum, the import duty on suga
y produced S50,00O,000 According I
the tariff law enacted by the Demo
4 Gratis October 3rd, 1913, sugar woul
= automatically go on the free list Ma
a 1st, 1916. There was every evidenC
{ that it would destroy the domestic il
: dustry. In addition, it would depriy
the government of $4,000, 900 Of baC
T ly needed revenue Did the fate of II
e sugar industry alarm the president
: Not in the least, for the president ha
: said the country would be better o
: without it; that if it could not survi,
e without protection, it was no
,. house industry and must go. To Il
e Democrats, the alarming feature W;
{ the fact that free sugar would d.
r prive the government of nearly
s per cent Of our customs receipts. Di
Is bursements already were far excee
ing revenue receipts. Congress, rea
n izing the gravity of the situation, r
S pealed the free sugar clause, and tn
e repeal was made possible large
II through Republican support. IT
n duty on sugar has been retained, n
Continued on page four)