Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-22
Serving the Sugar Trust

III the Democrats Of the Senate think
they have made any friends by put.
ting the sugar industry on a four-yea,
reprieve, they are sadly mistaken" sale
a prominent Colorado business ma,
visiting in Washington. 1.-THE people
of my state are thoroughly disguised
with the Democratic Senate caucus
action in stating sugar for the free list
in 1920.
I'VE have been making good nrof-
its from beet sugar on account of
the European war, although the
peet sugar Industry was in a preca-
nous state prior to that time. It has
been the intention Of our beet sugar
men to devote their war profits to
the building of new mills and facto-
ries, and remodelling the old ones.
but with a free sugar provision
hanging over their heads, not one
penny will be invested in the extern
sion of this industry, because no
man would be warranted in spend
Ing his money for permanent i'm
proVements. Until our beet sugar
men can be assured of protection to
their industry, no new capital or
credit will be forthcoming. And 1
understand the same conditions will
govern in the state of Louisiana.
Il am Informed that this caucus
action was offered as a compromise
to Senator Hardwick's proposal to
place g. consumption tax on refin-
ed sugar, plan which would nut
the beet sugar business out Of COM
mission, and which, I am told. had
Thomas OF the finance committee
the approva. Of our own Senator
The state Of Colorado stands first
IN beet sugar production, with an
acreage Of 100000 and a probable
yield of 225,000 tons. Senator Thorn
as appears to be the implaca BILE en-
envy OF an industry in which his
own state leads. Senator Hard
Wick's filtration with c. A. Spreck-
els, OF the Federal Sugar Refining
Co, will never be productive of any
good to my state. The consumption
tax proposed by him was drawn by
r. {. Lowry, the lobbyist of the
seaboard sugar refiners. who are
thick with the administration. The
Democratic national committee
spread broadcast the free sugar
propaganda Of the seaboard refin-
ers during the last campaign.
There seems to be something alb
solutely sinister in the action Of
Democratic leaders with regard to
the sugar schedule. When it comes
to the Hawaiian, the Louisianan,
and the beet sugar industry, ev-
cry one Of these Democrats turns
thumbs down. What have the do
nestle sugar producers done to de-
serve this disfavor? The Democrat
&c minority Of the finance committee
OF the Senate in 1912, reported: The
tariff on sugar is peculiarly a rev.
enue tariff. Very much the major
part Of the tax levied on the con-
sumner goes actually into the Unit
ed States treasury
1.-The tariff plank in the Demo-
cratic platform stated: We favor
the ultimate attainment of the
principles we advocate by legisla-
ton that will not injure or destroy
IeSltl1Hdte industry. In1S plank
was inserted to give assurance to
the domestic sugar producers. Be
tween the time Of Woodrow Will
sons nomination and his election
a rumor started that he favored
free sugar. Our producers put the
question TO him and his reply con-
tanned further assurances that the
sugar industry would not be de-
stroyed. Charles r. Heike. secre-
tary Of the American Sugar Re-
f1ning Co., a member of the sea-
board gang. testified before the
Hardwick sugar investigating COM
mittee that If the duty were re-
moved absolutely on sugar, it would
destroy the industry in this coun-
try, and that he would approve Of
that. Mr.. Spreckels declared that he
stood for free sugar. absolutely. OF
course the seaboard refiners want to
kill the beet sugar industry. be-
cause they will then dominate the