Arizona republican., 1917-12-30
(PhiIadelnhia North Arhericanl

Philadelphia North American)
 George H. Earle, Jr., one of the leading independent refiners of sugar yesterday issued a statement point ing out the principal features in the opposition to the Hoover sugar ad- ministration by Claud Spreckles and praising Food Commissioner Hoover ana George NJ. Rolph, head of the sugar division, for their efforts which, he says, have prevented sugar reach ing so cents ard even $1 a pound.
 The statement is as follows:
 No one could desire to get into a better controversy as that in which MT. Spreckels is engaged but I think it a patriotic duty to answer the North American inquiries no matter what follows. Of course, 1 am only speaking of what the press lays be- fore me. If that is incorrect what 1 say does not apply. But if what I do read is true, this attack is as de- plorable as it is unjust
 "Of course, Mr. Rolph and Mr. Hoover have cut the profits of sugar refining to pieces. and, equally, of course. under ordinary circumstances. no refiner could like that; but these are not ordinary circumstances. We are engaged iG a death struggle, and l thank God that there are some of us, even in the refining of sugar that put our country in the first | place.
 And l cannot see how any one who does that can throw Instructions | ilito the governmental machinery at such time, even if he does not en- tlrely agree with what the govern ment decides upon. It is, of course | right, probably a duty, to call the attention of those entrusted with our welfare by the people, to different viewpoints; but to unnecessarily create scandal and controversy al such time is unpardonable, il | backed up only with suspicion ana surmise.
 Praises Hoover and Roph l After the closest contest with the sugar situation l must bear testi- mony to the fact that I have never seen such loyal, unselfish patient enthusiastic devotion to patriot duty as that being displayed by Messrs Hoover and Rolph They are not only working to the point of ex- l haustion without compensation, but l know that MT. Rolph has voluntarily subjected his company to enormous losses of what could be gained. that | the people get sugar cheaper and the armies be properly supplied. If ever a departure from the laws of trade has been justified, it has been. SC lar, in this question of sugar, and say this although l am always anx- | lous about the interference with nat ural laws by artificial edict.
 When these gentlemen took charge n tfrnFa IL poor were being robbed by having tC buy sugar, by the ounce and at cents. That is so ceIts a pound. AnC believe sugar could have been solo at dollar That, of course, would be cheerful for those owning suear put how about the poor, our armies the country? : Now, let us regard facts. In tha situation MT. Hoover and Mir. Rolpl have kept the refiners' price at II. cents, and they have done it by vol untary agreement-and the last ma, to agree was MT. Spreckels! He i reported as criticising Hoover an, Rolph for fixing too high pricesl I can't be possiblei Especially. i, view of the fact that he is criticism, them for allowing too high price Tor Cubans. In the next breath h abuses them for not letting him bu, Cubahs at any price he saw fit. Ac tions speak louder than words. Whe the price was fixed he was the las to agree; he alone criticises them fo not letting him run raws up; bu when the price for Cubans is finall reduced by them, he criticises ther with perfect safety. It is prepos trous,
 SpreckeIs Urged Minimum Price
 Again, as sample, he is reporte
 as saying he did not want to agre because he feared unfair treatment but I do not see him reported a telling that he. himself, was appointe