Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-16
FOODCONTR0L HEAD
CLAIMS SPRECKELS
SEEKS TO DESTROY
Sugar Man ''Sore," !" Mr.. Hoov-
er Declares, and Cites Failure
to Reap High Profits.
SUPPLY 70 PER CENT;
''PROUD TO FEED FRANCE"
Leader Says Aim Was to Use Food
Administration as Club to Settle
Old Sugar Quarrel.


Administration as Club to Settle
Old Sugar Quarrel.
Declaring that Claus A. Spreckels
president of the Federal Sugar Refining
Company, "is sore at the food admin
istration and would like to see it de
stroyed," Herbert G. Hoover, food ad
ministrator, last evening issued yigor'
ous statement in reply to charges made
by Mr.. Spreckels before Senate in.
vestigasing committee. Mr.. Spreckels, al
that hearing, charged that the food ad-
ministration is responsible for a sugar
shortage in the east.
Mr.. Hoover intimates that Mr.. Spree.
kels' testimony was inspired by the fact
that the food administration cut profits
in sugar, transactions.
Prospect of Profits.
1T requires no proof from me-" said Mr..
Hoover, ito establish that Mr.. Spreckeis.
leading sugar refiner. is sore at the food
destroyed.
sheet will not look SO good next year as
last. for ref1ners' profits have been rsgu-
lated. Furthermore. his balance sheet
would have looked better this year If the
price Of last August had not been reduced
and held fast, in the face ofsfa partial
shortage that promised a fairsopportunity
for ao-cent sugar and much increased
profita IL.
.Mr. spreckeis. therefore. has reason to
feei badly. There ARD other citizens who
doubt can entertain tho public by assault
tna the food administration. While many
feeI badly. still the vast majority Of men
and women Of our business community
profifs daily 70 the nation's necessities
without coFnp1nint for many are s&cri<
heing more than their noneyfheir song.
~ &
Is1rs hzer had twe,s ssz0nfhs of peySfal
sugar shortage October and NcSsml5
and VIII assp haxR p6o6sn1ee boScrS r&llaf
from he ~ es0k me AihetfcAd people
havs haA s6o,obo tons OF ;sus1y n these
two sneaths -<Aat Il, 40 PER ceht Of fheir
normal n1ppalss IN each hsht,an and. e
cars ass availAhas they isFiu have 10 per
can't IN December. Owiuk t6 car shortages
the shortage has beer most acute in the
northease and abopt ESQ Scars ara today
blocked from that region.
s.This 70 per c1nt Is twice the. French
ration. In the lmesntfne we have given
France good part Of the 40 per cent
snd are proud Of IL This supply e
Frsncs WIS gwen deliberately, and the
Amesicah people were told of It at the
time. We have also agreed to draw 10000
tons for our friends, In Capada- I have
yet TO! meet an American citizen who
would have had 1t otherwise.
Has Already Been Eaten.
~"As to the food administration stop
ping the sources Of supply: The fact
that all available supplies have been
brought here that ships and carr
could bring. and that 1t has already
been eaten. Is sumcient answer.
Mr.. Spreckels knows the bitterness
Of the ten years' fi1iat between pro-
ducers and refiners-between different
reduefs-and II he looks back over the
last three months he will observe de-
sire OF many Of these elements to use
the food administration as q club To
IF Mr.. Spreckeis will tell US where
there Is any sugar today that ships
can be Obtained TO carry or cars can be
obtained TO deliver. it will be delivered
1t occS with the same resolution that
we haze rcquAsitioned or distributed
ever e0,o0o.0eo pounds OF embargoeA
sugar siEc- October /. In the mean
time the 800. 900 tons of sugar In JSvl
y as remote az cheese out OF the moon
--un.eSs we wish to take bread ships
from oar own soldiers and the allies to
provide ourselves with candy
Sugar Mem Clash.
Just before the Senate Investigating
committee brought its session to close
yesterday Mr.. spreckels; and President
Company. who was testifying. clashed
over the antitrust suit against the
American company
8tr. Spreckefs said Mr.. Babst last DC.
tober discussed With his competitors dis
solution oflfhe suit and asked Mr.. Spreck-
els to write letter TO President Wilson
Babst declared he had only asked Mr.
Spreekels II he would join In such 8
request II other competitors did.
Mr.. Spreckels testified that on or abou,
October 4 Mr. Babst said to him:
I'VE are good now and we have an In.
timatfop from the Attorney General thai
II you will write q letter to the Presiden,
saving We are good that the suit win b
what makes you think have such
influence with the President?" Mr.
e2reckeis said he replied.
Because you are one Of our principa
competitors," was stated as the answer
Mr.. Spreckels stated that Mr.. Babs
said again that I'VE are good and will
be in the future" and that he (Spreck
els3 answered:
Unwilling to Take Chance.
Tam not willing to take chance o,
the future"
Nr. Spreekels said he declined {,
write such a letter.
Mr.. Babst gave his version of tn.
conversation and said nothing about tn,
request for a letter.
Wasn't anything said about a lette,
20 the President?f asked Senator Reed
Mr. Spreckeis. sitting a few feet from
Er. Babst. quickly laced about an.
questioned:
"Dfdn'e you ask me 10 write a Iette
70 President WILSON,"
81 did not" said. Mr. Babst, firmly.
Turning to Senator Reed, Mr.. Spreck
made under oath and / am willing /,
repeat IT."
$50 was mine," snapped Mr. Babst.
II explained to Mr.. Spreckeis" MI
Babst said. that as we were all uude
government control 1t had been sug
gestcd that possibly the dissolution sui
against US might be dismissed. I aske,
fsquest that 1t be dons He said h
kcuid think Y ever"