The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-22
SODA POP ACCUSE.
ROlph Says U-BOats and Soft
Drinks Make Sugar Scarce.
Investigators Don't Get Any
where; Fight Among Selves.

Washington, Dec. 22.-Submarines
ard prohibition were today added to
the already long list of causes of the
sugar shortage. George NJ. Rolph,
head of the sugar division of the food
administration, testifying before the
subcommittee of the senate investigat-
ing the sweetening shortage, added
these two causes:
Prohibition, Rolph said. had driven
thousands of soldiers and civilians to
ice cream sodas and chocolates and
had thereby increased the conSump-
ton of sugar greatly. Submarines. the
witness said, had stopped the supply
of sugars from lava. Those two con-
ditions have brought about the empty
sugar bowls in the American homes,
the sugar dictator" declared.
The entire days proceedir gs
brought little actual light upon the sit
uaion. l. did develop clearly, how
ever that the fight between the So
called sugar trust and the independ-
ent Dealers which thriyed in open
competition. still exists under govern
ment control This became evident
when ROlph made an open attack
upon Claus A. Spreckels of the Fed
eral Sugar Refining company. the
leader Of the factions fighting the
American Sugar Refining company,
the sO-called trust.
Chairman Reed had been question:
ing RolpF about "profiteers'' and
Spectators" mentioned in the testi-
mony of the witness
Mr. SpreclIels was the greatest
PrOfitter and the greatest Spectator"
buried out the witness. He was called
70 time b. Chairman Reed, but a few
minutes later. when he was asked WHY
lie had organized some years ago Ha-
Naiiaa sugar planters into a company
u refine sugar, he said:
To get the Hawaiian islands ont
Of the strapgle hold of the Spreckels
fl niily, Itolph declared.
SpleckelS thereupon declared that
he had held no interest in Hawaii or
on the Pacific coast sir &c 1898
Chairman Reed and Senator Jones
ClEaSed in a lively tilt. Senator Jones
} I'd been questioning RoIPh on his
testimony when he was examined by
Z halfman Reed. The witness desired
- introduce into evidence several
'Aari senator Reed objected.
These charts are a matter of opin-
ion declared Senator Jones.
There seems to be a considerable
difference OF opinion" replied Chair
ran Reed. holly, ''and we have had
different opinion right along"
Row I'o'ds Program.
A Jew minutes 'ater Senators Jones
end Reed We're again in a tilt when
rnator Kenyon INTERCEPTED:
Il don't see that we are getting any
\ here in trying these sugar re liners;
have specific work to do and the
t1ai situation, which is vastly more
important, is waiting on us
EOlph then attempted to explain
8 me of the remarks he had made
V It'll reference to Spreckels when Sen
or Vardaman stopped him. remark
ing.
Il think you have both been very
liberal with your compliments.
During the entire day Chairman
Feed was duizzing Rolph upon statis-
ties
The most startling fact developed
from all of Rolphs testimony was the
& ct that in his opinion there will be
world sugar shortage during 1918
and~he held out no hopes for relief.
. estimated that the worlds sugar
requirements fer the coming year will
he 6.1TO.0O0 tons and his estimate of
the supply fell 100000 tons short of
this.
Poiph also admitted that there was
. 1000 tons of uTsold sugar in Cuba on
{ ctol er 1. H5e declared he had tried
TO prevent the scale of this sugar and
lad urged British and American re-
finer to leave it. in order that the
Trice or the next crop of Cuban sugar
might he held down.