New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1917-11-03
THE SUGAR FAMINE.

sugar 1dmlHe dppIodCHco. WI
Hoover In his anxiety to maintain
low prices is reported to have tel
egraphed as follows to the sugar
producers Of Louisiana:
eve are. as you know, making
an earnest effort to protect the
American consumer from specula-
ton and extortion in sugar at a
time when we are parting with
our national supplies to protec
the ration of the French people
until Cuban sugar is available
The French have reduced their
ration to only 500 grammes per
month per person or equal to one
pound per month or one-half ounce
daily. This is to be compared
with our American consumption
of four ounces daily or seven
pounds per month.
"The beet sugar producers have
patriotically agreed that they will
not sell their sugar for more than
1925 per hundred pounds, less z
DER cent New York basis. To ef-
feet these ends of protection TO
our millions Of people and to help
against parting with our margins
to supply the French. we need 81
milar action by the Louisiana
producers.
eve have agreed with the re-
finers that they will limit refining
charges to the pre-war average
plus the actual increase In ex-
penses due to the war. wish to
appeal to the Louisiana producers
that they should also agree to sell
their sugar upon the same basis as
the reet sugar producers on con-
dition that we endeavor to secure
to them the base price in New Or
leans the same as that at New
York for all the sugar refined at
New Orleans.
"This patriotic service will be
a signal demonstration to the
country not only Of the desire OF
the industry to aid national sery-
ice, but the advantage Of home In
dustry in sugar.
So far as we know, no one
doubts the sincerity Of Mr.. Hoover.
in his expressed views concerning
his efforts to protect the consum-
ers Of the country. We, however.
have very serious doubts as to hts
Judgment Is to the most expedient
grounds Of food control and still
more serious doubts as to his judy
ment concerning men. In regard
to food control, Mr.. Hoover has
consented, as we understand, to
the Presidents guarantee of
high price for wheat, three times
the normal value Of wheat. He
has made no effort whatever to
reduce the price Of meats and
while they constitute most i'm
portant foodstuff, the meat inter
ests seem to have been able to sus-
tain themselves as against any
food control.
With wheat and meats defiant,
sugar has been made the victim
Of Mr.. Hoover,s efforts. To us
who are familiar with the matter,
IL would seem almost criminal to
take great industry like the do
mestic sugar industry Of the Uni
ted States and the colonial sugars
81 Hawaii and Porto Rico and
place them in the hands Of the
recognised enemies Of the sugar
industry. Mr.. Hoover must havs
noted that the State Of Louisiana
and the sugar planter for Louisi-
ana have been making an earnest.
and we may say, desperate effort
to drive the American Sugar Re-
f;ning Company ont az the State
Of Louisiana. We believe now
that II would have been . god
send 10 this state il this enemy
# our blantiu4 interest had been
driven out Of the state. For more
than : generation that corpora
tion has made its insidious APP
proaches on the sugar industry,
n,rndmn1lv 1ra min, Tia 1;vn.l tiki