Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-09
SUGAR SURVEY rs MADE
BY GEORGE NOX M'CAM
Declares american Consumption Has Been Largely In
A creased by Prohibition and Consequent Demand for
4 Lu1uries Not Heretofore Used by Many Persons
by GEORGE NON MCCAIN

insistent and immediate demand for
war material. the growth overnight Of
vast manufacturing and shipbuilding
concerns with the consequent demand
for labor, boosted wages to unheard of
figures. Labor in every mechanical
field found itself in possession of more
money than it had ever dreamed pos
Sible in the way Of wages and return
for its service.
4 consequent demand for luNuries,
and for greater supplies Of food neces-
stiles and clothing, set in among the big
wage earpers and their families. The
candy factories doubled and treblcd their
output. / am informed by those COM
petent to know that the appetite for
candy and sweets of every kind has in
creased fiyefold in the last five wears.
In the wake of this came u greater
household consumption of cakes. Home
confcctions and pastries among those
who had known only moderation in these
luXuries in other wears We're in demand
until the sugar consumption exceeded all
known records.
Another factor which has played a
prominent part is prohibition. Its in
PRODUCTION has created an unprecedented
demand for soft drinks and sOdas while
ice cream has had no iuconspicuous
part.
Millions of gallons Of home made wines
and other fermcntcd dccoctions into
which sugar enters largely have been
made. From alcohol the people have
turned to sugar. the most condensed
variety Of caloric holding food, in its
various forms. All of this has augment
ed the pre- war demand for sugar.
" should be said in TINS connection
that the refining capacity of this coun
try is in excess Of the supply of raw
sugars The capacity of the sugar mills
has not been reached With the present
and recent rate of increase IT will be
only short time. however, if the ratio
is maintained, until this new condition
faces the country.
In a talk with John Gribbel, proml
nent financior and q director of the
Pennsylvania Sugar Refining Co, he
tells me that the rcfiners for months
past, with constantly lessCning stocks
on hand, have been urging their Gus
toners to conserve sugar in every way.
Reduced consumption only can effect
o return to normal conditions. The
appetite for sweets must be Curtailed
il relief from the present shortage is
TO come
As one official expressed it, 'the
United States has already twice over
consumed its normal supply of sugar.
This then, in uuvarnished fashion, tells
the story of existing conditions.
But could not the country have been
saved the experiences of this crisis?
Certainly, and there were not want
ing those who pointed out to those
high in authority the danger that i'm
pended. Warnings were voiced; the
red flag of danger was raised, but to no
purpose, it seemed. 1t is another story
and here it is:
As already pointed out above, the
United States Government purchased
the Cuban sugar crop last year and
then supplied its allies with one third
of the amount, which, even at that,
gave them a supply far below normal.
The sugar corporation, as the govern
ment agency was called, was urged
again to enter the world market and
bid for the Cuban crop of the coming
year
This government had an option ou
this years Cuban crop, which expired
the 22d of last September 1t would
materially have changed the situation
had the option been taken up.
But President Wilson was in Europe.
There was a hesitancv and uncertainty
because there was no one in authority
who cared to assume the responsibility
of so great a transaction. There was