Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-04
And HoU II Comes About TNaf Evegsz
Bv Rene Bacle.

bring your market-basket, FIJI 1t with
candy, take 1t home and come back for
more as often as you like.
But no sugar Not even sprnkling for
the children's breakfast cereal. And no
sugar to make dessert for dinner.
Obviously there is something all wrong
about this. Candy is q luxury pure and
simple; sugar for the household is n prime
necessary. Yet sugar is denied to the
American housekceper while anybody can
get all the candy he wants If he is able 10
buy his sugar in this expensive form.
Why?
The answer IS that II is all matter OF
commercial quill" Tho candy makers
have the pull; therefore they can get un-
limited sugar. The housewife has it not,
and so she cannot get this necessary or
life. even in small quantity. Or, if she is
allowed to buy sugar she can obtain only
little
The entire sugar supply OF the country
is controlled by the Sugar Trust. That
gigantic concern IS in business to make
money. The customers in whom it is
interested are its big customers, the people
who buy its product in enormous quaint.
ties.
Its biggest customers are the candy
makers. Therefore their orders must he
filled first; and If there Is not enough
sugar left over to supply the needs OF the
people--well, that is the peoples mis-
fortune, it does not bother the Sugar
Trust
While the war was going on the sugar
shortage became SO bad that the Govern
ment felt obliged to take the matter in
hand. with view to regulating he dis
tribution Of sugar. 1t has had It In hand
ever since; but with what result? Moth
ing much. The Sugar Trust apparently, is
too strong for the Government.
The Government control of sugar held
was little or no sugar TO be had! Tho
sugar control IS to be continued a while
longer, but will It do any good?
1t is said that the Sugar Trust has its
eye on a price OF twenty-five cents a
pound or even moro for sugar. If the Gov
ernment names q price that doesn't suit
the trust what is to prevent a continued
sugar "famine?"
The manufacture of sirups for sweeten-
Ing soft drinks (bottled or sold by the
glass; is q huge and rapidlygrowing bust
ness. Those engaged IN it are among the
largest customers Of the Sugar Trust; they
get all the sugar they want.
Prohibition has greatly increased the de-
mand for soft drinks. There is no limit
on the supply Of those beverages, and the
corner drug store has plenty Of soda sirups
(made from cane sugar., even though not
a pound OF sugar can be obtained by any
household on the same block.
The people OF the United States normal
" consume about 100000 tons of sugar
annually We Americans are the greatest
consumers OF sugar In the world OF this
vast quantity fully oneEthird goes to the
makers of candy end sirups. Under ordi.
nary conditions there would be plenty left
over for household use: but at the present
time the supply is short, and tho family
must go without, or at best get along
with nggardly and insufficient allow
ance.
Everybody must have taken note of the
recent growth OF the candy trade. Candy
shops everywhere have multiplied and
other stores innumerable have adopted
CANDY as side line" The demand for
candy undoubtedly has been greatly in
creased by tho alcoholic drought: for
sugar, being a highly concentrated fuel for
the body machine, is q powerful stimulant.
Mistress Housewife. rs an individual
sugar buyer. does not interest the Trust
Why should IL bother about her or her
little family? The grocer does not really
care very much. II he does n large bust.
ness he could sell good deal OF sugar to
retail patrons, but the profit on ii Is small
and scarce worth the trouble Under exist
inc 3n-,e &c ii,
mo sugar" 10 his customers than TO 20
out Of his way 10 try 10 get IT,
The Trust has a strangle hold and
henceforward It's operations are not 10 he
interfered with. beyond q Requirement, that
it shall eqnitably distribute its product
geographically. II can make It's own price
because It has no competitor il absolute.
ly controls the entire sugar Output OF fine
United States-the beet sugar of the West
and the cane sugar OF lOuisiana-and also
that OF Cuba, where 81 owns half Of tho
sugar plantations and holds mortgages on
the other half. The sugar crops OF Hawaii.
Porto Rico and the Philippines arc gath.
cred for its use and benefit.
We produce in this country hardly ono.
fourth OF the sugar VIC consume Gee
than another onc-fourth comes from Porto
Rico, Hawaii and the Philippine4 Moro
than one-half has hitherto been Unmarried
from Cuba. But, owing 10 tho sorio,,
shortage or sugar in Europe. most O; tho
Cuban product is now going thither. and
this is why Our own supply is so wolully
,cut down.
IN Less than one-third OF our own sugar -
ierived from the sugar cane, the balance
icing obtained from sugar bcets The In,
Ar are like any other beets, excep, tina,