Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-05-20
MORE SUGAR BETS

The country is threatened with a
shortage, and famine prices, of one
of the important foods at the present
time. The world supply appears to
be short and spectators are prof.
teering on the short supply; that too
! in a country capable of producing
plenty of all kinds of sweets. The
great demand for luxuries and the
demand for labor to produce them
at high wages has drained the coun-
try of large part of its working
force. Unions are everywhere con-
tending for higher wages which are
only temporary relief The great
remedy lies in increased production,
economy and the conservation Of the
resources of the land.
Profiteering and far Of being the
victim of it has created envy and
suspicion. Sugar beet growers are
the latest parties to organize for
what they consider a square deal and
fair share of profits. No doubt sugar
manufacturers made a much larger
profit compared with their invest,
ment than did the beet growers, but
they were not the only profiteers in
the sugar deal, nor does it seem
possible under present laws to pre-
vent unfair prices in case of a short
age Of necessities Even the farmer
of some means has had his hand in
the game to a limited extent, but
has had a rather checkered career as
some know 10 their sorrow.
The beet-growers organized TO get
better prices for and a fair share of
the profits in the manufacture Of
sugar from beets. If the work had
been done earlier i'm the season be-
fore the contracts were signed up,
no doubt the terms Of the contracts
would have been better. The beet
growers signed up contracts which
looked good TO them and i'm good
faith agreed to raise crop of beets.
These contracts were as fair as any
they had ever signed, and would
have been lived up TO if some trouble
seekers had not made them wise TO a
lot of claims which are not borne
out by the facts and some Of which
amy person with common sense can
see are not the truth. The cost of
growing an acre of beets has been
padded up with some unreasonable
items as was the cost of growing
beans two years ago which put the
cost at eight dollars a bushel. These
figures which were claimed, though,
were never proved TO bc true 20 fact,
and are no more facts in the mind
Of the writer than that the sugar
company made profits of $4,000 per
acre of beets put through their fac
tory. as claimed by agitators. The
person of ordinary intelligence can
take these claims for what they are
worth
Unions no doubt, have their value
but it would be great relief to the
country at present To be rid Of most
of them Let every man render his
service To the highest bidder and
raise and market any crop that Of
fers the best returns for his efforts
and is suited to his farm. If the
price of sugar continues as high az
at present, no doubt the price Of
beets will have to be adjusted, but
in case sugar comes down to a NOM
na price there will be no cause for
a change. all of which is speculation
at the present time. Beet growers
who Joined the Association have
nothing on themselves as binding as
the contracts they signed with the
company TO grow beets the present
season. The organization has failed
of results for the present, except
what the company has offered for
this season, which is of some benefit
to those who can take care of their
own beets, and its success depends
on the price sugar sells for nine
months from now.
The country needs sugar and the
laborer needs the work which the
growing of beets affords. Now what
can be gained by sitting tight on a
lot of bad advise and unreasonable
demands that are causing lot Of
neighborhood hatred and possibility
of more trouble. Would it not be
much~better for all concerned to let
the matter rest for this season.
w. F.. BARLEY.