The diamond drill., 1920-02-21
TWENTY-FIVE CENT SUGAR

sugar Is Selllns In trystdl rams
for 25-cents per pound. II is so sold
when Il can be got by the retailers.
Only a very limited amount can be got |
and our storekeepers are paying from
% to 23-cents spot cash for the sugar !
they are able to get, the cash being de- |
manded in advance. Add TO the pur-
chase price the freight and the cost o. |
handling and one can see that our lo-
cal merchants are not profiteering
when they ask 25-cents per pound for
this article.
But, some one Is profiteering; some
one is getting an enormous profit on
this commodity Where IS the fault
for this condition.
All signs point to the administration
at Washington. Pres. Wilson is ac-
cused, and the accusation has never
been denied. OF refusing to sanction
the purchase OF the Cuban crop when
1t could have been taken In rs entirety
by the Sugar Equalization Board at
about 6Is cents per pound That
would have given the American people
sugar at about 10 to IL cents per
pound and assured them OF all the su-
gar necessary.
But, there are other culprits. IL is
an established fact that the Louisiana
planters are allowed by our govern
ment to ask IL cents per pound for
their sugar This at a time when the
railroad employees demanded raise In
wages or a decrease in the cost OF lly-
ing. Attorney General Palmer made
big splurge at the time and many fare
heads were flung ont announcing that
the department of justice was surely
going to reduce the cost of living. The
accusation is made. and so far there
has been no refutation OF Il, that the
attorney general tacitly agreed 10
the price OF IL cents per pound for
Louisiana sugar AT the same time
tina, the attorney general winked at
this very exorbitant sugar price, Cub
an sugar was selling at 6h cents and
beet sugar was regulated AT IL cents
per pound. The enormous advantage
given the Louisiana men caused an
immediate rise in the price of Cuban
sugar and the beet sugar men demand
ed an equalized price. as they certain
ly had a right 10 demand one. Result.
sugar can be bought only in very
small quantities. If al all. and. at prices
that are a disgraceE
But. what's back OF all this. Why
were Louisiana planters allowed 10
demand this big price. Echo answers
politics. The Louisiana planters are
all good southern democrats and Mr..
Palmer IS said 20 be candidate for
the presidency. A democratic candi-
date without the southern support isn't
OF much value to the party. That Is
the only reason so far given for the
mulcting OF the people OF this nation
by the sugar growers of the south and
Il looks to be a logical one.
~ - ~
Hell viii break loose In the upper
peninsula from one end 20 another.
were the constabulary Cstate). re-
moved" IS the reason that Major Van
dercock is credited with giving when
appearing before the board Of state
auditors for funds from the emergency
fund with which to support the organ
ization. Just why the Colonel should
single out the upper peninsula as the
place where hell viii break loosep
cannot we'll BE- fanthoned out unless
1t was given to play upon the wide
~ diaused idea below the straits
that she upper peninsula Is a congiom-
Grafton d barbarians. mosquitoes aud
billiards.. There Is less need for the
cunstabulary IN the upper peninsula
than IN the Detroit Public Forum and
Ii Il came 10 a pass where our state
institutions must be cramped 10 pro-
vide 100000 TO maintain this state
police force. perhaps those who ask
for Sc abolition are not very far
wrong.