The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-12-27
PROTECTION FOR SUGAR

With the sugar industry of the United States threatened with
disaster on the one hand and with Cuba calling to mind the fact that
it came to the rescue of the United States in war time by selling its
sugar crops to this government at prices under the market, on the
other. congress finds itself in a peculiar position. Self preservation
demands an increase in duty while gratitude and the remembrance
of past actions calls for favors to be shown to the little island re-
public. Self preservation is always regarded as the first law of
nature and beautiful as is the theory Of self sacrifice as an ideal for
individual life it does not enter to any very large extent into busl-
ness, governmental affairs or international affairs
The cold, hard fact that congress is called upon to face is that
the American cane growers and sugar beet growers are conducting
with that tariff removed the Cuban surplus would De thrown INTO
the market at a price under what is now being realized by Amerr
to continue cultivatng the fields for any protracted period at a
loss. In other words the question is whether or no the United
States shall abandon sugar production or impose upon imports a
tariff sufficient to permit her own citizens on her own lands to pro-
duce crops that will maintain the industry. This is the cold, bald
statement Of the situation that has to be met.
Cubas case is that she was freed from Spanish rule by this
country and by this nation was brought into self government and
independence that she is, in a large sense, a ward of the United
States. She adds the claim that recognizing that condition when
prices of raw sugars were soaring after the United States entered
the war she sold her entire crops to this government at prices under
the then market figures thus enabling this government to stabilize
prices. To that argument the American producers can reply that
they also sold their production at the figures which the government
us in your time of need to our costs, what are you gong to do for
us now? In time of war we made our sacrifices for the public veal,
are we to be abandoned now?'
AS to Hawaii's attitude in this situation there can be no ques-
ton. She finds herself between the two mill stones, feels their
pressure and is being ground and crushed. She faces the death, the
extinction of her chief industry. She has visions OF thousands upon
thousands of acres lying desolate and uncutivated, Of great sugar
mills and plants falling into ruins. Her very existence is at stake
Tor with the sugar industry abandoned she is lett without means
to conduct her government, she is pauperized. Hawaii has no other
industry that could take the place of sugar for years. Schools must
close, industrial progress halt, retail trade be virtually abandoned,
a set back received from which it might take half a century or more
to recover. Her position is worse than Louisiana or the sugar beet
growing districts where diversified crops are possible.
Under such circumstances Hawaii simply must have adequate
protection and her fate, economical, political and social hangs in
the balance. Her case must be presented to congress clearly and
fully. Every civic organization in the Islands should assist in do
ing this and in making obviously clear the crisis in the face of
which the labor shortage from which the industry also suffers, pales
into insignifcance. On the question of adequate protection for the
sugar industry, Hawaiis back is to the wall.