Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-11-04
BetWeen Two Fires.

The Coolidge administration is between
two fires as a result Of action taken by the
government Of Cuba to limit the sugar
crop Of the country and to place restrict
ions on expectations to the United States.
1t is generally accepted that a word from
President Coolidge or Secretary Of Com
merce Hoover would cause Cuba to re-
consider her action. II that word is not
uttered. then American consumers will
have to pay many millions Of dollars an
nually in increased prices for sugar. as
most Of the Cuban crop is exported to this
country and the price Of Cuban sugar de-
termines the price Of sugar to American
consumers. Also. II no protest is entered
the Coolidge administration will be sub
hitting to action by foreign government
that involves the principle Of the equaliza-
ton fee in the McNary .Hausen farm re-
lief bill which President Coolidge 90
roundly denounced in vetoins that measure
last winter.
Under the Cuban plan. the government
not only says how much sugar may be
produced each year. but also how much may
be exported TO the United States. Admit
tedly 1t is a plan to make American con-
sumers pay the Cuban producers more for
their sugar crop. This is in effect price,
liking and is substantially the plan evolved
in the farm relief bill Of last winter. in
tended to relieve American agriculture.
When that legislat on was passed. Presi-
dent Coolidge promptly vetoed il as class
legislation" Admittedly that is what the
Cuban governments action is, that Is class
legislation for Cuban sugar growers with
American consumers paying the freight.
Yet President Coolidge. who opposed class
Legislation" in behalf Of American farmers
nor Secretary Hoover, who inveiehed
against British restrictions on rubber ex-
portations and Brazilian limitations on
the expectation Of coffee. have uttered a
word of protest against the Cuban action
and In behalf Of the American people.
II Is possible that one reason the adj
A"aShohtoh Soh uuu It's NoiCc III Dcildu
OF the consumers is that the American
beet sugar corporations will be among the
biggest beneficiaries OF the Cuban price,
fixing plan. Anything that increases the
price Of Cuban sugar increases the price
of American beet sugar. and it is nototi-
Gus that the big beet sugar interests have
always been in high favor with the Harding
Coolidge administrations. Senator Smoot,
Of Utah. their special advocate. is a sugar
capitalist. The new G. o. P. Senator from
Colorado. Mr.. Waterman. was a beet sugar
attorney. and so was Charles B. Warren,
whose nomination for Attorney General by
President Coolidge the Senate twice re-
jected. Another beet sugar attorney is
one Of the most influential officers Of the
Republican National Committee, VIM. v.
Hodges, Of Colorado, the treasurer. Mean
while. American consumers will pay the
bill to the tune Of hundreds Of millions of
dollars. while American farmers are asking
why 1t is the President can condemn price
fixing in their behalf. but can not find his
voice to protest against such action 10 be-
half Of Cuban cane and American beet
sugar interests, especially wheh American
consumers have to foot the bill.