Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1909 — ALL FOR THE SUGAR TRUST [ARTICLE]

ALL FOR THE SUGAR TRUST

The Beet Sugar Factories Are Practically Controlled by the Unscrupulous Sugar Trust and Are Led by It In Asking For Extreme “Protection”— Costly and Wasteful Business For Consumers. The beet sugar people are asking for the continuance of the present exorbitant “protection” on refined sugar, equivalent to more than 78 per cent ad valorem, and are attempting to create the impression that their industry is not controlled by the Sugar Trust The facts, however, indicate that the Trust does coutrol the beet sugar industry. The different domestic beet sugar factories are, for the most part gathered together in groups, each group operated by a “parent’’ company. It is known that the American Sugar Refining Company (the Sugar Trust) either directly or through its directors has a controlling interest in at least ten of these “parent” companies, which in 1908 produced about 70 per cent of the total beet sugar production. All the beet sugar companies act together and all

act as the Trust wishes. The Cost Not Justified. The beet sugar factories claim that they cannot produce sugar cheaper than they are now doing. In 1008 our total domestic beet sugar production was only a trifle over 12 per cent of our total consumption of sugar. The hope is held out, however, that iu time the beet sugar production will be sufficient for all our requirements. If this result is achieved through the maintenance of a high tariff it will mean that the American people will always have to pay an excessively high price for their sugar. It would also be possible, of course, to grow bananas in Maine with sufficiently high protection kept up for a sufficient time, but it would not be good business. The New York Sun is a high Journal, but it cannot defend the demands of the beet sugar Interests. In a recent issue it said: “It is not a question of what can be done, but yf what is likely to be done and whether results will justify the cost. The beet sugar industry must show better results than it has shown thus far before there will be proper justification for its demands for an extravagant oroteetlon.”