Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1900 — OUR BEET SUGAR SAFE [ARTICLE]

OUR BEET SUGAR SAFE

PRODUCTION OF CANE SUGAR DECREASING EVERYWHERE. ,** Two-Thirds of the World’s Sugar Supply Now Comes from Beet Sugar Growing Countries—'The Porto Rican Tariff—Onr Island. Markets. Simultaneously with the development of the withdrawal of slave labor from the production of cane-sugar, beets Increased their percentage of the world’* supply from 4.35 in 1840 to 14 per cent, in 1850 ; 20 per cent. In 1860; 34 per cent. In 1870, and they now produce 66 per cent., or two-thirds of the world’s sugar. This fact shows that the farmers of the temperate zone need no longer fear the competition of the tropics in the production of sugar, and especially If a reasonable protection is granted them, as Is the case In the United States. The farmers of this country have been encouraged by the Republican party in their ambition to produce the sugar of the country. The experience of other nations and of other parts of the temperate zone has shown that sugar can be produced from beets In great quantities, and at a very small cost, and can successfully compete with cane sugar under the most favorable circumstances. Under the stimulus given to the sugar production by Republican legislation, bsetsugar factories sprang up all over the United States, and the production of beet sugar has already reached large proportions and is increasing with wonderful rapidity. The first thought that came to the minds of the farmers when the events following the war for the liberation of Cuba brought under our control certain tropical areas was whether or got the possession or control of tropical territory by the United States would injure, or perhaps destroy, the opportunities which they believed were almost within their grasp-for supplying the $100,000,000 worth of sugar which the people of the United States anqnally consumed. This fear—if it reached the stage in which it could be caljed by that name—was answ:ered in tb« negative by the Republican party when it passed the Porto Rican bill. Tpe Democratic party fought with all Us power to prevent the enactment of Ibat measure which placed a duty upon articles coming into <he United States from Porto Rico. That duty was small, but It was an explicit declaration by the Republican parly that it would apt yield the power to fix such tariff, a* it might deem judicious, against the products of cheap tropical labor wherever located and UDcrfr whatever conditions. In other wards, it was a distinct promise to the American fanher that he need not fear that the Republican party would permit the cheap labor and cheap sugar of any tropical territory to be brought here in a manner which would destroy the American Industry of beet sugar production which the farmers of the Übited States have, under protection given by R»e Republican party, been building np during the last few years. The farmers of the temperate zone can produce beet sugar successfully In competition with the sugar cane of tte tropics when both are handled by £ee labor, and this advantage which the American farmer has will be strengthened in the United States so long as the Republican party retains its control aad is able to apply the protective principle in the Interests of its farmers as it fid in the case of the Porto Rican Ull, aganst which the Democrats turned their every energy. With a few years of moderate protection against £he cheap labor of the tropics, the sugar Industry in the United States will be placed fairly and squarely upon its feet Meantime ‘the improved condition of labor in the tropics, and t)je opportunities for higher wages Whioh the guidance of the United States will give them, will more nearly equalize the cost of the two systems of production. One further fact in regard to the world’s production and producing capacity is worthy of consideration in this connection, and that is that nearly two-thirds of the sugar now Imported Into the United States comes from the Islands of the Pacific. The total importation of sugar Into the United States in the ten months ending with April, 1899, amounted to" 3,303,020,763 pounds, and of this amount 1,180,442,362 pounds were from the East Indies, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Philippine Islands, thus indicating the posslblitles of our Pacific territory to supply that portion of our consumption which It wfli be necessary to Import until the farmers of this country are able to supply the home demand. Instead of sending to other countries and other peoples the $100,000,000 per year which we have been annually expending for forelgn-grown sugar, it may be expended under the American flag and in a manner which will benefit the people of our, islands, and incidentally those of our own people who may enter upon business enterprises in them. Political Pointers. One deceptive plank in a political platform readily contaminates the entire structure. It is not at all likely that the Kansas City ticket will make near the run that Aguinaldo has. Was there ever a political gathering so thoroughly bossed as the Kansas City convention? The anti-trust plank of the Kansas City platform was created by the aid of Tammany votes. Why dwell upon it? A foreign commerce of $2,244,000,000 with the gold standard rather puts silver out of the running. At least It cansot be claimed to be the running mat* of nrosperlty.