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Show SUGAR iD Arbuckles Complain That Protection on Beet Sugar Is Bad Washington, June 2S. W. G. Oil-more, Oil-more, of tho firm of Arbuckle brothers of -Brooklyn, told the House Sugar trust investigating committee today that trade sugar wars in this country had practically ceased and that conditions' con-ditions' In the trade wcro very fair, though not ideal. "Where does the change fall short," Representative Madison asked. "The cano sugar refiners are not making enough money " He attributed this to over-production, too much refining capacity, and the beet sugar Industry as now protected, pro-tected, "If we took the tariff off beet sugar, now, what would happen?" "Cheaper sugar. Wo would operate with half the capital and tho beet sugar people would be kept at home. We do not like it when tho beet sugar people, with a hot-house protection, invade our territory." "Then you want freo trade in sugar?" "Personally, I am of that mind." 'Have you any reason to believe that any unfair attacks have been made on you by the present regime in tho American Sugar Refining company?" com-pany?" 'No. Of course, they are not long in their new chairs and we are keeping keep-ing a watchful eye on them. They are now In sackcloth and ashes, as It were." y "That's a good simile. I think that the new men In tho company aro good men, that they should not be charged with the sins of the pasL" Washington. Juno 2S.-WIlllam G. Gllmore, managing partner of Arbuckle Ar-buckle Brothors of Brooklyn, resumed the stand today In the House sugar trust Investigation and described the war ou the American Sugar Refining company by his firm In 1898-99 Tho Arbuckles began manufacturing refined re-fined sugar in 1S9S. and since then has been independent of the trust. "We sold twenty five per cent under trust prices soon after we started in West Virginia and Ohio,! said. Mr. Gllmore. "because tho trust sought-lo Induce the -wholesale grocers In those states to buy,' sugar exclusively from the American. "This was fri 1903 To kept the price down four or five months and got the business in those states. Eventually Even-tually tho price returned to normal, but the American never did get back all Its business In those states." The American first cut the price under un-der Arbuckles, the witness said, from 10 to 15 points when this was met, the trust started a campaign to procure pro-cure contracts. DraBtlc price cutting ceased about the closo of 1S99. During Dur-ing that period. Mr. Gllmore said, his firm lost in the sugar business about $1,250,000. The witness also related how, after Arbuckle went Into tho sugar business, busi-ness, the American engaged In the coffee business, establishing a coffee plant at Toledo. This retaliation was under the direction of H. O. Havc-meycr. Havc-meycr. "It was Intended as destructive competition." com-petition." Mr. Gllmore said, "to discredit dis-credit the package coffee business, and they ran it to the ground for four or five years." "Is that sugar war between you and the American going on now?" asked Charlman Hardwlck. "No." Mr Gllmore answered. "Thero is no war but there Is no armed neutrality neut-rality We are watching the othor follow and doing the best we can for ourselves. We make no cuts now that we do not think necessary for our business. No other cuts aro mado because tho trust does not attack us." Asked If there eer had been during the war any conference of tho Arbuckle Ar-buckle firm with Henry O. Havemeyor to secure a working agreement, Mr. Gllmore replied: "I never heard of such a thing and am morally certain that no such conference con-ference over occurred." Johu Arbuckle, president of the company, would know positively about such a matter. Ho Is 74 years old and very feeble, and a trip to Wash-tngton. Wash-tngton. Mr. Gllmore feared, would endanger his life. Mr. Gllmore testified that his company com-pany had made a contract to employ as an expert rafiner, Ernest Ger-bracht, Ger-bracht, who later was Indicted In connection con-nection with the wolghlng frauds charged against tho American. Gor-bracht Gor-bracht did no work, he said, for whou ho wns Indicted they gave him $15,000 called for by his contract and let him go. |