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Show LEH ECCLES BACK: FROM THE PANAMA GAIL Leroy R. Eccles. first vice president of the Amalgamated Sugar company, who has just returned from an enjoy-, able tour of the south as far as Pan ama, was asked today how long the people might expect the price of sugar to stay at the present high level. He replied that many merchants in the nast are "on their hands and knees, begging for sugar, and their wants cannot can-not be supplied." Furthermore "From information which I have received re-ceived from official sources, we shall begin the year 1918 without any sugar stocks at all, and this condition will prevail until it Is relieved by greater production and by the resumption of sugar production in Cuba, whence comes America's main supph ." He added that the abnormal scarcity ot . sugar was no worse than that of po -tatoes and other necessaries of life.l which will prevail until new crops are produced. Local High Prices. Mr Eccles was asked to explain how merchants in other sections, where noi sugar is produced, can sell sugar retail, re-tail, as they are doing now. fourteen and sixteen pounds for a dollar, while In Ogden it is sold eight to eleven pounds for a dollar. Mr. Eccles replied that some re soureeful merchants, having amplel capital, purchased large supplies of sugar at $6 10 per hundred at the low range of prices and were now able to advertise sugar as a leader, offering bargain weights. Answers Mrs. Tarbell. "While here recently on a lecture tour," Mr. Eccles was told, "Miss Ida May Tarbell, the distinguished economist econo-mist and publicist, inquired particularly particular-ly concerning the development in T T f a Vl ,.f tKo KicI on fro r- j ! -,i" "i w luuusu), anu asked about the retail price. When informed of the progressive upbuildins of the Industry, stimulating prosperity and enriching the farmers, she stated that 'gentlemen must not be permitted to sell sugar eight to ten pounds for a dollar, and the right way to bust the trust is to agitate for free trade. That will bring them to time. United action ac-tion along this line will get Immediate results ' Both the Deseret News and The standard, whose representatives Interviewed Mies Tarbell together, did not report this statement of Miss Tarbell Tar-bell because the reporters withheld it until your return, as a mailer of fair ness. What will you say now in reply re-ply to Miss Tarbell?" Admits Weapon's Power. Mr. Eccles was thoughtful for a moment mo-ment 'Miss Tarbell is certainly a bright, delightful writer, but " he be gan, but paused and enjoyed a laugh. He finished his sentence with a characteristic char-acteristic remark to the effect that Miss Tarbell knows nothing of the true Inwardness of the bugar Industry. "Free trade would, of course, make our business N. G," said Mr. Eccles. "Not long ago our people In this section sec-tion were up in arms against it. Free trade would paralyze the whole sugar industry, in which prices are now governed gov-erned strictly by supply and demand " Mr. Eccles said the Panama canal was a splendid sight. He went through the great waterway before the war-cloud war-cloud became so black and since that time the canal has been under heavy-guard. heavy-guard. He spoke of the immense guns of the guardian forts and said the canal ca-nal seemed adequately defended. Ho and M. S. Browning, who accompanied him, were permitted to inspect some of the military defenses and they were greatly Impressed by the power of the forts and the evident preparedness of the government for any eventuality. |
