| OCR Text |
Show licet Siikhi- Sali'iiaiils Supply Durlm; recent years 25 per cent ol the sugar consumed In the United States lias been obtained from domestic beet production. It lias been aptly termed our "War ration of sugar" so that if our importations im-portations were cut off a limited supply would still bo available. This production of beet sugar lias been encouraged and brought about by a tariff varying from 1.34 and 1.60 cents per pound. Under production pro-duction costs In the past this has enabled the American farmer and sugar producer to compete with the cheaper grown foreign product. Tho British Isles, long the home of freo trade are now levying a 5 cent duty to secure revenue and develop de-velop their beet sugar production. Our own Congress is considering a duty of 2 cents on importations from Cuba to prevent our own beet sugar Industry from being crushed out of existanco by this cheap labor composition which it cannot otherwise other-wise meet. Our beet sugar industry is the life preserver which prevents us from being absolutely at the mercy of the foreign producer who could manipulate smsar prices without the restraining Influence of domestic sup ply with which to compete. The value of the United States beet sugar production last year exceeded ex-ceeded $100,000,000 figured at 5 cents a pound for fine granulated sugar. The obvious advantage of having such a sum of money continue to circulate here rather than in a foreign fore-ign land Is apparant. No sane citizen can countenance the distruction of even a small industry in-dustry engaged In pro'ducing an essential es-sential food product. |
