Honolulu Star Bulletin

SUGAR MEN PLANNING BIG FIGHT
Repeal of Free List Clause Is Desire of Cane-Growers of Louisiana
BEET INDUSTRY WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN
Process of Education Expected to Prove Fruitful Within Next Three Years
By C. S. ALBERT
(Special Star-Bulletin Correspondence)
WASHINGTON, D. C. Oct. 16. - A determined fight to prevent any further reduction in the duty on refined sugar has been instituted. Its purpose is during the next three years to obtain the repeal of the clause which places sugar on the free list. If such an effort proved successful the rate would remain as at present, approximately 1 cent per pound and without limitation on its retention.
A systematic propaganda has been started. It will be gradually extended in all directions. The process of education will be continued. Special attempts will be made to demonstrate that the sugar industry cannot survive being transferred to the free list, but that it will flourish under the one cent rate.
Senator Ransdell has been in Louisiana for the past two weeks. He conferred with all the leading cane growers of that state. They determined immediately to begin united action to secure the repeal of the free listing clause, before the three-year limit expires. The beet sugar men will be invited to join this movement.
It is understood at the beginning that this proposition will have the determined opposition of President Wilson. It is known that the probabilities of success are few and remote. To accomplish the end sought by legislation would require a Republican landslide next year, followed by sufficient changes in the Senate to give the Republicans complete control of Congress. Even with that advantage a repeal bill must be approved by President Wilson and his refusal would be assured unless converted to a different view from that now entertained.
Despite this handicap the cane interests are planning a long and aggressive fight. One of their chief theories is that the president can be made to see the error of his way and consent to continuing the 1 cent duty on sugar without transference to the free list.
FREE SUGAR IS CAUSING BEET MEN TO QUIT
Alonzo Gartley Says This Fact Should Prove Helpful to the Cane Industry
Alonzo Gartley, of C. Brewer & Co. Ltd., returned in the Ventura from the Atlantic coast, where he had placed two of his daughters in school at Stamford, Conn. Asked about the prevailing sentiment in the east relative to the tariff, Mr. Gartley said:
"There was not a great deal of discussion of the subject, but what I did hear was not at all unfavorable. People thought things would settle back to normal conditions, but that it would take a year or more to try out the effect of the tariff on labor and the general situation. There was a feeling, though, that the reduction of duties is not going to lower the cost of living. The country faces short crops this year, which means high prices for meat as well as other food products.
"I visited Boston, New York and Philadelphia, in Philadelphia witnessing the second and best of the world series ball games.
"Stopping off at Ogden, I visited three sugar beet factories which had just started operation on the season's crop. They were complaining of the low price of sugar, but otherwise had no cause of complaint. Yet there was an impression that a good many sugar beet factories would go out of operation in consequence of the present tariff reduction, with free sugar in 1916.
"In fact one plant in California has already shut down. This is the Alvarado. With the iron on the ground for a new factory in another location from the present, the company has decided not to build. The Hamilton factory is not going to plant any beets next year. The shutting down of beet sugar factories will help the cane sugar industry of Hawaii to some ex-