1 SUGAR 927 



beets ; but without the subsidy this use of the land cannot com- 

 pete with others more advantageous. 



When the tariff legislation of 1913 was under consideration the 

 -ugar makers of Michigan pleaded strenuously for the main- 

 tenance of protection on the ground of consideration for vested 

 interests. It must be admitted that the plea was in one regard 

 of exceptional force. Not only had the general policy of protec- 

 tion been long maintained by Congress and investment in accord 

 with it encouraged, but, as one of the witnesses before the Ways 

 and Means Committee said in 1909, "The investment which our 

 company made in the sugar business was made on the invitation 

 and urgent advice of the United States government through its 

 Department of Agriculture." It was a serious responsibility which 

 the department thus took on itself. Its zeal too often was indis- 

 criminate. Its propaganda rested, in part at least, on a crudely 

 mtilist principle on the assumption that it is desirable to 

 produce within our own borders anything and everything that can 

 :>ly be produced there, and that a tariff policy based on this 

 assumption will be maintained indefinitely. 



Turn now to the Far West, where most of tin- beet siu 

 made. Two conditions are favorable to beet growing in this 



rn region : the climate and the special advanta^ 

 irrigation. 



The variety of the beet suitable for sugar making flourish. 

 a cool climate, but it needs plenty of sun. "Abundance of sun- 

 shine is <- ( ntial to the highest development n the 

 Other things being equal, it may be said that the richness 

 of the beet will be proportional to the amount not inter, 

 of the sunshine.' ily the cool region of cloudless s 

 tin- arid West meets this condition pcrfec ily. 



Again : "In respect to moisture, the sugar beet is ixvul; 

 some reaped There are three periods in the life li 



of the su ' which demand nt SO 



far as moisture is concerned: (i) the germinating or plantlct 

 1; (2) the growing period; (3) the sug riod." 



Durii beet needs sufli. .ninth 



to germinate and start it, but never an excess." Durir. 



