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June 9, 1960
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Honorable Farris Bryant
P.0.&mlTB
Ocala, Florida
Dear Farris:
Now that the "tire and fury" has died down, I wanted to
keep you posted on the latest sugar developments in the
State of Florida. The material that I furnished you,
and from which you formed your campaign attitude towards
the sugar industry in Florida, despite the fact that it
failed to catch the public's fancy, is by no means ephem-
eral or transitory. As a matter of fact, we were, it
anything, too conservative in our approach.
I have Just returned from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where
I closed a purchase of a small sugar mill, which will be
erected east of Belle Glade, Florida, by a corporation
whose name I amended in Tallahassee last week, to be
Florida Sugar Corporation, or which I am the nominal
head. This corporation was not even within my knowledge
at the time we were discussing sugar during your cam-
paign. While it is only a very small mill, nevertheless
it represents a million dollar or so ultimate investment
by an individual who is gambling this amount on his
ability to establish a right to quotas before the same
are reimposed, without any assurance whatsoever, that
he will actually have the same.
Since our discussions, George Smathers has introduced
his Bill to extend the Sugar Act without consultation
With either of the two constituents of his that produce
sugar in the State. But the significant thing is that
in his Bill, George has provided for 10% in the increase
in consumption in the United States (about 150,000 tons)
to be allocated to new domestic-producing areas.
I have Just received Mr. Cooley's Committee Report on
the Sugar Act Amendment, being H.R. 12311. As I told
you, Mr. Cooley recommends only a one-year extension,
which means that the Act would come up for a more last-
Honorable Farris Bryant June 9, 1960
ing revision next year (after you take office). A minor-
ity notation by a member of the Committee, Catherine May,
contains the following significant language, "I would
most earnestly point out the Justification for increas-
ing sugar quotas for our domestic areas...Any fUrther
consideration of sugar legislation should therefore rec-
ognize the need for increased domestic production."
Yesterday noon I had a call from the president of the
Savannah Sugar Refinery in which he said, among other
things, "I presume, George, you hear even more rumors
about new sugar producers than I do. It really seems to
be "hot" at this time.
The reason for the above commentaries is because the United
States Sugar Corporation, in a meeting of its Board of
Directors in Detroit on the lhth, has, as one item on the
agenda, the consideration of the erection of a new mill,
in addition to the one it already operates. In short,
Commodore, the purpose of this letter is to assure you
that the position taken by you during the campaign was
not only sound, but has an extremely high capability of
fulfillment. I sincerely hope it will not be overlooked
by you in your future plans for the State.
It tickles me considerably to note the reluctance with
which both the HERALD and the NEUS seem to face the neces-
sity of terminating the recent gubernatorial primary cam-
paign. I also got a big kick from checking in with the
Tallahassee folks the other day and comparing notes on the
reaction to our "South Florida candidates for office.
If I can be of any further assistance in providing you
with information concerning the sugar industry or in the
development of your plans therefor, please don't hesitate
to call on me.
With kindest personal regards to you and your charming
wife, I am,
Since
GEORGE H .
GHS:MH
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