Occasions in Sugar

New York: Earl D. Babst, 1940. Limited Edition of five hundred copies printed for private distribution. Hardcover. Good. Format is approximately 6.75 inches by 9.25 inches. [2], 252, [2] pages. Cover has some wear, soiling and tears at top of spine. Inscribed on the fep For Mr. Thomas Hildt with compliments of Earl D. Babst The author wrote "Until I reviewed my files I had cradled the thought that I had been a business man of rather few public words. the review of releases, as an executive of the American Sugar Refining Company since 1915, and as a member of the International Sugar Committee 1917-1918, rather confounds me. From them, however, I have selected those which give some of the background of the sugar industry as developed year by year, especially the effect and aftermath of the World War of 1914-1918, and have added several indicating the changes affected by it. I am venturing the thought that these excerpts may be of interest to students of the subject and possibly ton a few indulgent friends." Among the topics covered in these excerpts are: Introducing Packages, Trade-Marks and Advertising in an old industry, Demonstration of the value of large business unites in safeguarding the National sugar supply, Proposals for inter-Allied co-operation in handling food supplies, and Memoranda of 1918 submitted to the United States Government to assist in framing a definite international sugar policy. Earl D. Babst was a nationally known lawyer, industrialist, and businessman. Born July 6, 1870, in Crestline, Ohio, Babst attended the University of Michigan where he received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1893 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1894. Upon graduation, Babst practiced law in Detroit where he also became counsel and associate editor (1894-1902) of The Michigan Farmer, a widely circulated and influential weekly paper. During the 1896 election, he served as secretary of the Michigan Sound Money League, an anti-Bryan, anti-Free Silver organization of businessmen. Two years later, in 1898, he became secretary of the Citizens Committee on Education which initiated a plan for the administration of the public schools of Detroit. Also in 1898, Babst's career took a new direction when he went to Chicago on a case involving the National Biscuit Company, one of the nation's major food companies that was attempting to market its products in packages identified by national trademarks and promoted by national advertising. Before this time, most food products were sold in bulk containers. The changeover to identifiable packaging involved long and tedious patent and trademark litigation, because each state had its own laws restricting corporations in others states from doing business in their region. Babst was influential in removing these barriers and opening the way for uniformity in the laws regulating the food industry. In 1902, Babst moved to Chicago with his own law firm - Green, Peters and Babst. In 1906, he went to New York as general counsel and vice president of the National Biscuit Company. In 1915, Babst became president of the American Sugar Refining Company. Here, Babst was primarily responsible for revolutionizing the marketing and packaging of sugar. Until then, sugar was sold to brokers who distributed it to wholesalers and retailers, packed in bags or barrels, and then sold to consumers in paper bags. Upon firsthand investigation, Babst believed the traditional method to be both wasteful and unsanitary. The most efficient and sanitary way to distribute sugar, he felt, was to market it in sealed cartons that would insure full weight and leave it untouched by any hands other than the consumer's. Although not unchallenged, Babst's viewpoint became established and Babst became a respected voice in New York and Wall Street business circles. During World War I, he represented the United States as a member of the International Sugar Committee that, in cooperation with the United States Food Administration, worked to allocate sugar supplies to the Allies. In 1925, Babst became chairman of the American Sugar Refining Company and its chief executive officer. He served as CEO until 1937, and was chairman until his retirement in 1951.