The times., 1898-11-04
THE BATTLE FOR BREAD
The Profit of the Bakers Is
Too Much.
THE DEMAND OF THE POOR
PrOprietors Threaten Their En-
pIoyes With Decreased Wages
The People Are in Earnest-The
Fight LIS on the BOsses-POpular
Meeting May BE Called Soon.

The cheaper bread war is on in good
earnest. The people of the District are
unanimous in the demand for cheaper
loaf in proportion to the price of flour.
and the bakers have become alarmed at
the situation.
The articles in The Times of the past
few days have caused much comment.
Everywhere the people are discussing the
sound argument laid down by the figures
given, and the great mass of those who
are compelled to buy bread daily are
more and more determined to obtain a
cut of i cent per loaf.
On the other hand, the bakers are
greatly exercised over the publication OF
the articles setting forth the reasons why
bread should be reduced l cent per loaf
and voicing the sentiment of the people
of the city.
Copies of The Times containing the ar
ticles were eagerly read and commented
upon in the various bakeries yesterday
and, lacking any just defense or argu-
ment, the bakers, it would seem, have de-
termined to quash the movement by
threats.
In one of the largest bakeries the en-
ployes were informed yesterday that II
the firm was forced to reduce the price
of bread the employees would receive
cut in their wages, and their working
hours would be increased <rom 10 to L
per day.
This is the method to be adopted by
the bakers in defense of their already
over-swelled profits. They may be forced
TO reduce the price of bread. and If they
are they state that their profits will not
be affected, as they will more than make
up the cut by reducing the wages of their
employees and increasing the working
hours
II am in favor OF cheaper bread, OF
course" said a journeyman baker who Is
employed in this city, yesterday but Ii
the cut is made We will be the sufferers.
AS a baker who has handled bread far
thirty years, know that the boss bakers
can afford to sell bread for cents per
loaf when -four is as cheap as II Is today
Taking everything into consideration,
they can get a profit of al least ! cent
per loaf when selling it for cents.
I'VE bake four barrels of -four every
day, and we always get go Ioaves out OF
each barrel There is a proportion OF
lard. sugar and milk. but this does not
Increase the weight to any extent. or
course. we make a very high grade OF
bread, but still the profit Is large Tine
grade OF -four we use costs from sS'o9 10
1915 per barrel. and the boss baker gets
SO net for the bread. The expense OIL
turning the flour into bread Is not very
much in proportion to the prohts'
.If the cut comes. our wages viii be
rsduced Not only this, but they will
use a coarser grade of flour. do away
with the lard. milk and sugar, and us
ing potato yeast, will increase their pro-
fits even after making the cut
IT remains to be seen whether me people
of the District will allow anything of TINS
kind TO be done. Judging from the SEN
timent expressed yesterday, they will not
While they demand cheaper bread, they
claim TO ask it In all justice and In all
equity, since the bakers can make the
reduction without injuring themselves.
vet the people will not allow the broad
barons to make up the cut by bleeding
their employees.
1t will not be well for the baker who
tries this scheme. and while ii will TO
doubt be tried, the consumers of bread
have decided TO make things hot for the
bakers.
The demand for the cut grows ench
hour since the people have learned of the
actual gap between the price of ilon- and
that of bread. Storekeepers have joined
in the general crusade and the great pres
sure being brought to bear must have
effect before many days
There Is some talk of holding great
popular mass-meeting TO protest against
| the overcharge ard to demand that the
bakers reduce the price of bread to three
| cents at once. This idea has found favor
everywhere and many soon take shape.
Almost every family is making its pro-
test against the present rate. On the
| streets, in the stores, the cry goes up all
day long and the bakers cannot turn a
deaf ear.
There can be but one result of this
struggle for justice. say those who exist
upon this bread and that result will he
| a complete victory for the people, while
the bakers may still enjoy neat profit
from their sales.