The evening times., 1898-11-05
FOR A FOUR-CENT LOAF
Interest Growing in the War
for Cheaper Bread.
NAY BOYCOTT THE BAKERS
People Indignant Because of Threat
10 Cut the Wages of Their EN-
Velopments Expected Within a
Few Days.

Interest in the war for cheaper bread Is
rapidly growing. The people who consume
nearly all the bread baked in the Dis
trict are a unit in the demand for a cut,
and the bakers are helpless to stem the
gathering flood.
Yesterday great indignation was ex-
pressed at the proposed coup of the bsk-
ers in cutting down the wages and in
creasing the hours of their employees
should the cut in the price of bread be
forced. The publication in The Times was
read with interest everywhere. and the
threats of the bakers caused an outburst
of angry protestation.
IL is a certainty that the people do not
intend to stand any business of this kind,
and judging from the situation yesterday,
the first baker who tries to make his en-
ployes suffer because of the reduction
might well shake the dust of Washing
ton from his feet, for his usefulness in
these regions will have departed.
The storekeepers who retail the bread
are with the people in this fight. Yester-
day the matter was discussed in hun
dred stores and opinion is all against the
bakers and in favor of the Accent loaf
II for one would boycott any baker who
cut his employees to get even for the
bread reduction" said one storekeeper
yesterday
The only way to bring these bakers
TO time is to refuse 10 sell their bread
if they adopt any such methods. be-
lieYe there are lots of bakers in the city
who will accept the reduction in the price
Of bread without making their employees
suffer, and these are the men We want
TO deal with"
The majority of the bakers are any
thing but pleased at the spread of the
demand for the s-cent loaf and The Times
has received their hearty condemnation
for its stand with the people for a just
reduction.
One baker claimed yesterday that The
Times was endeayoring to hurt his bust
ness, but would say nothing anent The
bread question. No argument has as yet
been submitted against the 4-cent
loaf and ii is doubtful say those who
are interested. il any can be submitted
\ Journeyman baker who has worked
in two of the local bakeries stated that
The Times had made very fair esti-
nate OF the profit and expense of con-
verting a barrel Of -four into bread, but
claimed that the figures on profits were
little low.
The Times stated this morning said
he yesterday, that the baker would
have profit of 1 cent per loaf even
when selling the bread at cents.
Few bakers in this city make less than
! L. to S-4 cents per loaf. | know this To
be d fact as l have weighed and esti-
mated carefully many times.
You see. a large amount Of cOrnmea
gets into the bread and this weighs enor-
mously when sold a loaf
The smaller bakeries make a larger
profit per loaf than the few large firms
This may seem strange, but il is a fact
You see, the large firms have -four han.
dlers, drivers, stablemen. horses. etc, L
employ, and this all counts up. The small
er concerns keep one horse and the baker
acts as driver. Thus the man using twC
barrels Of -four per day Is getting mor'
with his little expense than the man bak
! ing five barrels with heavy expense.
People seem TO be afraid that cut II
! the price of bread would hurt these small
! er bakers, when, as a fact, they will fee
| the reduction least. The larger baker!
/ actually depend upon their cracker ant
/ biscuit trade for their profits.
A number of retailers are making
/ fight against the lightweight loaf. 1t +
: claimed that the bakers do not give six
teen ounces of bread for cents, and il
/ all cases the purchasers should insist tha
/ the loaf be weighed before paying for II
The consumers are stirred up as mucl
over the threats of the bakers to reduc
| their employees as they are over the ques
! ton Of cheaper bread, and the threat
have only served to make them the NOR
! determined that they shall have thei
rights. and have them, too, without in
! juring their fellowmen. Some rapid de
veiopments are expected within a few
days, and the people are already claimin,
victory over the bakers.