The Detroit times., 1909-04-13
PRICE OF BREAD TO SOAR,
BUT PATTEN IS APATHETIC
Continued from Page One.

I
ter than no bread. At least, shall
do nothing to force prices higher. All
want Is TO keep them above the ex-
porter's grab. Why, the very thing
I've been doing this week by selling
! is keeping wheat from soaring and
he market going wild.
! However. that doesn't apply 70 the
soft winter wheat -four from which
hot breads. fine rolls, etc, are made.
The south and fastldious roll eaters
will have To pay for what they want,
for | don't believe there Is enough OF
that wheat left TO last month
Pinch Will Come After June I.
The coming pinch" didn't seem TO
weigh on the wheat kings spirits. IL
another breath he was laughing about
how his youngest son Jack. 10, played
Joke on him. at dinner the night be-
fore.
Jack asked me what the presl-
dents name was 40 years ago." he
said. IL fioundered around from John
son To Grant.
| Jack shook his head
Finally | had to ask.
TAFT, he chuckled and of course
it was. You see | bite on other peo-
| pies games. Wheat's the only one
know"
wanted Patten C. tell me what he
thought OF the morals OF gambling In
staple necessities. Higher prices for
bread is tax on women. | wondered
| IL this man realized what penny
more a day meant to the average
housewife, or a thinner slice OF bread
meant to a tenement child. He sees
no wrong in what he has done. He
thinks II Is only fair trading. But,
said he, I'm not arguing that | don't
like to make. money. In that respect
I'm like SO out OF every 100 men. I
like to make it and spend IT, / have
no fads for spending It.
Worked on Illinois Farm.
Il worked on farm 60 miles from
here till | was % Then | came to
the city and went with a grain in
speeding firm. After four years 1t
went to pieces and | gathered up the
remains.
II had to learn about the way things
go on the grain market, just as Ia man
who goes TO church ell the time has
to know something about religion"
Suddenly he jumped to his feet and
squared round earnestly. defiantly
But there's one thing | wouldn't
do" he said. IL wouldn't push up the
price of bread just for my own gain.
I've received lot of letters from poor
people blaming me for doing that.
They wouldn't II they only knew and
appreciated the truth of the situation.
went to Patterns mansion In
Evanston, with It's imposing white
marble columns and beautiful ap-
proaches. to learn from Mrs. Patten
| Il she understood the argument OF her
husbands critics. She does not sympa-
thize with those who say that II Is
wrong for one man to be rewarded
with $4,000,000 in three days. for his
services in putting up the price OF
the greatest human necessity. Her
husbands view is her view.
THE trouble had TO come and II Is
wonderful the way Mr.. Patten has
taken it," she said.
when he comes home ut night We
never know by his manner what a
strain he has been through. He Is
always good-natured. We only know
by the papers the next day what has
happened"
Mrs. Patten was simply dressed In
black and white silk morning gown.
she is not society woman and Is
noted for her unassuming dress and
ways.
MIR. Patten has no fads," she said
"He leaves home every morning IN
time TO reach his Office in Chicago
about 9.
He does not even drive an automo-
bile himself. because, you know, q man
who takes the time TO do that cant
be very busy"
There are three children in the Pat
ten family: Agnes, II; Tom. 10, and
Jack. 10. All attend the Evanston
public schools.
Jack Patten shines his fathers
shoes every morning and gets a nickel
for II. That Is all the spending money
his father gives him.