The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-28


The public has for many years been
able to purchase bread at Ave cents for
hat rs popularity known as the
small" loaf. In 1907 u became necss,
minimum size at 10 ounces. to raise the
price OF bread tn six cents per loaf. 2
The result was an immediate and very
This meant that the bakers were
forced to curtail expenses IN every
way possible. Scores OF workingmsn
were thrown out OF employment, 10
compete with other men for work an
other lines, which had the effect OF
further reducing. by excess OF compet
tition for Jobs. the wage earning
The present bread ordinance was
adopted after very extensive inves,
LEGATION by yonr Honorable Body. and
without a single vote against the pres
ent ordinance
Since that time. the public has been
SO well-pleased with the size. quality
is now being baked and sold than
ever before In the history OF the city.
In view OF the fact that any house
tute for bread without any large In.
vestment OF experience, this must
show that the public Is satisfied with
1t is now proposed on behalf OF a
very small group OF citizens. who say
they have been ill-treated by the two
or three bakers with whom they must
faith, to put into force the old It.
ounce loaf
This means that bread must be rails
: ed TO six cents for the small loaf. aud
II follows logically and certainly. as
our experience has shown, that tho
public viii no longer buy bread, but
VIII demonstrate the impossibiiity OF
Abroad trust. by baking its own
bread
/ Ii further follows that with a reduce
ton OF output there must be a reduce
IN Inv N nf Ian
Thousands OF men formerly employed
by the automobile industries are out or
work now. VIII you add TO their num-
Der many more workingmen to COM
pete for employment and generally cut
, down the price OF labor?
| With tens of thousands OF unem-
! ployed tramping the streets In search
OF work at lower wages. II liz certain
that they Will not have much money
TO spend. even for the necessaries Of
! life and that means less business gem
orally which in the revolution OF the
circle OF supply and demand will In
/ stantly show Itself In "A decrease In the
4 output Of Detroit factories and a con-
, sequent reduction in the prosperity OF
the city.
Are you willing. in view of the fact
that there IL no general demand for
| change in the bread ordinance. to take
the responsibility OF throwing a great
many men out of work?
| There are many other arguments to
| be advanced, such as the fact that the
Detroit bakers supply almost all OF the
surrounding towns with bread and II u
16-ounce minimum loaf Is enforced.
| these towns will be flooded with cheap
err and smaller loaves from Grand
! Rapids. Jackson. Saginaw, Bay City
and Toledo. thus throwing out OF work
many. other bakers in Detroit.
II has been argued that smaller
loaf could be made for the outside
trade This is impossible. because the
loaves baked for the outside towns and
cancelled by telegraph. as is frequently
done could not be sold in Detroit and
| would prove "A total loss
| For the sake OF the business pros
perity of the city of Detroit and eS-
peclally for the sake OF keeping as
many men as possible busy at profit
able employment. we petition your
| Honorable Body TO take no steps to
change the bread ordinance.
! We have only TO show you the labels
marked twelve ounces" which are be-
ing put on bread sold in Chicago, Mil
waukee. Denver and many other cities.
which are attached hereto TO show YOU
that the bakers OF Detroit have pro-
tected the Detroit public even when
flour and other ingredients have great
ly increased.
You can readily see that when thu
ingredients OF bread are reduced I'm
cost the fourteen ounce loaf will be
restored In Detroit. ana while we are
not wheat spectators and cannot pre-
diet the markets. we are Informed that
such reductions are likely to come
soon
Yours respectfully.
| ROBERT NJ MORTON,
President Morton Baking ca
| GORDON-PAGEL CO.
| WAGNER BAKING co.
COPE BAKING co.
j. Cope, President.
| BARRE g. SALADIN
| VAN DYKE BAKERY.
| LOUIS STEINER,
HERMAN HOFTD.
| a. f. KAISER.
/ August G WOLLENZZTN
! Nk.WBERRY BAKING CO.
| Louis Newberry President.
SHELLS DAIRY BAKERY.
BY r. \. SHE'LL.
w T. HEAMES co.
| AUGUST BAUER
r. r. WITTELSBERGER
Referred TO Committee on Ordi-