The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-18
TRADE
EXTORTIONERS
A FEW MEN AT ELGlN, ILL, AS.
SISTED by A FEW MORE IN
CHICAGO, RESPONSIBLE FOR
HIGH PRICES.


The Louisiana Grocer contains the
following:
A few men in EIgin, ILL.,, assisted
by the Chicago Butter and Egg Board
are responsible for the extortionate
price of butter. These butter barons,''
the men who arbitrarily fix the price
of butter, always to the disadvantage
Of the retailer and consumer, have
been raising the price until now, at
this writing, there is talk of making
it sixty cents pound retail. Unlike
the beef "barons, they offer no sub
stantial arguments for the increased
price; and, judging from their actions.
the 'barons appear as though they
do not care whether the rest of the
country suffers. In fact, one of the
butter concerns, in the face Of public
criticism, has just increased its an
nual dividends from ten to twelve per
cent.
It is deplorable that the government
has been so dilatory in its prosecution
of the Chicago Butter and Egg Board.
For years the public has heaped de-
nunciattons upon the beef trust, and
the government has followed the de-
nunciations with prosecutions. It may
be charged that the supply is scarce.
owning to the recent cold weather
which, of course has hurt the pasture;
but the increased price is highly I'M
reasonable; and the complete control
of the butter output of the country by
few men is doubly so.
With the increased cost of foodstuffs,
the retail grocer suffers. 1t has been
charged IN New Orleans that the re-
taller Is responsible for the increased
cost. Secretary Larose, of the gro
GERS organization. promptly answered
this charge. stating that there are
many dealers here who are selling but
-. 49, - II.
through ignorance of the proper man
agement of their business. or because
some retailers have seen fit to cut
prices.
Secretary Larose, in defending the
retail grocer called attention to the
figures to prove his assertion that the
Erocers work on small percentage
basis; that 1t is necessary to make
s $500 per cent on daily sales of
$50 to pay over operating expenses;
and, that many dealers are selling but
ter at a loss in retailing certain lines
Of butter at forty five cents costing
forty-two cents, the profit not being
sufhc1ent to cover the proportion OF
cost of operation of the store.
1t is comforting to the retailer and
consumer to learn that the govern
ment can prosecute organizations that
control the price of any article: but
the law is notorious for it's delay, and
in the meantime. as in the butter case,
the public will be at the mercy of the
monopolizers.
If the manufacturers of oleomarga-
r.ne would advertise their products IN
the daily papers of every large and
small city, explaining the methods of
manufacture, which, being under the
supervision of the United States au-
thorities, must be thoroughly sanitary.
and in every way fitted as a substitute
for butter, the present prejudice
against its use would be greatly les
| sened.
The retail grocer would be abb to
sell ten pounds of oleomargarine hon
| estly for what it is at a very fair
profit where he now sells one pound,
and then nearly always misrepresent-
ed as butter: sometimes failing to
properly stamp it as the law directs,
renders himself liable to very heavy
penalties.
In other words. If the consuming
public would only be properly and in
| diligently told that good olecmarga-
rine Is a first-class. healthy substitute
for a very high priced butter. which
| the great majority cannot afford to
| buy. the sales of oIeomargarine by the
retail grocer would be increased many
mines what it is now; the consumer
would bet good value for his money,
and those who wanted or thought they
were able to use the genuine butter,
get It at a reasonable price.
Another remedy advanced TO have
the price of butter reduced and kept
| at a reasonable price is to have the
government knock off the tax on arti-
! 1cial butter. Those who advance this
remedy declare that the high price Is
Practically maintained by the govern
| ment, which. under the influence Of
| the butter lobby years ago. levied a
/ tax of 10 cents g. pound on artificial
butter colored yellow; thus practically
| driving 1t out Of the market and leav-
/ ing the field entirely to the creamery
| trust
They say that this tax IS. therefore,
an official tax. levied by the govern
trent for the benefit of the Elgin board.
and that the first step TO be taken is
/ to interest the CONGRESSMAN and to
ascertain why he loves the butter
makers Of EIgfn better than he loves
the butter consumers OF the whole ma
ton.
The Louisiana Grocer feels that this
/ remedy. while a good one. would bring
/ about a fight that would consume
months before il might be brought to
z successful finish. The proper rem
| edy lies with the government. The
prosecutors of Uncle Sam have the
rover to Investigate the unreasona ble-
ness of the Elgin Board. Efforts. then
should be made to SPUR the govern
ment attorneys to greater activities,
Notwithstanding the VIGOROUSLY delay
of the law. The sooner this is done
/ the better II viii be for the public. for