Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-25
Tariff and Trusts the Sole Cause.

0S@~
Republican orators in and out of
congress have been increasingly busy
of late explaining the high cost of liv-
ing-which is getting higher all the
time-on the ground that there are
not as many farmers in the country
as formerly. and that not as much
foodstuffs is produced"
In view of these statements a re-
cent report of the government labor
bureau is interesting and instructive.
This report, which is detailed and
comprehensive, shows that while
there is an increasing disparity be-
tween the number of farmers and the
number of consumers of farm prod
ucts, farm production has not only
kept pace with the consumption, but
has exceeded it in greater ratio than
ever before in the history of the ma
ton. This, the report points out, is
due to a more general use OF labor
saving farm machinery, a constantly
increasing acreage, and improved
methods of farming. AS an example
of this increased efficiency of farming
methods it is shown in the report that
the same amount of labor that pro-
duced one bushel of wheat so years
ago will now produce f9 bushels.
The increase in city population, as
shown by the last census, has been
three times as rapid as that of the
farming communities, yet a less num-
Der OF farmers, through improved
methods, have been able to feed a con-
stantly greater number of city con-
sumers. That this is true is proven
by the fact that American exports of
foodstuffs have been constantly on
the increase.
When the time comes that this coun-
try must import foodstuffs from other
countries, instead of being sellers of
such produce in all the markets of the
world, at world prices, there may be
some reason to ascribe higher prices
to a shortage OF farmers and crops,
but that time has not come yet. The
government report shows that as long
as We are exporters there necessarily
can be no food shortage at home.
This report also states that upwards
Of 100000 pounds of butter are
stored in warehouses. This butter, if
II were suddenly released, would cut
the present high price Of butter in
half, but 70 will not be released for
the simple reason that the food trusts
have their monopoly. and breaking up
monopolies is not a favoTite pastime
Of republican administrations.
That the price Of butter is wholly
artificial is shown by the fact that
there has been no corresponding in
crease IN the price Of milk and cheese.
These products are high enough, and
higher than they would be were they
not controlled by the same food mo.
nopolies, but q Philadelphia cheese.
maker, in an article recently published
In that city, figured 1t out that II the
prices OF butter and milk were deter
mined by the laws OF supply and de.
mand the price OF the best grades OF
butter seldom would 60 above 80 cents
q pound. The milk dealers, for OBJ.
vious reasons, cannot form a nation
wide monopoly, because Of the perish
able nature Of miTE hence they can
not get the same grip on the people
that the butter dealers can.
The government report demon
strstss pretty clearly that trusts and
tariffs are responsible for the higf
prices, not only OF butter, but Of ali
other commodities on which a nation
wide monopoly Is maintained.