The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1913-06-24
THE REAL CULPRITS.

Of reform statesmen concerning the
problems OF high cost of living, few
| if any Of them have come within
striking distance of the true solution.
Efforts have been made by some
formers to arrive at intelligent con
illusions on the subject, but these eff
forts have generally failed for the
reason that public attention has been
diverted into channels selected by
the politicians for their own pur-
poses. The trouble about most politi-
cal reformers is that as rule they
are narrow, short-sighted and i'm
practical, with their eyes upon the
galleries and bidding for popular IA
vor.
The United States has today the
cheapest transportation in the world
that affords facilities for handling
food products-such as fast freight,
icing and refrigerator cars, stock
cars, elevators and warehouses; and
there is scarcely a town or a viii
iage in any agricultural Territory
without its one or more lines of ac-
cessible railroad. In respect to trans
portations rates and facilities, no
country of Europe is equal to the
United States. although our country
spreads over approximately as much
erritory as all of Europe not count
Ing the wilder portions OF Russia
Retail rates for most feed products
In Europe are appreciably lower than
in the United States, even with high
cr freight rates Where, then, is the
trouble? Clearly not with the rail
roads. We must look for it in some
other department OF the distributing
system from the producer to the con
sumer.
In Europe wholesale rates for such
commodities as flour, meat, potatoes,
sugar and other table necessities are
shout the same as in the United
States. But when it comes to retail
rriees the European consumers pay
about 20 per cent less on these ar
icles than we do. Therefore there
is 30 per cent. at least that the Euro
peans save from their Wholesale
houses to their consumers, notwith-
standing that they pay higher freigt
rates. This loss to our consumers
takes place somewhere among the
middlemen. In Europe the middle
man does not exact exorbitant prof
It's proilts in handling the products
OF the farm. Let us suppore that the
European middleman makes ten per
cent. for his trouble, That means
that the American middlemen make
at least 30 per cent
In this country there is always that
disposition on the part of the shall
iow-minded TO strike the most con.
enleious head he secs. Therefore the
people have been taught to believe
that the trusts" and the railroads
are chiefly to blame for high prices.
The other day proceedings were
brought against the oatmeal trust"
Now, as a simple matter of fact the
people know that they get moro for
their noney in AN ordinary package
of oatmeal than they get for it in
almost any other form of food. The
| same oatmeal trust if there is one
creates a profitable market for the
farmers cats by finding constantly
increasing outlets for oats as human
icod The busy reformers have not
considered II worth While to investi-
gate the middlemen who jaggle eggs,
batter, potatoes, poultry, fruits vege-
tables, etc. But right there is where
the real trouble is, not with the pro,
dncers, the railroads, or the retailers.
The cold storage plants. the ware.
housemen, the iobbers, brokers and
produce exchanges" all over the
| country take the heaviest toll from
iood As a matter of fact in this
| community we do not suffer so much
rom this cause, but the discussion is
OF the country at large.
/ Railroad rates are lower in Amer
'ca than elsewhere because of great
CT railroad efficiency. But the Kan.
s3s utilities commission refuses to
( ALLOW the railroads to Increase their
minimum ear capacity: the people
insist upon ~fnll crews" which adds
IN additional and unnecessary ex
pense to transportation, and legisla,
ssrss aud politicians ais oyer tn
country are busy concocting schemes
to hamper the railroads and add &c
The expenses OF their operation
while the real culprits in she hiSl
cost Of lyiag Indictment 90 uascAth
: aad sor the most part unsuspeet
ed.