South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-11
X X X y X X X X X x X
*LETTERS OF THE PEOPLE x
= *
PUBIC NIARKET.


It seems that South Bends public
market like the personnel Of its pO-
lice and fire departments, and like its
tax levy, is a political issue. Evolu-
ton applies 20 politics more literally
than To the flora and fauna Of the
universe, or even to the human race
From 1889 20 1901 all political par
ties radiated from the same center
the adoption Of the constitution. To-
day. as national issues. politics have
10 do with the liquor question woman
suffrage. the size of the army, our in
suIar possessions and the tariff; while
in South Bend they have 10 do with
what is called "A police department
whose capers may be compared TO a
snake Immediately after losing its
head the potatoes and beans that
one may eat. and possibly the pants
that he wears
In this city our grOcers and butch
ers are so thoroughly organized that
there is absolutely no competition, as
far as prices are concerned; they
would be the same If there were only
one store in the city. The represent
atives of these stores have their per-
iodical MEETINGS for the purpose Of
fixing their buying price as we'll as
their selling price. When one sells
10 a grocery he must take what is
given him or keep his product, and
when he buys he must pay the maxi
mum price for what ne gets. Our
groceries are practically formed into
a trust for controlling trade. and the
price thereof This fact affords a real
cause for a new political issue. II is
a civic problem that bears upon every
citizen.
The public market was formed a
few years ago for the/purpOse of off
setting the hold-up methods of the
Erocers It's object was primarily. to
afford a common meeting place for
the farmer. or producer, and the con-
sumner. Through the market a bet
ter and fresher article was TO be sup
piled at a lower price. There is no
question as To the fulfllment of the
first obligation we know that fresh
er produce is 10 be obtained at the
market. Now, IT this be true, why
should the farmer be reprimanded.
spurned and cursed for asking a price
at least equal 10 that demanded by
the "trust2" The better product
should demand the better price.
Is the grocer likely 10 be in SYM
pathy with the market? Only TO the
extent that Mr. Rockefeller is in SYM
pathy with the few Independent oil
lines With these facts in mind let
us notice that I'm the last election the
head Of the grOcers' and\ butchers
ell. and was Immediately given the
unanimous support Of that OFganiZa-
ton What is the connecting link?
While we must make due allowance
for the fallacies in the processes of
human reasoning. the successive
steps from premise 10 conclusion in
this case are perfectly clear. The
object is death 20 the market
Even our county expert hired by
the county 20 ass.b the farmer in
raising better crops 90 a greater ad
vantage has forsaken his client eth
er through "a lack of sympathy for
him. or a rank misunderstanding Of
the prevailing conditions which he is
trying 20 remedy The idea OF
wholesale market is illogical and IT.
rational. but IL causes the grocer 70
dip tears OF JOY from his eyes. What
does the consumer want with a whole
sale market any more than whole
sale meat market or a wholesale gro
Gerry?
10 Is natural that the grocers fight
this market, but for our county eN-
pert the farmers guide 20 turn
traitor 10 his cause IS unnatural at
least In the world Of honor and good
judgment.
BYRON KIRBY.