The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-08
BROKER GIVES H|SS|DE OF THE CASE Tom Pankey Writes On Present Food Prices ALSO URGES OPTIMISM Says Dealers Are Working Hard to Make Honest Living and Have
 Losses to Contend
 With
ALSO URGES OPTIMISM
To the Editor of The Age-Herald.

To the Editor of The Age-Heraid.
 Since the item appearing in your paper last Thursday, in which our firm and the Napier Brokerage company were men, toned. I have noticed quite lot of dis ! cussion and criticism with reference to the recent advances in food products.
 The situation has been thoroughly ex- plained by some of our foremost whole | sale jobbers and is fully understood by those who understand market conditions and the law of supply and demand. but large number of consumers and few re- tailers seem to think they are being held up. The few retailers are kicking because they failed to heed the advice of the job bers and lay in a supply. It would not have tied up cent of their money to book their wants with the jobbers for deliveries for several months. Not a broker or jobber in Birmingham has taken full advantage of the markets. as they were stocked and glad to unload at a reasonable profit, while a good many other markets were bare and had to pay higher prices. Our firm had stocks ware | housed in other southern cities on which we realized better profits and have not Investigation Talk Amusing heard word of comment
 | All the talk about government invest- gations, etc. is really amusing All such investigations if properly conducted would only show that brokers, wholesale sro- cers and the majority of retailers are working night and day trying to make an | honest living. and that they have losses as well as profits to contend with. nf fhnq I... .l.. ,ff faaI t.I. t.. live according to their many wants. or If any are too mean and stingy. let them read the article by Charles W. Greer ir The Age-Herald of July 31 on the cost of high living. While 1t was written in sa- tirical humor, yet 1t hits the spot. There is really no need of any one suffering fer want of necessities and luxuries, If they will only smile and hustle, and have due consideration for the other fellow
 Why should there be much surprise and comment because a few brokers and dealers happened { omake u few extra thousand as a result of their efforts-it Is not the first time such things have hap pened. Our firm lost a tremendous amount two years ago on declines In the market and not a word of sympathy did we receive, though we frankly admitted our losses. When your reporter called on us few days ago, we modestly admitted that we had made some money but did not want to brag about 1t and preferred not to be quoted.
 Foods are very cheap now-all that is necessary Is a little common sense in the selection of them. I can name a dozen or more of the very best, most wholesome and appetizing foods that can be bought remarkably cheap. l can give | real banquet, by selecting the foods properly, for less money than 1t would have cost at any time during the last 15 years. Sugur and flour are higher, but they should be used sparingly Any medical or food ex- pert will tell you that we Ise four times as much sugar as we should. Everyone knows that pastries and bread from white flour as we usually eat it. not only has little food value, but Is really injurious. have made study of food products and have handled them since I was I sr,nll kid in lots of cents worth up to train load, and think know what am talk Ing about.
 Much Is Given Away
 The people forget how much foodstufs are given away by dealers of all classes. Nearly every church and charitable or sanitation in the district send their lacy representatives to all the dealers ware houses and we cheerfully donate for we know that most of them are grateful: hut only few days ago lady came in md
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