The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-08-22
RoBeING THE PEOPLE

hO6biNO TIE fEOTLE
An example of what big business"
will do when 1t gets a chance is the
way the Spectators and combines
have raised the prices of food in this
country since the war broke out. The
retailers and the public suffer while
the ones who don't need a profit grab
it all.
With the possible exception of
meats, on which there is sure TO be
gradual increase OF price owing 10 the
growing scarcity OF range cattle,
food prices at the present time. The
incident shows the need of control of
greed by law in spite of the claims
of interested parties. The Rutland
News sizes up the situation forcibly
and truthfully in the following editor
ial article:
THE SNUG complacency which adj
vises "calmness" while the food
Spectators are trying to get the
country by the throat viii find scant
sympathy throughout America This
is no time for dillydallying nor
giving heed to those organs OF piu-
tocracy which support every move
to mulct the public
Those men who are responsible
for the sudden advance in food
prices in land Overlooking with
plenty, its bins full OF grains, is
storage warehouses crammed with
meat, eggs and other forms of per
ishable food, are nothing more
than thieves and as thieves they de
serve to be- branded and dealt with
There is no natural law RESPONSE
BILE for the present increase In food
prices. II is purely artificial and
/ is due TO the actions OF gang oil
men with the greed of vultures ano
the moral calibre of cutthroats
| President Wilson has shown his re
alization of the situation by his
| prompt action and congress may be
4 depended upon TO take hand Fol
once organized rapacity has over
reached itself. II 10 a good time t.
clean house.
1 Modern methods OF keeping fooC
in cold storage or by timing and
preserving IL In various ways or b,
| packing it away In fire-proof an,
rat-proof warehouses should psoy,
a blessing to humanity. The dis
coveries OF science should be
guarantee of ever-present plenty
assuring an abundance of food il
times OF ecant supply, by prevent
ing waste in times OF over supply
Instead of that, storage faciltie
are being used as a means OF ex
plotting the public by fixing price
far above the natural level. Tn
most fragrant illustration of thi
we have before us at present, witt
bumper crops throughout tho ma
ton. food piled up more than w
can possibly consume. and tons o
perishable stuff rotting upon GU
wharves for lack of ships to TAX
il across the water to their regula
markets.
| The present sharp advance o
prices under such circumstances (
evidence of an organized attempt q
play both ends against the mid
dlo."-to use The European wa
scare as a cloak to shield rank rol
berry and extor,ion on this side o
the water. and 20 use high price
here as a later means OF extortiol
| when trade is restored with thos
unfortunate European countries nov
In a state OF war.
II is evident from the nation
wide nature of the price advanc
that IL is a well organized consplra
cy on tho part of few Of the hi
fellows" who control food prices
this country. The retail dealers ar
as hard hit by II IA the public, TO
their margin OF profit on the IN
ceased prices is no greater. am
their sales, at high prices. will b
| reduced.
There are 100000 people i
this country who are 10 be robbie
by this process for the benefit of
scant handful OF pirates To or
mercy for them, or restraint
dealing with them, or anything bu
the most swift ana summary pun
ishment, is to be traitor TO the IL
terests OF the public"