The Donaldsonville chief., 1914-08-22
FOOD bAR0NS WAR ON NATION
Giuttons of Granaries and Groceries
Conspire to Raise Prices-War in
Europe Falsely Blamed for Con-
ditions Now PREVAILING.
Editorial in New York World.

| Various dealers in food, big an6
little, have declared war upon the
American people. The aggression o1
which they are guilty is as ruthless
| In some of its aspects as that shown
by nations IN arms against their enc
mics. No autocrat ever proceeded
with bolder assumption. No con
queror ever devastated a prostrate
state with lighter heart.
AT moment when the people in
congress are making extraordinary eff
forts to provide an outlet across the
seas for the surplus food of this
country, the owners Of and gamblers
IN that food are kiting prices. II
The government should do nothing to
relieve the situation as to exports,
food is so abundant it would be rot
ting in our warehouses and much of
II would never come to market at all.
This is the state Of affairs which.
with war in Europe, has led the glut-
tons OF the granaries and groceries
TO anticipate famine, to monopolize
plenty, and with no excuse better
than a speculative theory as to the
future to inflict upon their own coun-
trymen burdens that would not be
endured il imposed by government.
Never before was there such widely
organized eagerness for gain. It is
rapaclty which cannot wait. In the
belief and hope that there is soon
to be starvation in Europe, where all
Is WAr, it introduces privation in
America, where all is peace. It is
continental. It is also local.
Nothing of this kind comes about
by accident. The men who are cor
nerlng food in the United States
operate with the precision of we'll
trained army. They act in concert.
they have plan of campaign. They
have their captains of tens and their
Of thousands. From highest
to lowest the one controlling motive
IS greed. They take advantage of
circumstances. Scarcity is not MAX
ng them rich. 1t is forestalling and |
and extoftion that they are
upon to make them rich. I
In the presence of a conspiracy SO |
nonstrous every prosecuting officer
n the country, federal, state, county
Ind city, is bound no less by decent
manhood than by his oath of office
@ assail this piracy. The assertion
hat we see merely the law of supply
ind demand in operation is false.
Our supplies of most food products
sreatly exceed the demand, and areI
likely to do SO for months to come.
t is no true.-and natural law, hut an
Untrue and unnatural law, that is
low in force. Privation has been
manufactured to order, not as a re-
ult of the demands Of the day, but
n response to the desperate theory
hat before another harvest enriches
he earth hunger will rule in some
ortions of Europe. Avarice, it's eyes
pom foreigners, has already under
AIKEN to strangle Americans.
There are statutory laws that will
each this crime. There is common
NV in many states that is even more
rastic. A thousand prosecutions in
S many important counties would
how in a week whether food is de-
cient or merely monopolized, wheth-
r rising prices are due to circum-
lance or to combination, and wheth-
r the starvation that threatens is
lstified by necessity or exists only /
/ the evil imagination and the vici- /
Us practices Of a colossal CONNER ,
al scoundrelism.