The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-14

we nave repeatedly stated tnat II
was not the tariff that made high
prices but the Ia wof supply and de-
mand and MANIPULATION OF THE
Supply and demand is
not the cause now, but it solely rests
upon the manipulation of the mar
kets by spectators. The demand has
not increased in this country and the
supply of food stuffs was never great
er. Our crops were never larger and
the home consumption will not be
Sufficient to make market for our
grains and other farm products.
Spectators have seized upon the
war as a pretext to exploit the peo-
|plc and the poor man. the laboring
man with a large family TO feed, is
going TO be the hardest hit.
The estimated crop yields for 1914
are:
Wheat, 100000, 900 bu.
Corn, 1851, 100000 bu.
Oats, 1,13G, 100000 bu.
Rye, 44,O0O,oOO bu.
Barley, 2o1, 100000 bu.
Hay. 69,000.00O tons.
Cotton, 100000 bales.
The wheat production last year
was 7G3,SS0,O0O bushels. With an
increased wheat crop there is no ex-
cusc for flour being higher now.
There is no reason for it. The domes-
tic demand for wheat will be only
G25, 100000 bushels leaving an ex-
cess. for export of 100000 bush
els.
Last year the corn crop was g.
$50, 100000 bushels showing an In
crease this year of POI, 100000 BUSH
els.
The oats crop shows an increase
over last years crop of 15,591,O0C
bushels, the production last year be
| ing 1921, 100000 bushels.
The three great cereal crops show
an increase over last year of 90.
Hay production increased 5,OO0,-
900 tons over last year.
The New York World comments
lupon this situation rs follows:
"various dealers in. food, big. and
little. have declared war upon thu
American people: The aggression OF
which they are guilty is as ruthless
In some Of its aspects rs that shows
by nations in arms against their en-.
cmies. No autocrat ever proceeded
with holder assumption. No con;
queror ever devastated prostratt
state with lighter heart.
eat moment when the pcople ir
Congress are making extraordinary
efforts to provide an outlet across thu
jseas for the surplus food of this coun'
TRY the owners of and gamblers ir
THAT food are kiting prices. II gov
eminent should do nothing to relieve
the situation as to exports, food is sc
abundant that 1t would soon be rot
Ting In our warehouses and much Of
It would never come to market at all
"This Is the state of affairs which
with war in Europe, has led the glut'
lions Of the granaries and groceries tc
anticipate famine, to monopolizf
plenty, and with no excuse better
Than a speculative theory as to the
future to inflict upon their own
countrymen burdens that would not
be, endured IL imposed by govern
lment. Never before was there such
widely organized eagerness for gain
It is a rapacity which cannot wait.
I'm the belief and hope that there Is
soon to be starvation in Europe,
where all is war, 1t introduces priva-
ton in America. where all Is peace.
II is continental. It is also local.
Nothing of this kind comes about
Iby accident. The men who are cor
nering food in the United States one
rate with the precision of a we'll
trained army. They act in concert.
They have a plan Of campaign. They
have their captains Of tens and their
captains of thousands. From high
est to lowest the one controlling mo-
tive Is greed. They do not advan-
tage by circumstances. They take
advantage Of circumstances. Scar
city is not making them rich. 1t Is
rorestalling and coercion ana extor-
ton that they are depending upon to
make them rich.
"In the presence Of conspiracy
80 monstrous every prosecuting off
Ger in the country. Federal, state,
county and city, is bound no less by
decent manhood than by his oath Of
office to assail this piracy. The as
sertion that we see merely the law Of
supply and demand in operation Is
false. Our supplies Of most food
products greatly exceed the demand
and are likely to do so for months to
come. 1t is no true and natural law
but an untrue and unnatural law
that Is now in force. Privation has
been manufactured to order, not as a
result Of the demands of the day but
in response to the desperate theory
that before another harvest enriches
the earth hunger will rule in some
portions OF Europe. Avarice, its eyes
upon foreigners, has already under
taken to strangle Americans.
"There are statutory laws that will
reach this crime. There Is common
law In many states that Is even more
drastic. A thousand prosecutions In
as many important counties would
show in a week whether food Is de-
ficient or merely monopolized, wheth-
er rising prices are due to circum-