Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-20
1O-CENT BREAD PLAN
NEVER WILL WORK,
SAY LEADING BAKERS
Fiive-Cent Loaf the Logical
Size, 1t Is Declared.
Mother Munro Sees
Distressing Times Ahead.

The 1O-cent loaf of break recommended
by the Efficiency Board of the National
Bakers Association to tide the bakers
over during the period of high wheat was
branded this morning by William FreI-
hofer of the Freebooter Baking Company
one of the largest bread-makng concerns
in the country, as n scheme utterly i'm
practicable at this crucial time.
"The 1O-cent loaf" he said, 'wouldn'e
solve the problem at ALL 1t wouldn't be
fair and it wouldn't be just, and it would
most certainly arouse public opinion to
an incalculable extent.
ITO eliminate the fice-cent loaf would
be foolhardy. Rather diminish the size.
What would a small family of two or
tree persons, who can scarcely make
away with a small loaf, do with lO-cent
loaf? 1t would be absurd"
The plan of the national association is
to make a higher priced loaf containing
from 26 to q ounces and thus force the
public to buy In larger quantities, 10
augment both the price and the size
rather than to risk reducing the size OF
the loaf,
Trat the bakers will have to get to-
gether in concerted action TO 90 some
thing in a day or two to protect them
selves II an immediate step IL not taken
by the Government TO prevent furthe'
rise in the cost OF -four, was the uTs
equivocal statement of Mr. Freebooter
I'm sPECULAToRs' HANDS"
ANY large baking firm will not hesi-
tate TO admit" he said, that as long as
present conditions prevail they will not
be able to make enough money 10 lubri-
cate their machinery, much less pay for
the flour required for the baking, and
the worst part of II ia that we are abso-
lutely helpless in the hands OF the wheat
spectators.
"somethInE must be done and done
quickly l am OF the opinion that an
immediate embargo will be the only
means OF saving the situation. Why
should the American people, when they
have a surplus of 360,000,000 bushels OF
wheat, more than they have ever had
before, sit idly by and see IL get out Of
their hands? II looks as though an en-
barge will be the only way 10 stop 1t.
'In the meantime the baker will have
10 diminish his loaf OF raise his price.
Once more the ultimate consumer Is going
10 be the one to suffer, unless, OF course,
something happens very quickly to pre-
vent the wheat from getting out OF the
country"
When Mr.. Freebooter was asked II the
size OF the loaf put out by his bakery had
been reduced as yet, he replied:
mot that / know Of"
MOTHER" MUNRO GLOOMY.
Mother Munro is genuinely alarmed
at the altitudinous propensitiss which the
wheat market Is continuing to exhibit
And the fact that she hasn't eaten meai
for more than p years, and that bread Il
literally and actually the stan OF her Very
energetic life. isn't the sole cause Of her
worry.
The real reason Is that the housewives
OF Kenslngion, to the uttermost precincts
have come to depend on this capable lit
tie Scotch woman 10 help them out of the
difieulties engsndsred b that greatest Of
ali bugbears. the high cost OF living. And
somehow or other shs has never failed
them
OUTLOOK SEEMS DARK.
But she sees only darkness ia ths
present -four outlook
Not only has tbs threatened rise IN the
price Of breed become IA actual fact bul
the loaVes themselves have become thln-
ner. Tnla statement Is net maas On hsar=