The Irish standard., 1916-09-23
England Starving
With Food Prices
Mounting Higher
Strikes and Revolutions Pre-
dicted Unless Something is
Done to Check Stealing.


slipped by the censor, says: 1t is
hoped some good results will come
from the effort being made to bring
pressure on the government in regard
to the increasing scandal of the prices
charged for food We are in the third
year Of the war, the English navy
claims 1t rules the seas, commerce is
carried on with comparative safety,
In spite Of the toll Of ships taken by
the German submarines, and still the
prices Of foodstuffs go higher and
higher. All sorts of explanations are
given, except the right one; a short
age of ships, American corners and
combines, etc. But the profiteers know
the worth of those exculpations and
explanations. Certain men are making
huge fortunes out of the necessities of
the public. And the government, by
going into the game and dividing the
plumber with the soulless profiteers,
have made 1t almost impossible to oh.
tain protection for the people against
the plundarers; half the booty goes
to the Golfers Of the ExcheQuer! So
the public pays more and ever more
for the necessities of life. Many of
the working classes, those who have
had no rise In wages or very small
one since the war began, are barely
able to make ends meet. The children
and their mothers do not get enough
food in many cases. No wonder the
railway men are asking for ten shill-
ings week more. Human nature can
not stand the spectacle of fortunes
being made by Il few prOiiteers out of
the needs of the nations. If the govern
ment let things slide much longer they
will be faced with a terrible strike.
The anger Of the toiling mGltitudes ia
rising rapidly. Or all the scandals
since tho beginning of the war, and
they have not been few, this scandal of
extortionate prices for food is the
able to our government of Liberals and
Tories.
And the effect Of this soulless prof.
teering Is becoming evident in grow
ing desire for stricter state control,
that is. for an advance towards the
S0ciallstic ideal. Mr.. Montague has
been so eloquent In his exposition of
the success of State control in the in.
dustry Of munition making that were
he to take over the whole shipping in.
dustry and coal-mining and marketing
Of foodstuffs tomorrow, his venture
would meet with the good wishes of
public opinion. If the State can effect
such wonders in making guns and
shells, might 1t not do something In
the direction of distributing food and
fuel at reasonable prices? The public
would welcome almost any attempt to
the proflteers. If food prices are not
dealt with soon by the government,
there will be serious trouble. The
masses of the people will demand either
decreased prices of the necessaries OF
life or increased wages wherewith to
purchase them. And that is only fair.
The wOrkingman has right to such
food as will keep him able to work,
and so to live, and if the prices go UP
to degree which oversteps his wages,
he has right to insist on higher wages
to meet the higher prices. And he is
beginning to insist. No one wants
strikes during the progress of the war.
But no one wants to see the working
classes starved in order that the prof.
teers may continue to make greater
profits. The sympathy OF all men
would 20 out to the toilers who de-
mand redress OF this grievance of
extortionate food prices; because all
men share in feeling that grievance.
Let the present profiteering system
continue and 1t will produce demand
for measures leading to Socialistic
ideals OF State control.
cam mn LIME eao Aeen .A