Evening star., 1916-11-25
Inference Drawn.


The obvious inference to be drawn
rom this table, it is contended, is that
ne present crisis is not due to exports.
out is attributable to some domestic
condition. There have been reports
rom many sections that farmers are
Withholding their wheat and potatoes
rom market, waiting for higher prices,
and there is SAID to be unquestioned
evidence that cold storage plants in all
ne large cltieS are packed with perish
able commodities In New York city
ode ofncials are now making an inquiry
and have at the outset developed that
mere is no shortage OF staples.
BY this time the story is well known
II one man in Chicago who has 72,-
10000 eggs in cold storage and snaps
lis fingers at the Department of JUS
ice. the while he openly announces his
intention to make the public pay his
price.
New York commercial interests. in
heir fght against an embargo on food
stuffs, which would injure their foreign
-rade, are now asking why an embargo
should not be iaiu on leather, to lower
me cost of shoes, or on cotton to bring
lown the price of many lines Of manu-
.acturers entering into the daily ana
necessary use of the people; or on
metal which is soaring also.
Farmers Issue statement.
The farmers, through their National
Grange in session here. yesterday gave
out a statement designed to exculpate
! the agriculturists from blame for the
high cost of food products. Nine prin-
cipal heads of subjects were included
in the farmers BRIEF in explanation
/ of the increased cost of foou supplies
{ 70 TD
crops due to unfavorable climatic con-
ditions.
The second plea in bar was that the
farmer himself feels the higher cost
Of living in that he has to pay more
for his fertilizer. his farm machinery
his labor and all the supplies that he
buys, even including flour and in many
cases meat.
The third count charges the dwellers
in the city with extravaganza, due to
their living in cramped quarters, cook
ing in kitchenettes and buying theiI
supplies out of cartons and tins. which
necessarily increases the cost. the same
as when coal is bought by the bushel
instead of by the ton.
The economic waste of the European
war is set down as fourth cause OF
high prices here, while for the fifth
count the brief" falls back upon the
old cry of restriction by the trusts anu
| the monopolies. Other excuses are
| Increase of farm pests destroying the
! crops speculation in food products, in.
| sufficient number of storage ware
| houses under the control of the farmers
and lack of market facilities in cities.
Another Angle Presented.
| And here is still another angle to the
| vexing problem. Comes Mr.. Thorn
general counsel for the Southern rail-
way, before the Newlands senatorial
committee yesterday. and suggests that
inadequate transportation facilities add
| to the high cost Of commodities OF
daily consumption. There are not
enough railroads to transport the
| kindly fruits of the earth. for which
| thanks will soon be given.
| The American FedeI alton of Labor
meeting in Baltimore yesterday, did not
| attempt any psychological study OF
causes, but struck directly at effects
| and adopted a short and crisp resolu-
| ton. putting it up to President Wilson
| and Congress to clap on an embargo
until America is fed first.
| The resolution recited the fact that
| -four 10 higher than at any time sine
| the civil war. while all other food
| staples are increasing SO rapidly as to
lOnn110aa1 on Second Pa4e.)