New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-20
The Food Parasites

hill II would be next thing to miracle
if the food spectators and monopolists,
who have had their hands on the Threats of
e consumers and producers for so many
wears. should all at once release their
hold. Even war, with its appeal to pa
triotism and its demand for the sacrlflce
of individual interests to community IN
terests, cannot be expected to melt the
hearts and awaken the consciences of eX-
tortioners whose only idea of public obi
cation has been to charge the public all
the traffic will bear.
These extortioners have had a free hand
in peace time because Of our foolish bond
ACE TO a devil-take-the-hin theory Of
economies. The public has been told that
il cannot appeal to the government for
protection against a vicious and wastetul
system of food distribution, because gov
eminent regulation would lead to Caesar
ISM" And most of US have been unduly
impressed by that warming over of the
ancient and credulous philosophy of
Thomas jefferson.
We can remember how long it took to
get a pure food act through Congress and
what tremendous pressure President
Roosevelt had to bring to secure the pas
sage of the meat inspection act. The food
middlemen have gathered to themselves
enormous power, based on enormous
profits. Mr.. Hoover told the Senate yes
terday that in the last five months food
spectators have been taking $50,00O,0OO
month out of the pockets Of consumers.
They and the middlemen have pushed
prices higher here than they are in the
European countries which have been at
war for nearly three years and whose ports
are either completely or partially closed
by sea blockades.
And every consumer knows that that
$3.50, 900 900 is only a drop in the bucket
compared with the exactions he has suf-
fered all along the line, thanks to the break
down Of an outworn system Of distribution.
Instead of being the servant of the two
classes which it brought into touch-the
consumers and the producers-the distrib-
utter long ago became the master of both.
He has plundered both with unremitting
diligence and splendid audacity.
That is the situation we faced up to ten
weeks ago. But war, with its cool disre-
spect for Jeffersonian utilities, has now
stepped in. To meet the demands Of war
we must reorganize our economic system
and coordinate our national efforts. Prac-
tees which are wasteful and vicious must
be discarded. We are conscripting men to
fight for the nation. We are conscripting
wealth by war taxation. Why should we
hesitate to conscript the middleman and
his machinery of distribution, converting
the latter from an oppressive agency of
private gain into benefcent agency of CO.
operation and public service?
The food parasites have their agents in
Congress. Among them are men who have
n always fought the battles Of food monop-
oily. Others. disclaiming association with
the food extortionists, are now posing as
friends Of the producer. Yet the pro-
Queer has nothing to gain from the per-
petuation Of the mastery of the food spec
ulator and handler. His true interest lies
IN freeing himself as we'll as the con-
sumner from the middleman's tyranny. For
Of what the ultimate consumer now pays
he gets only minor percentage. Nor can
he ever get more than that under the pres
ent system.
War is an evil. Yet it is also great
clarifer and reorganizer II would be
worth all that it cost in money, at least, if
1t should break the grip Of the great food
distributing agencies on the people Of this
country. That is why those agencies are
making so desperate fight at Washing
ton. They realize that if once the country
gets taste Of the benefits Of a fairly req
ulated food market at war prices It will
not easily consent 70 90 back 70 the old
conditions Of private monopoly, with prices
artifcially determined by the middleman,
TO the detriment Of both producer and
consumer.
Food regulation is a military necessity.
Call ii form Of "Cssarism" il you want
20. But that sort Of "Cesarism" is prefer
able 10 the sort Of economic anarchy from
which we have long been suffering. Wash
ington said: in time Of peace prepare
for var" 50 far as food regulation goes.
We might proftably reverse the proverD