The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-02-28
HIGH PRICES
Nashville Banner.D

that the price OF print paper 10 the
consumer had been increased several
times more than the increase in the
cost Of production, correspondent
OF the Banner writes as follows:
- think you would find, If You
could get at the facts. that the in
crease in the price of most other
commodities to the consumer has
been likewise out of all proportion
TO The cost 10 the merchant or to the
manufacturer Take one item, sweet
Potatoes. for instance. They are SELL
ms in Nashville at 60 cents a peck.
Lest Friday, at "a store on the Gal
latin pike in Sumner county, TWEEN
Ity miles from Nashville. | bought
hall a bushel of as fine sweet pota-
toes as you ever saw for 60 cents.
They were of medium and uniform
size and i'm perfect condition. They
were raised by potato specialist
lwho supplies the merchant as he
needs them lie has an abundant
supply. So have other growers.
"A few weeks ago | met man on
| the way To Nashville with load of
potatoes. and upon inquiry learned
that he got Sll0 bushel from the
merchant, who was then selling at
50 per bushel. nearly 100 per cent
lprofit In my judgment. the prices
Of nearly everything have been in
creased. with the war as an excuse,
| Just because the people stand it.
WHY. the othe~ aav there was an ad-
vance in pop-ccrn, as if the Euro
pean armies were fed on popcorn,
And now GENES onion sets at :
cents "a pound, Why? Because the
people submit to eXtortionate
prices
The condition is not local. Prices
for staple commodities are every
where about the same in this coun-
try, and outside of the United states
there is greater complaint than
there is here.
The local dealers deny that their
Profits are exorbitant, and appear to
deplore the continued rise. They say
that it diminishes their sales.
Ii all the retail dealers in Nash
vile had agreed tc sell sweet pota-
toes at nearly hundred per cent
profit, someone not true to the trust
would be sure to sell them at 30 per
cent profit and get all the trade.
| But if there is eXtortion such as
this correspondent represents. il is
wei to start an investigation. 1t
would be worth the while to form Il
combine of city buyers and get in
direct contract with the country
producers, who, if these reports are
| true. are also being defraudcd out
of their due.
President Wilson has ordered a
thorough investigation into the
! cause of high prices by the National
Trade Commission which may serve
Ito throw some light on the trouble
and find remedy lie is urging
Congress to make a liberal appropri-
alton for this inquiry and it should
be made. There have been many
| local Investigations in various parts
of the country without satisfying
results. but if the extortion is so
gross and SO plain as this corresponds
eEt represents, very little investiga-
tion i'm this community would be re-
.Qdired to prove it,
II sweet potatoes or other food
products are abundant i'm the coun-
try about Nashville, il doesn't APP
Lcar that the middle man would be
long allowed t. impose on the local
consumer. or that the country pro-
ducers would be willing to sell their
products cheap when they are quot
I'd high not only in the local mar
kets. but those of louisville, Cincin.
natl. Chicago. st. Louis and ether
races in easy reach
The Banner deplores existing con.
Gitions and will be glad to publish
such reliable evidence as may be fur
nished it Of extortion. or to promot,
any plan by which the farm pro
ducts. abundant in this region. car
be brought in easy reach of loea
buyers