The Washington herald., 1917-02-26
Interesting Chats
From Hotel Lobbies

Judging from conditions in the coun-
try today, we are convinced that II IL
cheaper to hght than to be at peace. at
least as far a. our stomachs are con-
cerned," said f. p. Motion. a vell-known
attorney OF Chicago. stopping at the
willard. There is hardly an inteni-
gent person." said the attorney. but
what does not know that American foods
are sold for less money In Europe, re-
gsrdless of war. blOcksdes, tariffs or
anything else. Who is TO blame7 We
are.
II never expect to see the American
people get together and stop the opera
tions OF combines. who deliberately boost
the prices. right in the face Of the Clay
ton law. and get by with q. From expe-
rience | have known the same grades
Of meat to be sold in different cities for
totally different prices. having come from
the same packer. and sold by the same
stores having branches in the different
cities. For instance. the meats that are
shipped TO New York. IL they are labeled
frst-graGe meats they are first-grade and
bring the highest retail prices. Second
grade meats are shipped here, and TO
the South and sold for first-grade prices.
First-grade meats are shipped TO Balti-
more and bring secOnd-grade prices, the
differences being charged up to Wash
Ington.
Numerous other food products are
worked the same way. The packers will
give no reason. In England il Is pos
sible today to buy an American sewing
machine. shoes. tools Of every sort, rub
ber tires and hosts Of other articles.
cheaper than you can in New York In
spite of high ocean freight rates. sub
marine dangers. war risks OF all sorts.
these items are sold for less and the
manufa cturers certainly do not lose
money. They know that We will pay
their price. without protest and that is
why they rub II i'm on us. South Amer
ica is the only place where American
products are higher than in America
Now IL We will Investigate some Of
the investigators we may save money
Frank p Smith. OF Bakersfield. Cal.
SAYS the Jap problem is one Of the most
complicated and delicate one before the
nation. In his room at the Raleigh he
told a Herald reporter that the Jap
anese are themselves stirring up some OF
the muss. and are spending huge sums
of money to force Wilson to show his
hand They realize they have not the
same people TO deal with that they had
during the Roosevelt administration. and
consequently are becoming bolder and
holder in their demands.
Prom what we understand in my part
OF tne country Bryan sweet creams OF
peace at any price are responsible for
nine-tenths OF the present trouble" he
said
No doubt the Germans are at the root
OF it all. and we know without a doubt
that the secret agents OF the Kaiser
spent nearly $1,000. 900 stirring up hatred
in Japan against this country We also
know to = certainty that the laps. in a
very slick manner. have bribed several
prominent American politicians 10 tour
the country and very deftly insert in their
lectures and talks something about the
lack OF desire in Japan for war with US,
and about the love Of Japan for America
all calculated TO throw us OF our guard.
Some OF the bitterest yarns in the
japanese press were inserted by Ger
mans. These articles were designed to
arouse this country. and right before the
outbreak OF the war. the Germans pur-
chased several influential japanese pa
'.srs because the laps themselves were
not strong enough in their denuncia-
tionS."