The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-06
North Side NeDs
BUY FLOUR NOW
Local Millers Say Price Will
Continue to Go Up and Up.
Only Food Dictatorship Can
Keep 1t Down.

Those who have an eye for economy
had better buy flour while the buying
is good. According to David Page, of
the Page Milling company, the war
will boost the price of flour skyward.
This condition is the inevitable result
of the granting of liberal foreign
credits by this government to the al
lied countries. Having unrestricted
credit here they will buy foodstuffs
more freely than in the past, and the
consequent shortage will cause the
price to rise. The home supply of
grain is already 1neager and it can i'll
stand the drain of additional heavy
foreign shipments. The only way TO
the price.
To the millers there appears 40
obvious remedy for the situation. II
the government fixes a maximum
price of ggrain at say 81, if the scarcity
or demand is such as to make the
grain worth more than 81 a bushel
farmers will hold rather than sell it,
where holding is possible. The only
way the government could compel
them te sell would be by the exercise
Of practical food dictatorship. At
the present stage of the war game in
this country such q step would be out
of the question.
Use Whole Wheat Flour.
1t has been suggested that the gov
eminent limit or prohibit the ship
ment of grain abroad. Under the pres
ent circumstances this would be abb
surd, for it would mean cutting off the
food supply of our allies with whom
we are virtually waging common war.
One result of the mounting price Of
flour will be the increased consump-
ton of whole wheat flour. At the
present time there is slight demand
for whole wheat flour on the American
market. Only the best grade of white
flour finds a ready market The
whole wheat flour, it is said. is not
only more healthful, but is about 20
cents a sack cheaper than white flour.
The Page mill has filled large or
ders for it with the allied powers. The
allies. in fact. are willing and ready
to buy a grade of wheat flour which
no American market would accept.
Americans, the millers say, are very
particular about what they buy, a
fastidiousness which they will have to
forego if the price of foodstuffs rises
much higher.
The only plan which the, United
States can adopt at present, as the
millers see the situation, is to allow
the law of supply and demand to reg
ulate prices, subject of course to no
undue fluctuation from speculative
manipulation.
Social and Personal.
The Civic club committee, which
was to have interviewed the mayor
with reference to the increasing of the
police force on the north side, has
postponed action until the rumored
shakeup in the present force has been
completed.
/ Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph Campbell en-
+ tertained Thursday evening at an in
( formal dinner for Ed. Van Nechten.
/ a member of the cast in Experience,
! the morality play now at the Grand
Mr.. Van Vechten's home is in New
! York. The company. is returning east
] after an extensive western tour
Commander c. L. Haywood is de-
sirous that every member of Blue Post
No $50. G. A. r., and of the Relief
Corps No. 5 attend the services to be
held at Memorial hall tonight. They
are of a patriotic character and the
presence of the two North Topeka or
ganizations is desired.
Albert Smith, a north side boy, has
, Joined the hospital corps of the Kan
sas National Guards.
w E. Cowdry is improving after an
operation which he underwent Mon
day.
/ Ed Lange, formerly of North To-
peka. who has recently been engaged
in farming in western Kansas. is Wis
iting with the Ed. Schooley family, OF
( Menoken.
An Easter entertainment will be
given at the Bethel chapel at Elmont
Saturday eve1slg. April Z.