The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-05-09
POOR STARVING
ASFOOD PROFITS
ARE PILINC Up
Marley. in New York. Finds
Traders See Danger in
Speculation
is NO JUSTIFICATION


Editors Note-Basii " Manly.
special writer for Tho Star. who
started on a tour OF the vital news
ccnters OF tho country 10 find out
for our readers what IL the matter
with food and food prices. has been
in New York city for several days
investigating conditions in the ma.
tons biggest city. Ills telcgraphed
report from tho metropolis follows. }
~ BASIL N. MANLY
NEW YORK. May s.-prss-
ent food conditions cannot
continue very much longer
without an explosion that may
be a serioos menace not only
10 the United States. but 10 the
success OF the great war for
democracy In which we are now
engaged.
have tried 10 be a. con-
sentative as possible In est
mating the situation. a. typified
here In New York. but cannot
escape the feeling az ! study
conditions that ! am standing
on the rim Of volcano that
may AZ almost any moment
break It's crust In an eruption.
There can be no denial of the big
outstanding facts In the situation
have talked To men OF conscrvR.
two temperament who are authori.
ties on various aspects OF the food
problem. and have found no disa.
grccment on the essential facts.
Poor starve; Profits Pile Up
find in New York that the poor
are on the verge OF actual starya.
ton after months OF underfeedlng.
the middle classes are feeling the
pressure Of famine prices koenly
while AT the same time every factor
In food production and distribution.
except the smaller retailers and
food peddlers. ARE MAKING
GREATER PROFITS THAN EVER
BEFORE.
Spectators. taking advantage
OF the extreme uncertainty and
the near panic which must ae-
COMPANY - W WFff
have run away with the market.
A few spectators. n In true. who
sold short on the expectation OF
early peace and low prices. have
been caught. and In their frantic
efforts TO get supplies to meet the
contracts OF their short sales. have
helped to run prices up TO the pres
ent fabulous figures.
have been amazed at the frank.
ness with which brokers and com.
mission men admit the speculative
control OF the principal food staples.
In ordinary times IL Is hard TO
find any trader who will admit that
prices are made except by the work.
ings OF that grand old fraud. the Law
OF supply and demand. but now, In
spired, I believe. with real patriot
Ism. the majority OF the responsible
food traders feel that the existing
conditions are too great a menace
TO the nations security to be al
lowed to continue unchecked. and
many OF them advocate immediate
Intervention by the federal govern
ment.
Says Game 10 Rotten
I'VE know the people are being
forced to pay much more than there
is any justification for. and that
the whole situation IL rotten" n
butter and egg dealer said to me to-
day, but what can ] or any indl.
vidual dealer do about It?
I'VE are simply cogs In the ma
chine PLAYING THE GAME the
only way we know It. and short of
an agreement OF all the traders TO
change the rules Of the game-and
that would risk indictment under
the Sherman active are powerless
to stop II.
1.-THE most interruptions deal
ers set the pace, and the rest
OF US arc carried along In the
current"