The Detroit times., 1917-02-14
And Unless the Cars Move,
We Are Told, the Price of
Food Is Coming Down!


We are paying an outrageous price for
coal.
Furthermore. people with plenty OF
money and willing to submit to the hold
up, are unable 10 get it at any price.
There are many houses closed in De
troit right this minute on account OF
empty coal bins.
We are paying an outrageous price for
eggs.
Granting the contention OF the farm
srs that II costs more 90 feed poultry
than IL ever did. we are still paying more
for eggs than We should. aud fresh ones
are not to be had at even the outrageous
price.
We are paying a criminal price for
potatoes, and we are paying that price
for so poor a quality that makes il I'M
safe TO buy more than peck at time,
making it impossible for the buyer TO
anticipate still further increase by lay
ing in a supply.
Much has been said and much has
been written about these prices and
many theories have been advanced in ex-
PLANTATION of them.
Public sentiment has absolved the
farmer.
II wouldn't be so bad if we knew the
farmer was receiving his just proportion
of the increase, but the fact is, he isn't,
and ne too, in the bargain, is paying
more for his living, just like the rest
Of us.
The price of coal is explained by in
ability to get coal from the mines. which
means on its face entirely inadequate
facilities for hauling it.
WONDER IF WE HAVEN'T THE
REASON IN A NUTSHELL, FOR THE
HIGH COST OF LIVING, IN A DIS
PATCH RECEIVED FROM CHICAGO
BY THE TINES TUESDAY.
The dispatch told of congested condi-
tons in freight yards of the west
The yards are stuffed with cars loaded
with life necessities consigned to sea-
board points for shipments abroad at
WAR prices, and this state of affairs is
due to the fact that the warehouses on
seaboard are stuffed TO the point of bulg-
ing with these same life necessities,
awaiting shipment at WAR prices.
Fear of German submarines. which Is
keeping American ships at home until
they can arm for their protection, is re-
sponsible for the congestion and the
stuffed warehouses.
We are given TO understand, always,
when we bestir ourselves to the point of
entering protest against robbery prices
for the necessities of life, that these
prices are fixed by the law OF supply and
demand.
In case Of coal, we are told that the
railroads haven't engines enough TO haul
the product of the mines.
The Chicago dispatch indicates that
the engines have been too busily engaged
IN HAULING THE SUPPLY AWAY
FROM THE DEMAND, thereby con-
tributing both toward the highway-rob-
been taking place in the potato market.
berry price of coal and the daylight
burglary that has bene taking place in
the potato market
Question:
This congestion having been brought
about in very few days-since the
break with Germany-HOW MUCH OF
THE SUPPLY HAS BEEN WHEELED
AND SAILED AWAY FROM THE DE-
MAND SINCE THE EUROPEAN WAR
BROKE OUT?
And to just what extent have the peo-
pie of this country been bilked to help
the cold storage houses, the packers, the
commission men, the stock market
sharks and the railroad TO pile up WAR
PROFITS out Of munitions?
Chief among the products on its way
10 ship bottoms when halted by the sub
marine embargo was WHEAT, out Of
which they make BREAD.
This wheat represents the bread that
war overseas is taking out Of the
mouths of the American people
But, says lingo, those people across
the water must have food.
Granted.