Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-07-16

| Washington, D. C.-There is great,
although carefully concealed, appre-
hension In Washington over the out
break Of social revolution In Italy, for
that is the Interpretation placed hero
on the serious food riots in Florence,
Bologna, Ravenna and other cities OF
northern Italy, with consequent as
sumption Of supreme power by cham
bers Of labor" ~s->.ss f.. :.
The Importance of the situation to
this country was pointed out to your
correspondent by an officer OF the fed
eral trade commission. He empha-
sized the fact that food prof1teering.
hurting the farmers and the wage
earners alike, is responsible for the
outbreak and observed that FOOD
PROF1TEERNG, PROBABLY MORE
FLAGRANT THAN THAT IN ITALY,
IS TODAY GOING FORWARD UN-
CONTROLLED IN THIS COUNTRY,
Menace Of Food Sharks. -.
Just how much the international
manipulations of the American pack
| ers are responsible for the present up
heaval in Italy is still a matter of
| speculation. As yet there is no data
available to show their full grip on
the food markets Of the world. In
| this country, however, it is certain
that the grim monopoly Of the big
Five" is busily tanning the embers Of
unrest. Squeezing producer and con-
! sumner, and fout1ng the government
in their sordid race for gain, til pack
| ers, officials here believe are doing
more to bring the perils of revolution
to this country than any other ele-
| ment.
Widespread recognition Of this con-
ditton, and widespread fear Of food
riots and worse in this country as q
| result, is abroad in. Washington now.
There is actual apprehension Of what
might follow if the facts of the food
monopoly were ever spread before the
American people in their true colors.
As Senator La Toilette said the other
| day: III some great playwright would
dramatic the evidence collected
against the packers it would cause
revolution"
Progresslves See Danger.
And Senator Kendrick Of Wyoming,
cattleman by profession, comments ON
the admission Of the packer combina-
ton that theirs is the biggest CONNER
cial enterprise In America, as follows:
"The startling significance of that
fact is realized when we consider that
this huge industry, dealing in the food
supply of the nation and rapidly ex-
tending it's interest to transatlantic
and South American fields, is DOM
mated by few private citizens who
are wholly free from governmental
supervision"
To check this situation before it
brings the inevitable result now seen
In Italy the progressive and liberal
group in congress, regardless of party
lines, are now uniting to put through
legislation regulating the food monop-
oltsts and restricting the packers to
that one industry. Bills for this end
have been introduced by Senators
Kenyon and Kendrick, and Represen-
tatives Anderson of Minnesota and
Lever Of South Carolina.
Mexico Against Brewers.
Mexico, while expecting consider
able profit from the advent of prohibi-
tion in the United States, will not well
come American distillers and brewers
| whose business is now outlawed at
| home and who have lately been cast
| ing longing eyes across the. Rio Grande
as a fertile field for the perpetuation
Of profitable calling.
| At the Mexican embassy here it was
explained that the nation requires all
her cereals for purposes Of food con-
sumption, and that there is no dfspo.
sition on the part Of the government
to increase the existing number of
d1stilleries and breweries. AS Next
can law provides that federal licenses
must be secured before launching any
new commercial enterprise one Of the
few possible avenues of escape ap-
pears to be cut off for the harassed
liquor men of the United States.
| However, 1t is said there is every
likelihood that the California wine
growers, majority of whom are of
Latin extraction, will find haven of
welcome in Lower California and other
northern Mexican states. The govern
ment sees in more intensives cult
vation> Of the grape a source of in
come to the state, profit to the peo-
pie, and an industry with considerable
export value to the Central and
South American trade. ~
1t is believed that, the probable ex-
odus of the California wine growers
will prove a serious obstacle to SEN
ator Ashurst's scheme for annexing
Lower California to the United States.
Sentiment in this section is said to be
decidedly anti-prohibition and averse
to coming in under the, Stars and
Stripes for this reason II for no
other. a. -
Land Value Monopoly.
Convincing propaganda for revf-
sion OF federal taxation laws is being
made by the Farmers National Single
Tax league over the recent sale by
vincent Astor for nearly $4,000, 900 of
a plot of ground 200 by 207 feet on
Broadway and Forty third streets, New
York City. Ii. IS ss.s=;a. ,,s5s
i Here is farm of. less than an
acre, 41,575 square feet, selling at $84
per square foot, or about $4,000. 900
an acre." writes Carl Brannin, exec
utive secretary Of the Single Tax
I league. .szssss. ~ s
TT has been said that there a.
AUTO ROUTE BOOK
The Minnesota State Edition Of the
4 Ofhcial lib Automobile Route Book
has just been received. All principal
ErnY1fna ~ tho state $are 9nicfnrnda Nth