The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-20
WHO IS UNFOLDING PRIcEs9

The above question, Wnlcn is one
of universal interest to the consum-
ing public. is asked by the st. Au-
gustine Record The article is one
that commends itself to every one
and throws considerable light on the
much mooted question. The article
reads:
After struggling through several
years of ever-increasing prices the
American people are now paying
more for the necessities of life than
at any period since the Civil War.
They have been taught to economic
through the educational campaign
conducted during the war, but the
more they economize the higher go
the prices and they are no better OF
financially for their sacrifices. The
war is over and while the economy
and thrift are virtues that should con-
tinue commensurate with standard
of decent living, there is no reason
for the enforced denial by the people
of much needed food and clothing.
To keep the public from clamoring
for a return to normal conditions a
propaganda is being conducted pre-
dieting much greater rise in prices
during the next three or six months,
while the public is informed that one
or more years must lapse before
prices will decline.
Naturally the question is asked by
the consumer, why should prices con-
tinue to soar when the war is over?
It is we'll known that there is abua.
dance of food of every kind in the
country. The farmer is receiving
fair price for his products but nothing
like what the consumer pays for the
same. Florida cattle in the Jackson
vile market are quoted as follows:
Steers, Sc to $3.50 per 100 pounds;
bulls, $3.50 to 7; yearlings, $3.50 to
, Sc; heifers, $5.75 to $6.75; cows, $5.25
to $3.50 Yet in the local markets
some cuts command cs high as 40
cents per pound, while the cheaper
cuts vary from Is to rs cents.
Mutton, the Florida product, in To-
cal markets commands as high as so
cents per pound for some cuts, while
the western sheep are selling in Chi
cago markets from SIS to $16.75 per
hundred pounds. The Florida sheep
are bought at much lower prices than
| the western, but the prices are as
high as the consumer can be forced
to pay.
What is profiteering? Is is not an
exorbitant profit? Who is profiteer.
ing on meat, the packers, the whole
salers or the retailers? The packers
in their advertisements claim that
they make less than one cent per
pound on meats, their main profits
coming from what would be waste
products If not utilized.
Clothing has increased to about
double during the past eighteen
months. This is not surprising, as
the government, commandeered the
stocks of wool and large tailoring o..
Establishments to supply the troops
with uniforms. Tho same is true Of
shoes, but with the latter only the
best leather was used and no short
age was occasioned, as the rest was
available for the civilian population.
We hear that clothing and shoes will
continue to rise in price during the
next several months or year Why
should this be? The government is
making no more uniforms, The
enormous supplies of wool held for
that purpose are being released and
the usual supply of wool is still com.
| ing in. Great quantities of wool In
Australia and South America that
were stored during the war are now
available. No valid reason for an adj
vance in prices can be given, neither
can any excuse be offered for hold
ing the high prices where they are
now Profiteers and spectators are
amassing fortunes by upholding and
advancing prices and they will con.
tinue to do so until the long-suffer-
ing public turns in desperation.
Selfishness is trait Of human ma
ture, and history shows that in all
ages men take advantage of the stu.
, ations that offer to fleece the public,
They have had golden opportunity
of late and their avarice Is so deep
, rooted that they can not bear to give
the public square deal now that the