Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-08-12
DEMOCRATlZE OUR FOOD
SUPPLY.

Autocrats who rule without pubic
ity or responsibility are getting IN
popular. That is one thlng '"al
makes the whole world mistrust ana
hate the food barons. The food com.
bine may be benevolent II may have
drawn all its branches to itself by
magnetic attraction. Its hired spokes-
men tell us only microscopic prohtF
are made. We all know that great
size makes for economy.
Yet we cannot but doubt as We see
prices rising higher and higher IN
direct proportion 10 the disappearance
of competitors. We wonder il II is
consistent with democracy to have al,
trolled by single small group, These
few firms may be divinely commits
stoned to feed the world-for small
profit. But the world is having
doubts.
The world remembers that all
tyrants talked the same They al
ways wept about the heavy burdens
and small profits of ruling. But few
died and fewer resigned. Courtiers
were ever profuse with tales OF bene-
fist conferred upon subjects. Yet sub
Jects grew uneasy.
The food barons, like all their fore
bears, do protest overmuch. They are
so anxious to hang on to their priv I
leges and power that one grows suS-
picious as TO the small profits accru-
ing. Their congressional representa-
tives (and since We do not have
holsheyist government there are
many who ask why the dictators OF /.
our food soviet should be so we'll rep
resented in Congress) are overly
anxious to prevent investigation or
regulation. Why should congressman
become special pleaders for private in
terests against the public good?
Food inspection was once fought
with the same arguments. Publicity
revealed and inspection removed al
most unbelievable filth in plants OPP
Grated by these same people. Per,
haps another investigation would dis
cover great heaps of profits concealed
in hidden corners of ledgers and fnan.
cial statements. There are those who
declare they have already glimpsed
such things.
At any rate democracy would like
to see what is there 1t certainly is
as much part of democracy to man
age our food supply as our postage
stamps, even if it is not done in the
same way. Not that democracy
never makes mistakes But autocracy
has also made so many that the world
has grown tired of il in field after
field Moreover, the mistakes OF
democracy are a part of the education
OF the people, for which the whole
people pay. They also pay for the
mistakes OF autocracy, but they do
not profit by them.
The masses, pressed by prices that
withhold food from their mouths are
going to have something to do with
the processes by which that good
food gets to their mouths. The mighty
unrest of today springs primarily
from the fact that living constantly
lifts just beyond income. Yet there is
one class exempt from this rule. The
prolitborn income of the food barons
rises faster than prices.
:. When profits and power are vested
in an insolent autocracy and the PEG,
pie are pressed for food the material
is ready for social explosion. Not
all the causes of the high cost or liv.
ing are found here. But here Is a
cause APPLY suited to rouse public
anger and disorder.
The first step in meeting the food
problem is to democratize the con.
troll of the food supply.