Arizona republican., 1920-11-16
THE BAKERS SIDE OF
 THE PRICE QUESTION

Some of the bakers of Phoenix be- i lieve that a wrong impression may be made by an editorial in this paper re- gently relative to the price of bread and the present price of flour which is was stated was quoted at S9 bar rel as against a former price of Sl6 barrel which became the basis of the present prices of bread. It was not the intention of the editorial to show that the present prices of bread are too high, for flour is only one item in the cost of bread. If flour is cheaper than it was at that time, the wages of labor and the cost of most other ingredients that enter into the price of bread are much higher than they were when flour rose to S16 a barrel It should be added also that none of the bread now on sale is made of $9 flour. That is a recently quoted price due to the fluctuation in the wheat market It is stated and bills are shown to prove that the latest flour received in Phoenix cost little in excess of SIP barrel.
 Further light is thrown on the bak- ing trade by the following in the West ern Baker, by William M. Foley, sec retary of the California Bakers asso- citation under the caption of Prices Must Be Maintained"
 Newspapers through their news col umns and in their advertising space are announcing reductions in many lines, which is quite true. Sugar. we know, is but half of what it was a few months ago, but it is 331-3 per cent higher than it was this time last year. Lard and shortening are cheaper than they have been for some time, but they are no cheaper than they were a year ago. Eggs and butter are higher than they were this time fast year. Flour is about the price it was this time last year despite the fact that it has been reduced in price about $2.50 a barrel in the past three months.
 "The wages of labor are higher than they were at this time last year. But the prices of bakery products are the same as they were Tn 1919. During the entire peak point period of the high cost of living, bakery products have sold for the same prices which pre- vailed at this time last year.
 ''The bakers have absorbed the many fluctuations in prices without murmul and now that raw materialssare agair | returning to the level on which thu | present prices were based, the baker are confronted with the request fo lower prices.
 "The request must be met with al explanation of why is is impossible t reduce the present prices. As a mat ter of fact, the real cause of the troubl is that he absorbed increases instead of advancing with the market durini the last eight or nine months. He gav the public the benefit of his good judg ment in purchasing his supplies befor they reached the highest point and il some cases he paid the highest price and absorbed the loss, hoping to re cuperate his loss as prices receded.
 "In so doing he acted in an unbusi nesslike manner, for which he re ceives no thanks from the public. Ha he advanced his prices with the mar ket he could now 1educe them to tn present level and in the eyes of tn public he would be doing his bit t help reduce the cost of living Bu having absorbed many losses and re fusing to allow the prices of baker products to aviate to the peak point | with their kindred foodstuffs he ha been a greater friend of the publi