The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-02-10
barometer of Public Opinion
The Tirtccn-Ccnt Loaf.


Editor World; And now from Sew York
comes word that a certain baker ~ selling five
cent loaves of bread to thousands OF misguided
crcaturcs-and making money When win per
secuted profiteers be left undlsturbed In their
inallonabe right to prey upon the public? Such
men az this baker who are inflicted with large
ncSs OF the heart together with astute wisdom
az to what Ia taking place In the economic world
ought to be promptly suppressed II his course
~ but an expression OF the law OF supply and
demand. then the law of supply and demand
ought To be repealed Judging from continuing
war prices, this seems to be the attitude Of
Tulsas bread sellers
The first thing know some presumpuous
person viii suggest that the bakers of Tulsa
descend from their lofty pinnacle OF price, and
furnish nNc-ccnt loavcs instead OF those cos
ing TWO or three times that much, or course
such a suggestion would meet with a ready
answer The reason bread can be sold so much
cheaper in New York than in Tulsa is that Okla.
homa ~ great wheat producing state. whereas
most OF that used In New York must be hauled
hundreds OF miles! BESIDES the overhead (Ah
the overhead, what would the profiteer do
without the "ovcrhead'-that blessed. mystcr-
ious talisinan; that answer to all embarrassing <
questions; that shield in time of danger: rents
wages and incidcntals which apparently exist
ed not before the war; but magically sprang up
thercafter). Yes tho Overhead" accounts for
everything. And of course In "a mighty metrop-
olis like Tulsa the overhead would nat turally be
Tar greater than In the little village OF New
York;
Would word in behalf OF the consumers be
appropriate? 1t is this That those who act
in the capacity OF supplying necessities to the
publtc-clothing, bread, milk. groceries. ETC.
must come To "A realization that they
titled To reasonable return for their services
and investment and no more Attacks should
be made upon one line OF Commodtions after
another, until each is forced to its true level.
IL "A five-ccnt loaf can be produced With profit
IN New York II can In Tulsa.
The spacious argument. advanced sometime
ngo, that bakers had contracted in advance for
large quantities OF flour at high prices and be-
fore the reductions came, IN easily seen TO be
Vulnerable. The true test of fair price at any
time is replacement cost. IT, with theao large
contracts outstanding, the market had made
furthetN considerable advance, does anyone be-
heVe that the bakers would not have reaped
a profit therefrom Is It then fair to transfer
a loss resulting from n declining market, from
themselves to the public? Why should the con-
sumes be made to suffer on account of the fool
ish judgment OF the bakers? It's a poor gambler
who won't pocket his own loss
II nvo-cent loaf can be produced with profit
I'm New York, 80 II can in Tulsa II II can be.
then II IL criminal 10 charge the present OK
tortionatc prices and the matter should be re-
ferred to tho United States district attorney for
prompt action. For my part hereby no
tiCe upon the bakers (aud | believe that 72,O45|
OF the 72,075 people living in Tutsa-or all but
the 30 bakeries listed in the phone book-will
endorse this sentimenD that my bread will be
bought from that one who frs, offers the five
cent loaf should this represent popular senti-
mcnt, IT would simply reduce itself into "A uues-
ton of what baker has tho foresight, the enter
prise, the initiative and the business acumcn toI
deserve and win the public favor in his bus-
ness. As Tor the others. let them lag behind
and wiring their hands over their outstanding
flour contracts and overhead" ex/nses! Surely
there must be some among the thirty listed bak-
cries OF Tulsa who were not SO foolish ms TO con
tract FOR large quantities or flour. far In ad-
vance, at the highest peak OF an unnaturally
inflated market
Mr., baker do you accept the challenge? Shall
il be competition or invcsigationp WIN youI
take the lead to adjust the Unjust ice, or must
tho great body Of consumers organize a co.
operative bakery to furnish to themselves bread
at cost? Act quickly, FOR another may, as the
saying goes beat you to it."
Tulsa, January l6 h. W. GRIFFITH