The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-05
BROTHERS IN ENGLAND
Laws That Would Protect The Publi
 RepeaIed In 18AS


 Repealed In 18A5
 In the good iold days when British governments considered the welfare of the lower and middling classes of men" it was crime against the com munity to increase artificially the prices of commodities. In these days, when we are supposed to be much more civil ized, it is no offense for men to add to their riches by exploiting the food sup plies of the. people. .
 The abolition of the common and statute laws, against 'forestallers," 'in- grossers," and ''regraters," euriously enough, coincided with the accession to political power of the manufacturing commercial classes. It was in 1S45, when liberalism and free trade gained the ascendancy, that the, last remnant of the protection which the law afforded the masses of the people was destroyed.
 Since then any men or combinations of men have become legally entitled to ''corner" essential food supplies and en- rich themselves at the expense of the multitude. The extent to which this has been done any housekeeper knows to her cost. t
 As recently as 1900 q profiteer named Washington was fined 500 pounds and sentenced to q months imprisonment, to be imprisoned until tlR fine was paid, for making corner in hops. He was Kentish hopgrower and made it his business to go to Worcester and fn- duce growers in that county to with hold their stocks of hops from the mar ket until the price rose from II pounds a hundredweight, which it then was, to 20 pounds a hundredweight.
 To accomplish his project he entered into series of forward" contracts and set afloat false ,rumors as to the short age of hops. ;, ''
 Great efforts were made by the law yers of the day to save Washington. One argument addressed to the judges was that it would interfere with the freedom of trade to- convict the of fender.
 The answer of one of the court to this was: How can it be requisite to support the freedom of trade that One man shall be permitted for his own pri- vate emolument to enhance the price. of the necessaries of life, and thereby possibly prevent large portion of his majesty's subjects from purchasing those necessaries at all? Freedom of onade which had just been mixed. The coloring material in his tights ran they were cheap cotton tights, red of hue. When the lemonade men viewed their supply they found that it had been wonderfully, not to say fear fully, colored overnight '
 There was a hurried consultation. It would not do to throw out the lemon ade, because no mote water was avail able. Besides, the days business was about to open; and Texans, with thFoats thick with alkali dust, would be on hand looking for lemonade.
 A Big Hit
 Well call it strawberry lemonade" said the chief butcher" It proved to be such a big hit that col bring matter was added as regular thing.
 Today the concessions at a circus are let to ''big business.s And the food supply is let to bigger business. No more depending on the local butcher. One of the Liz packing companies has carloads of meat always at hand to supply the wants of men and beasts. Other provisions are contracted for in like manner. Workmeil and actors eat of fhe hest the market a affords and they eat promptly. There is always enough fer q second helping.