The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-01
THE GOD-FEARING BAKERS

Martin u Daveyy Ohio Congressman this week
asked the Federal trade commission to investigate
the Continental Baking Company. He related that
independent bakers of northeastern Ohio are ABOUT
to be crushed by alleged unfair trade practices OF
the Continental company.
He inclosed letter from Arthur W. Doyle OF
Akron describing the bakers predicament
Doyle wrote:
II am instructed to tell you by approximately
lightweight Independent bakers in Summit County,
and approximately 400 In northeastern Ohio, that
thew are Republicans, Democrats and Independents
all of whom have faith in our President, that they
are all Godfearing people, not asking for SUBSIDIES
price fixing or special favors, that they have DEM
onstrated their capacity to lead clean lives take
care of their families school their children and nave
accumulated by reason of hard, diligent application
to their work, modest homes
in the cities of Toledo and Cincinnati. Ohio the
wholesale price of pound and a. half loaf OF bread
is Ill., cents while in the rest of Ohio the price Is
10 cents The bakers who must compete with the
1ocent price are gradually being driven out Of bust
ness and will soon face bankruptcy because it Is be-
low the actual cost Of production.
.'The purpose of these baking monopolies Is per-
fecty obvious
.eTheir vast and national character make it pos
sble for them to concentrate certain cities or
sections cut prices below cost of production give
away percentage Of bread or cakes free, absorb
this loss in other sections of the country and evenu
ally have free rein, after having driven their small
competitors to the WALL
So the Independent bakers want the Continental
company investigated by the Federal trade COM
mission.
The present Federal trade commission is the
handiwork of President Coolidge He provided 1t
with it's present majority The chairman is former
lobbyist in Washington for private business interests
Two years ago through resolution by the late
Senator La Toilette, the Federal trade commission
began an investigation of this very same Continen-
tai company. April this year the Federal trade
commission dropped this Investigation. 1t didn't
publish its reasons for doing So But few weeks
earlier the United States Attorney General had be-
gun an antitrust suit against the Continental COM
pany And, April g. the Attorney General dropped
his suit. Notice those dates.
The reason given by the Attorney General for
dropping his suit that the Continental was then
being investigated by the Federal trade commission.
He gave that reason to the courtone day after the
Federal trade commission investigation had been
dropped.
And the United States Attorney General knew
the investigation had been dropped. He had been
informed by special messenger the day it done.
Not only that but he had been informed that it
going to be done. These facts matter Of record
These Republican, Democratic, independent
God-fearing bakers of northeastern Ohio say they
have faith in our President
Do they have faith in any investigation that his
Federal trade commission might undertake, or in
any prosecution that his Attorney General might
tempt If it should be found that the complaint of the
independent bakers is justified?