Bread Trust

Although Senator La Follette is dead (TIME, June 29, CONGRESS), his publicity agency goes marching on. This agency is entitled the "People's Legislative Service"; its headquarters are located in Washington, and it is under the direction of Basil M. Manly.

Mr. Manly has now taken alarm at the mergers of bread companies, and declares that a "bread trust" is now forming whose power is a national menace. Mr. Manly further states that profits in milling and breadmaking, being out of proportion to the increased price of wheat, are now "unconscionable", and are due to combinations in violation of the Sherman Act.

This matter of a "bread trust" had been previously raised before the Federal Trade Commission, under an investigating resolution sponsored by the late Senator La Follette and authorized by the Senate. The Trade Commission decided not to proceed with the investigation. Now Mr. Manly demands that this decision be reversed.

As a matter of fact the hue and cry over a "bread trust" has fallen rather flat, despite Mr. Manly's | vigorous assertions. A huge number of U. S. housewives still bake their own bread, and this will always be a ready alternative to buying of an extortionate "bread trust".