176 THE HIGH COST OF LIVING 



been of great service to the producer as well. But 

 instead of being a boon to society, the distribut- 

 ing agencies and warehouses have become a burden. 

 But with the circulatory system free and unimpeded, 

 with the highways under public control, with all of 

 the terminals and warehouses operated for service 

 rather than for profit, then conditions similai- to those 

 which prevail in the making and sale of watches and 

 automobiles would be established and the law of 

 supply and demand would operate on the produc- 

 tion and distribution of food and establish a price 

 at the cost of production as it does in all other in- 

 dustries and activities where free competition pre- 

 vails. And this is the only alternative short of a 

 socialization and government control of the whole 

 subject. 



