Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-20
The Last Resort.

price of beef. 1t may be doubted II ne
knows more about 1t than many Others,
but he voices the general opinion. AS
Stunning this position to be the true one
then it follows that there Is another rea
son. Just what this may be or just now
the rise was brought about will no DOUBT
be more clearly demonstrated later Mean
while it isn't improper to assume that a
combine OF meat capitalists has succeeded
in squeezing few millions from the pub
lie. Now what does the public propose
to do about it? 1t has secured antitrust
legislation but no practical means OF en-
forcing 1t. Meanwhile the public's only
remedy is not to eat meat. This scintil-
LIANT suggestion is not original with rs.
1t is an editorial emission OF the New
York Sun and comes clothed in the ques-
ton chow to reduce the price OF beef!'
and the answer, stop buying it. -
This trivial matter being settled so
easily and satisfactorily it may not be
amiss to turn attention to another con-
dition arising from speculation In that
household necessity known as illuminat-
ing oil. The price Of it has been kiting
skyward the past few days in way that
would almost excuse the foolish virgins
for not INDUCING in the luxury of keep
ing their lamps trimmed and burning.
We are informed on good authority that
the oil trust, to crush its rivals, put the
price too low and now is endeavoring to
recoup itself and that when it has not
only secured tho field but collected the
campaign expenses from the consumers
it will exact fair profit on it's product,
but will not and here is the place to let
loose our gratitnde--will not keep the
price at it's sent altitude. Now, fol
lowing out the Suns suggestion, our pro-
lection must be to stop buying it. Use
gas, whale oil, electricity, tallow, dips,
pine knots, or rush lights-or put up
with darkness. There are very many COM
munities where the people must choose
between kerosene and darkness. Flee
tricity nor gas are available in the small
villages and farming communities, the
candle mold has gone for old junk, pine
knots are scarce and there is no stock on
hand. There is no question upon which
horn of the dilemma the consumer will
find himself impaled, the Suns sugges
ton to tho contrary Notwithstanding.
Judging from the past it is not inn
possible to conceive Of the meat trust, oil
trust, flour trust, sugar trust, and coal
trust combining III an anaconda trust
But then the consumer could have it all
his own way. Why in the words of the
calloquialist cts rs easy as rolling off
log" Stop buying. stop eating. stop
breathing We are told that trusts are
incident and necessary to our civilization
This being so, we would mildly suggest
that all go into training. Probably it
wont do to refuse all food at first. Get &C
customed to doing without gradually.
1t Is evident that a great mistake was
made in committing Oliver Curtis Perry.
the New York train robber to an insane
asylum. 1t is now evident that his in
sanity was feigned and it is not at all
creditable to the officials in charge, that
he was so successful in duping them that
they pronounced him "incurable. He
now relates his experiences at the asylum
with much gusto and thoroughly enjoys
the discontinue of the learned physicians
whom he so successfully victimized. The
insanity dodge is getting little thread
bare; but there arc still cases where it is
successful. 1t is evident that tho proper
place for Perry is Sing Sing-and the in
dcations are that he will remain there for
tine rest of his natural life. The chances
are certainly not very rosy that he will
outlive his A years sentence.
Twin babies joined by ligament were
born in New York last week. This how
ever, is not regarded by either the friends
of Cleveland or Altgeld as an omen OF
Democratic harmony ON the silver ques-
| ton.