Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-01-12
ExPoslTloN.yEAR Hoeels4NEss

~ N-1Nit
Here at the beginning of the Expo
sition year in Norfolk It is timely
TO utter protest and warning against
the growing tendency to take advant-
age of the situation, and squeeze,
gouge. and eXtort the people who
pay.
There has been ground for a reas-
enable increase in many directions
III the wholesaler has to charge more,
naturally the retailer who buys from
him must do the same When build.
ing materials rise in price, the con.
tractor must revise his estimates.
With the rise of the cost of food.
rise of wages is to be expected
Reasonable employers throughout the
country, and nowhere more than here,
have recognized the actual require
ments of the situation and have rails
ed the wages of their employees as
much rs practicable.
But the tendency to which we are
referring. Is not the natural and rea-
sonnble tendency of the times, but
the disposition to use that fact and
the local condition created by the
Exposition as preteXts for cold-blooded
extortion. All around us we find peo-
pie charging extravaganza prices for
rent, service, food, and commodities
simply because they can. A great
deal of hoggishness, to use plain
term, is already in evidence: and the
indications are that q great deal more
is on the program.
The newspapers Of Norfolk are in
a position to condemn this eXtortion.
nta tan1annv without tha
consistency. Although the prices of
nearly everything else have risen
since 1893, when they were at a phe.
nomenally low ebb all over the coun-
try, the rate charged for advertising
space in the newspapers of Norfolk
lis actually lower today than It was
then, nor has the subscription price
been raised In any instance. The ex-
penses of all the newspapers have
vastly increased in the interval as
is obvious from a glance at their
plants and products. In Norfolk the
only means by which the papers have
been able to offset this increase in
expense has been the extension of
the volume of their business. In the
meanwhile, the wages Of their EN-.
ployees have been increased heavily.
The Landmark mentions this matter
not from a desire to discuss its own
affairs, but simply to show that It
is not throwing stones at eXtortion-
lists from n glass house. The facts
torestall any conference.-the
against the newspapers of Norfolk
by those who are seizing the situa.
ton to bleed the public and the en-
plcyer.
Not only do we protest on broad
grounds against the OVERRIDING of the
struggle for spc/, in the Exposition
year, but we earnestly warn all who
ieel tempted to wiring employers and
consumers like sponge that it is
mistaken and dangerous policy,
Which will surely react with force
upon the heads of all who adopt it.
In the unavoidable course of human
events, lean years will come, and
there VIII be more people looking for
employment than the demand calls
Tor and more goods on the market
than the public can buy; and where
then Will be the man who practiced
extortion In 1907? Will he deserve or
receive any sympathy? Will 1t not be
human nature for the victims of Ex.
position-year hoggishness to cultivate
III the ldIcr years
with those who are not remembered
as ruthless users of the thumbscrew
when the hand of the paying public
was under it?
! The Exposition year in Norfolk and
In the surrounding district is a time
which calls for the exercise of res.
traint in taking profits. This applies
10 the butcher, the restaurateur, the
\ hotel manager, the various labor or.
carnations. and all who have the pub.
lie at a disadvantage on account of
the peculiar conditions now prevail.
ing.
The wise man will exercise some
OF this restraint. He will look a lit.
tie ahead of his nose and remember
that he may have more than one year
',of life before him.-Norfolk Land.
mark.
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