The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-07-03
COST OF LIVING.


necessaries of life despite the busi-
ness depression that exists through
ont the country. Not in ten years
has the number of unemployed been
so large in this country as it is today
Actual want exists in many of the
large cities Of the country. In New
York thousands of children are starV-
ing and in the industrial centers the
laborers are having to deny them
selves all of the Injuries and many OF
the necessaries of life in order TO
make both ends meet During the
past six months the number Of fam
lilies who have been elected from their
homes for non-payment of rent has
been alarmingly large.
Inevitably the result Of the business
depression has been a decrease in the
demand for the necessaries OF life.
The heaviest buyers of the staples
have been forced to economic in their
purchases. They must meet reduced
wages and shorter hours with the
strictest economy and not infrequent-
" with actual suffering. This brings
us to the point of this discussion;
Why then with decreased and stead
lily decreasing demand should all OF
the necessaries of life continue to
sell at inflated prices?
There has been no appreciate re-
duction in the prices of feed stuns
since the beginning of the depression
last fall. Although the demand has
been less, merchants have complained
Of duh business and slow collections,
high prices have been maintained,
Not in years have the prices of COM
modities been higher in this country
than they were last summer and they
are just as high now, despite the in
ability of a large portion OF the BUY
ing public to purchase as literally as
they did a year ago.
Probably similar situation never
before existed in this country. 1t
cannot be maintained that the high
prices are due to any scarcity of pro-
duction. According to the general
rule and to the experience of the past
where there has been no reduction in
the supply but decided decrease IN
the demand lower prices have result
ed. Wherever the purchasing power
of the public has been impaired with
out a corresponding impairment OF
the supply lower prices have inevlta-
bly, followed. Present conditions
would seem to be the exception that
proves the rule above stated for the
experience of the past has demonstra'
ted the contrary of the present situa-
ton.
During the panic Of 1893 and 1894
prices of all commodities in general
use were lower in this country than
they had been at any time since the
war between the States. Just as soon
as mills and factories began to re-
sumo operations and buyers com
menced to place liberal orders prices
started the upward tendency that
reached climax in the autumn OF las
year.
In view of these facts and the well
known economic rules that have gov
erned prices in the past 1t is manifest
that the high prices now prevailing
are unusual and indefensible. There
ought either to be revival OF busl-
ness or prices should go down. With
work scarce and hard to obtain, with
thousands already out of employment,
with the usual summer dullness upon
us there are thousands upon thousands
of families in this country who are
going to suffer for the actual neces-
saries of life if the present extortion-
ate prices are maintained.