Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-12-25

NHVVi ouV 'hdiitN tO dli Hith' Il IS tHc gladsome holiday season when people are bent on bringing joy to the hearts of those near them, and even to those unfortunates who are homeless, or are friendless, or in tribulauOn. But in the midst of the national prosperity, with the earth yielding its richness from field, forest and mine; with even the sea giving up wealth in various forms; and with science, welded to commerce, Snatehing tribute from the very air we breathe, there is universal plaint that the cost of living is yearly growing more and more burdensome until the man with fixed income looks fearfully into the unanswering future and de- mands where this pressure on the earn ing capacity of his brain and hands is going to grow less. #
 One of the most thoughtful of the "elder statesmen at the capitol was asked recently what was the cause of the higher cost of living, and he replied that in his opinion the condition com plained of could be attributed to three things in the main, with several con- lllbulOIN NduStS. TlISi, ut DtlltNtu that this country, not to enter into conditions abroad, had reached the limit of econ omical or cheap production of farm pro duets; second, that the great increase of gold added to the wealth of the coun- try since the rich discoveries in the HlOndike and in Alaska generally, and in Nevada, with the opening of new mines in California, and with the impe tus given to prospecting and mining gen orally by these discoveries, and resulted in cheapening the value of the dollar and lessening its purchasing power; third, that there was a very general dis position, if not an actual organized com binatiOn, to advance prices to the con sumer Tn order to increase the profits of the "middleman.'
 This legislative sage did not believe that the tariff had very much to do with increasing the cost of living in this country, although it had probably help ed some. He remarked that the trou- bles complained of existed in other countries than this, in some of which the tariff was hardly factor The increas- ed cost of labor has something to do with it, although it is not very clear whether that is result or a cause of the higher cost of living. The reduc- tiOn in the hours of labor helps. The increased wants of the average cOnsum, CT, fOstered by prosperity, also helps. Other causes will occur to everyone, and need not be gone into exhaustively.
 As one of our chief executives once said, it s a condition and not a theory which confronts us. It is so obvious that every man and every woman who has to count the cost of living, feels the in- creasing burden. It IS not only that Christmas stockings will be lighter be- cause the larder needs replenishing, but it means that many things which we have come in this land of plenty to look on in the light of necessities will have to be dispensed with, or their enjoy. ment deferred. The natural question is
 What Is the Remedy?
 MT. Edison believes that the adoption of his plan to make Fpouredn concrete houses at a cost of Sl 200 for a ten room house, with the further activity of in ventive genus in making automatic ma chinery for all lines of industry, will solve the problem. James Wilson, sec Tetary of agriculture, believes that the increase in the weld of farm lands, the conservation of natural resources of the country for the enjoyment of the peo- pie and the introduction and develop ment of better varieties of wheat, corn, alfalfa, fruit and cattle. will bring the industrial millennium. MT. GOmpers be. Iieves that the right to boycott wage earners who do not belong to his Organi- zatiOn will do it. The members or the Rivers and Harbor congress are sure that nothing is required except to i'm prove the waterways. Clifford PinchOt s panacea IS conservation, as Dr. Wiley's IS preservation ''-without preserva- i've. The settler on the great public domain is likely to hOOt at the govern ment's 's ideas. about conservation. and the manufacturer of cOmestibles at Wi. ley's interdiction of sulphur and ben zoate, just as the non-union man hOots at Gompers and his Idea of a labor trust. |
 The Committee of One Hundred is preaching better sanitation and hygiene for the lengthening of human life. and | the he'd Cross is doing much the same thing. There are innumerable other pro. 1 pagandsts who all have theories, exceII. | ent in themselves sometimes, for better. | ing the condition of the race.
 Practical Suggestions
 Taking a lesson from the British Isles, | 1t has been suggested recently that CO., | operation would prove great factor | in ameliOratng the condition of the l wage earner; and that word includes al- | most everyone in this land of the free. | | have no intention of preaching a hom. | lily on this topic. and I know that the | plan has failed so often in this country that it is looked on with suspicion.
 There are some notable examples. however, where it has been success: One of these is the organization of the orange growers in southern California. where about half of the crop of 32.OOO carloads of oranges is marketed annu. ally through the growers association, which is run on strictly business ba. sis with a highsalaried manager at the head of it. The same principle followed in selling oranges for the members could be followed in buying groceries for them, if it were desired to cooperate in that way.
 Another thing which will help to make life easier will be the more general sci entifc utilization of waste. Some day power plants will be seen at the mouth