New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1910-02-16
The Common People Cannot be
Heard, but they are Reading
and Thinking.
NOT ENOUGH ROOM.

70 the Pioneer :Press:-Why does
extravaganza, as some contend, cause
high prices, when we have an abund-
once of everything and to spare? We
have a surplus, and ship breadstuff,
meat, butter, etc., to other countries,
and they can buy it there cheaper than
we can here.
Why does riding in automobiles
cause high prices when as a rule only
the wealthy have time to ride in them?
Why does riding in street cars cause
high prices when, as fact, it is eco
nomy and a blessing to the laborer?
It gives them chance to live where
they can the cheapest, and get to places
of business where otherwise they could
not.
Why does eating choice cuts of meat
make the cheaper cuts so high? AS a
rule there is no extravaga only
among the wealthy, and if they did
not spend their money what condition
would business be in, in g short time?
Why are some of our congressman
trying now to eliminate the tariff and
protection feature from the investiga-
ton of the excessive cost of living?
1t is easily answered.
Remove the element of protection
from our tariff laws, then monopolies,
trusts and combines would not be in a
position to fix the price of commodi-
ties; then reasonable tariff would
bring more revenue to our govern
ment; the benefit would go where it
belongs.
If, as some of the packers contend,
there is scarcity of meat, that is a
good reason why protection should be
removed.
The law Of supply and demand will
never be realized as long as protection
is given to the greedy few.
The question is asked, why unprotec-
ted articles are so high. This is east
ly answered. The laborer, the produ-
Ger Of wealth, was compelled to de-
mand more pay for days work in
order to live, and as everything that
we use is the product of labor it is
easy to see why everything became
higher and, step by step, prices have
unuccessar ily advanced, until money
is almost valueless. The laborer is
saving no more, and the farmer but a
little better, than when things were in
reach OF all.
Some of the wise ones advise leav-
ing the city and go to the farm to make
things cheaper. A few years since the
wise-acres we're recommending build
ing up large cities, factories, ETC., SO
to use up more farm products at home,
but is this remedy now, when pro-
duction and consumption are so even
ly balanced? Yes, it is fact that
cannot be disputed. If nearly all
would go to the farm the prices of pro-
duce would be as they we're once dur
ing my younger days, viz: wheat 40
cents, oats 10 cents, potatoes 10 cents,
and have known of merchants paying
to have potatoes taken out of their
Easements in the spring; butter I to 6
cents per pound, eggs cents per
dozen, as fine hind quarters OF beef as
ever were on the block for 2 cents per
pound and fine pork for 81 cents per
pound, These prices prevailed in
Minnesota after railroads traversed
our state.
These conditions we're as unequal as
they are now. The saying is, wafer
will seek a level; and 50 will prices Of
everything, by the same law, adjus,
themselves; but as long as favored
few are protected by law, can get con
troll Of the necessaries Of life, they car