The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-09-06
COST OF LIVING MUST BE LOWERED.
Cincinnati Enquirer

sensible men don arr9lgn them
selves in opposition to all trade com
binatlons, nor do they classify then
as all Objectionable.
They recognize that there ar,
trade combinations that are bene
fetal, not only to those in direc
participation, but to the nation and
to tie world as whole.
AS examples of such may be cited
all combinations, leagues or associ-
atoms looking to pure food supplies,
all such combinations formed with
a view of the extension of the arts
industries and commercial relations
between the various nations of the
world, or between the different
portions of the same country.
There can be no difference of OBJ
inlon, however. as to the baneful,
the injurious, nay they can be class
ed as criminal, effects OF combina-
lions formed to restrict the supplies
of food of the people of any district.
any nation or any continent.
The fact that these combinations
are classed as commercial or trade
associations gives them no license
to produce then excessive profits at
the cost Of our citizens. either col
lectively or indidually.
For more than year past our
people have offered protest after
protest against the exorbitant
prices of living in this land OF pIen-
ty, but their protest as yet have
produced no relaxation in the pro-
cess of extorting excessive prices
for supplies of the staple articles of
their daily food.
1t has grown to be n menace to
our entire industrial situation. to
our peace and prosperity in the
cities Of our land and to our ability
to transact business abroad in the
outputs of our manufactures
That these combinations TO exact
undue profits do exist there is full
evidence, and yet, despite the &C
tivlty of state and national officials
no relief from there exaUlons las
yet come to the masses Of the peo-
pie.
Dear food makes dear lroduc-
ton, and finally kills business that
employs large numbers of people.
Dear food may exist under nat
ural conditions such as are found
in unproductive, isolated districts
as mining camps, pioneer stations
or in countries swept by virulent
disease where inhabitants arc IN
able to obtain supplies
That the people Of the United
States, in the very midsts of the
haryests, in the very center of the
most productive region Of the globe,
amply furnished with transportation
facilities, free from pestilence, full
of energy and yigor, are held up
daily by trade combinations, forcing
them to pay unpr ecedented prices
for the products Of the land they live
in, is almost past belief.
Yet that this is the case the
household bills of every family in
the cities Of the Union give full and
direct testimony.
1 is high time, full time that the
food supplies Of cur people be freed
from the control of these combma-
tions, which are paralyzing the in
dustrial population of the country
and tlreatning the peace and pros
perity Of all classes through their
avaracious oxactions.
The Mountainer was establish
ed eighteen years ago by Col.
Matt M. Cooper and Mr. w. III.
Greer both dead now for sever
al years. Mr.. c. +. Prckitt.
their successor, passed from
earthly scenes two years ago.
and Mr.. W. p. Kerwood, who
become a partner of Mr.. Prick
H. Ln..