The Paducah evening sun., 1910-01-12

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not only eat meat two or three times
day. but are particular about the
cut we buy. For 90 years the coun-
try boys have been flOcking to the
cities; for ten years farmers have
been encroaching on the western
ranges: and for that length of time
the city population has been multi
plvlng at a prodigious rate. while the
rural population has not nearly Kept
pace. In New England farms have
been abandoned, and the ehort 10
feed the dense population of that
section draws on the resources of all
the country.
The same may be said of other
farm products to a degree. Added
to this, no doubt, is the modern
tendency TO combination and coop
Grafton, which has concentrated the
food supply in the hands of an un-
derstanding few. They would not
be human If they did not attempt to
profit by their opportunity.
America is just reaching the stage
of development in which all her ter
ritory is being occupied. She has
not reached the stage in which all
her resources are being worked to
their highest pitch of intestifed in
dustry, as Europe has. Consequently,
we feel the pinch, and we are look
ing for someone to blame it on to.
Fortunately, at the auspiclous mo-
ment there was raised up Theodore
Roosevelt, a philosopher and a stu
dent of history, who through circum-
stances of youth was forced into in
innate acquaintance with the raw
west. lie applied his knowledge Of
history to his knowledge of the
west, and through four years of
earnest endeavor pounded into the
national consciousness the necessity
of conserving our national resources
against the time of dire need. Thus
America has been forced into her
first step toward the Capitalization
of national authority.
The curbing of the organizations
which control the output of the ne
cessities of life. and the transporta-
ton lines. is impelling us toward
another and further step in the same
direction.
Meanwhile trades unions are slow
ly but surely forcing up the price of
labor, and demanding governmental
protection in their employment, thus
arousing the public to a realization
of it's interest in the relations be-
tween capital and labor.
What is the solution of the prob
lem of the cost of living? And what
will be the outcome?
The outcome we shall leave to the
providence. that rules all things. As
to the first, we will name two solu-
tions that won't be adopted re-
trenchment in style of living and
free trade; for the first offers no
benefit and the second no relief. II
would produce a corresponding re-
duction in wages and loss of employ
ment and result only in misery and
degradation.
Unquestionably the profitableness
of farming will attract men back TO
the country during the next decade
and to a considerable extent restore
the economic balance. The other
side of the problem is chiefly con-
cerned with the working out of the
theory of democracy and the testing
of its possibilities. We are expert
menting largely in cities today with
the popular primary, the short bal
lot and the commission government
all with a view of ascertaining
how we can devise a system that
will rid us of graft and political cor
ruption and insure honest, effective
administration at a minimum cost.
When we have perfected our system
and have confidence in it, we shall
be ready to proceed on our national
mission. No economic question like
that Of the cost of living or labor
and capital, stands alone. All are
conditions of ethical development.
This is a great age in which we
are living, to a man who will spare
moment to look up from his hoe
ing