The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-26
FIXING THE PRICES.


ances of Attorney General Wickershan,
are regarded as extremely signid-
cant" We should think so: but sig
nifcant Of what we are not exactly
sure. They go ahead OF anything that
has yet been proposed by the most
radical of the "reformers," and will
have the effect, it is hoped of extend
ing and confirming the view now held
by q very respectable number OF per-
sons that too much OF a good thing
is TOO much. Mr. W!ckersham is re-
ported TO be much surprised at the
way his suggestion that the Govern
ment should regulate prices has been
taken; but some of the statesmen at
Washington. notably. of course. most
OF the progressive Republicans, favor
Federal price regulation" Even so
eminent conservat tive Progressive as
Senator C!app. OF Minnesota. has
reached the conclusion that sooner
or later Congress Will be forced TO
take steps for the regulation of the
prices charged the consumers by great
combinations of capital. When any
combina ton" SAYS this deep thinker.
secures a monopoly on anything the
people have to use, then the people
through the regular channels OF Gov
eminent have right to step in and
say what prices they shall pay"
That's it exactly; and the sooner the
better. There is the matter of rice.
for example; one of the staple crops
of this country. and crop that can
he grown in only one part Of the coun-
Try y great deal of capita, is re-
CURED in this industry. and it is sub
iect to many natural and unavoidable
perils; but 1t is thing the people
want-pity more OF them do not use it.
and it can be controlled by the
planters who make IL Last year there
was talk of proceedings in the United
States Courts against the rice growers
Tor combination they had made for
the manipulation OF the market end
the fixing of prices.
Then, there is cotton 1t. too is
tnuch In demand not only by the spin
ners ana weavers of the North but
by the spinners and weavers Of the
world. 1t can be produced only in
the Southern States OF the Union, and
to advantage in not all OF these. Cot
ton growing is a natural monopoly. so
to say. The people must have it. The
growers can raise little or much of It
as they please. and sell 1t for what
they think II is worth without regard
10 the wishes or necessities OF those
who must have II to keep their fac
tories going or of the people who must
have cotton sh!rtings wherewithal
they may be clothed. There has also
been talk OF appealing to the courts
against the alleged exactions OF the
cotton growers who We're not willing
TO sell a t the prices the people" who
use the stsp!e thought they could
afford TO pay. Every year in their
oranges or unions or associations. res
olutions have been adopted declaring
1t to be their purpose to hold their
cotton until! 1t was worth. say. Is cents
the pound. or Whereabouts. and their
agents or representatives, have gone
about the country preaching from the
text: Hold your cotton for ! 8 centsw II
was OF this Issue that Ellison Durant
Smith, OF South Carolina. was elected
United States Senator and acquired
the soubriquet "i5-Cent Cotton Smith :"
Instead OF being ashamed OF the part
he played in encourag !ng the organ
ization of this monopoly he is proud
Of it, as ne ought to be. Here comes
Senator Clapp, OF Minnesota, a State
in which cotton cannot be grown, with
the announcement that when any
combination secures a monopoly on
anything the people have to use. then
the people through the regular chan
ne!s OF Government have right to
step In and say what prices they shall
pay Snail pay for what belongs 10
somebody else. II the Government can
FIX the price Of cotton-it will he re-
collected that the Department or Agri-
culture has been repeatedly charged
wath manipulating the crop reports
with the result that IL has practically
4'Aeu lHe pFlce-Wny cannot the Gov
eminent 90 one step further and pre-
scribe the acreage the farmers shall
devote TO the cultivation OF cotton.
and thus, by directing the acreage.
control the supply and the price at
which cotton shall be sold?
1t is SO with sugar and tobacco. and
with all the other crops that are
grown. The people who make thes,
crops could form monopolies II they
would. and II there should be Fedora,
regulation of prices as TO one produc,
why should there not DC Government
regulation OF prices as TO all products
With a Federal commission TO ns
TIE prices OF everything" says the
New York Herald. "a few giant cor,