Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-10-02
HIGH COST OF LIVING.
Republican Party Not Responsible
For Existing Conditions in This
Country is Worldwide.

The Republican party is not re.
sponsible for the high cost of living
The condition is worldwide II
Is being experienced in free trade
countries. England is dealing with
the problem, while reports from
Japan, Austria, France, Germany
and Holland show that the people OF
those countries are experiencing seri-
Gus trouble on account of the adj
vance. Being worldwide condl-
ton, it is evident that its cause is
not confined to the United States.
Without doubt one cause of the
rise in prices is the enormous pro-
duction of gold There is more
money in the world than ever before,
and when money is plentiful prices
go up. In the old Continental days,
when the country was flooded with
paper currency, it took a bushel of
readymade money to buy a peck of
potatoes. When the printing presses
of the Confederate states were turn
ing out reams of paper money it
took thousands of dollars to buy a
sack of -four.
This production of gold, like all
other causes which contribute to the
high cost of living, is not directly or
indirectly traceable to Republican
legislation or policies, or could it be
affected by a change of administra-
ton. For instance, the American
people, who have prospered beyond
any other nation on the face of the
earth, demand better surroundings
all the time. The homes in which
they live are equipped with convent
ences unknown to our forefathers.
The unattainable Injuries of CEN
fury ago are necessities today.
The production of foodstuffs has
not kept pace with the growth of the
population. Between 1891 and 1911
the population increased 49.9 per
Per cent. AS compared with the in
production Of wheat increased only
1.G per cent; OF corn, % per cent; of
swine, % per cent, and of cattle, IA
epr cent. AS compared with the in
crease in population, the production
of foodstuffs has been small.
There is also the demand upon the
part of the purchaser of household
articles to have them delivered The
expense of this delivery is a large
item in the cities and it is, of course
borne by the consumer. Then there
is the movement from the farm to
the city, thus adding to the conges-
ton in the on-food-producing cen-
tiers.
The Republican party under Presi-
dent Taft has attempted to relieve
conditions to such extent as is pos
sible through law or regulation.
Thus the express rates have been
revised and lowered, railroad rates
have been regulated, and an attempt
made to secure an International COM
mission which would Investigate the
entire question. Most important OF
all, President Taft has prosecuted
every monopoly alleged to exist in
defiance Of the law prohibiting con-
spiracies in restraint Of trade More
suits have been instituted and won
under his administration than under
any previous president.
There is a worse evil than the high
cost OF living. 1t is the enforced
idleness of millions Of workingmen,
the low prices for farm products, The
mortgages on the farms. the lack Of
employment for clerks and sales
men, the starvation and distress
which come inevitably with Demo-
cratic administration.
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