Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-02
.PRGsipENT IN sPEclAL MgoaAAo
S1o=osSs WORLD ..cs ~.
vEsrloATloN.
INCREASE IN FOOD PRICES
EXTENDS 70 OTHER NArlope1
Sill Without Adequate Dsas Regard
less Of Former Efforts 70 Rseeis
causs-Fsdsrai Commission Aiss
Urged 70 Investigate svbjsst - ln-6
dustrial Relations.

WashinSton, Feb. a.-Presidsnt 1a1o
in = message to congress today ur8e9
an international inquiry into the higA
cost OF living. The president asked au-
thority to invite the nations Of tho
I world to Il conference In this city o.
I vestigation Of the high prices thAo
have SO distressed the people OF the
| world
Mr.. Taft also urged the appointmsnt
Of . federal commission to make
searching inquiry into the subject ~
Industrial relations"
suoussts international Conferences.
For some years past said the
president. "the high and steadily in-
creasing cost Of living has been . mat.
;; &c. .; suon sTav. rass!:::S- ce::.cce=-: :..s
/ deem it Of great public interest that
an International conference be pro-
posed II this time for the purpose oe
preparing plans. to be submitted to the
various governments. for an interna-
tional inquiry into the higi, cost Of liv.
Ing, its extent. causes, effects and pos
sible remedies.
There Il no doubt but that 4 com.
mission could be appointed Of such nm
prejudiced and impartial persons. *
perts In investigation OF economic
facts. that great deal OF very VAL
! liable light could be shed upon the rea.
| sons for the high prices that have N
| distressed the people OF the world. and
| information given upon which action
! might be taken to reduce the cost Of
| living.
Rising Prices Thruous World.
Those who have conducted investl.
| cations have found that the phenotlae-
| non of rising prices 10 almost II mot
quite general thruout the world: but
they are baffled In the attempt 10 trace
the causes by the impossibility Of maxi
Ing any accurate international com.
| par'sons. This Is because, Il. spite ne
the number OF Investigations already
made, we are still without adeQuats
data and because rs yet no two coun-
tries estimate their price levels on the
same basis or by the same methods.
| Time Ripe For Inquiry.
There should he an inquiry by the
| federal government into the general
conditions OF labor In the United States
notwithstanding the fact that some Of
tho remedies will lie with the separate
states. or even entirely outside tho
| sphere OF governmental activity. in the
hands of private individuals and OF
voluntary agencies. One Legitimate
| object OF such an official investigation
and report Is to cnlighten and inform
public opinion. which of itself will of
ten induce or compel the reform OF un-
| just conditions or the abatement OF un-
| reasonable demands.
"Unquestionably the time is now ripe
! for searching inquiry into the subject
of Industrial relations which shall be
official. authoritative, balanced. and
we'll rounded, such as only the federal
| government can successfully under
take. The present widespread interest
in the subject makes this. an opportnne
time for an investigation which In any
event can not long be postponed. II
should he non partisan. comprehensive,
thorough. patient and courageous