Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-09

easy loans possible, and markets that
are controlled by supply and demand
| rather than by gamblers in the stock
markets.
Third, let Uncle Sam temper his
hospitality toward the castoffs of
Europe and Asia, by closer scrutiny
and by putting the pinchers on a
class of sharks that make a living by
furnishing passengers for big steam
ship companies.
A few million less bushels of
grain into booze, annually; a few
thousands more men installed as
tillers of the soil, every years; a
few thousands less of the Old
Worlds criminals taken into our
great American household-and
the thing is done.
The rum trust tells us that any sort
of law which curtails or restraints its
business of manufacturing paupers
and criminals, is "sumptuary" law
and the people" will not stand for
it,"
We support their victims and pay,
in the high cost of living. for the
grain they manufacture into home
destroyer.
Big Business can get money to put
through wild cat schemes and palpa-
BILE swindles at low rates, but the
farmer has TO pay six and seven per
cent on his mortgage, and he can't
hold his produce because interest and
the willy middle man eat up his
profits.
Here is what Col. simonds says on
the topic:
I'VE used to think % cents per husheI
Tor corn in the corn districts was a high
price; now, ii is IS cents. 1t takes rs to
lGo bushels of corn TO fatten steer. l
quarters of beef hung in Quincy Market
that it would take 100 bushels of corn per
mead to produce such meat. That means
that it costs $50 per head more to put
steers in condition with corn at 70 cents
than when it was selling at 25 cents.
"A farmer who has crop of corn fig
ures whether it is best for him to feed
his corn to live stock or sell it to the
1istillers. and at 75 cents per bushel he
generally prefers to sell it and take no
further risk.
It is the demand from distiIIers that
forces the price of corn to a high
level, and in that way compeIs the
higher prices for meats-ln other
words, the food supply is being robbed
to supply the demand for liquors.
The man who drinks to the health of
his friends is drinking to the health of
the higher cost of living, for he is
drinking grain, in the shape of
liquor, that should have been used as
food.
!. Another reason for the high cost of
living IS the immense growth of the
Oh population is nearly all in the cities
and towns, the increase consisting most
~ of consumers. 1t takes about $50 900 600
bushels more of wheat to supply this
country than it did 20 years ago If 1t
takes that much more wheat how much
more meat, butter, eggs, fish, etc. does
il take2 Just think of the enormous
quantity.
Not only has the population increased
enormously but shiploads of immigrants
are Unbiased daily at the Atlantic ports.
ana they Immediately begin TO eat and
drink food supplies. This country can
not feed the surplus population of the
world, and. you will find it out before
very long.
1.-THE Western farmer is not COMPLAIN
ing You don't hear him grunt about
the nigh cost of living With wheat
about dollar bushei, corn at Is cents
live hogs SO per 100 pounds, beef cattle
Slo per 100 pounds. lie is well satisfied"