Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-12-11

purse Oh lH6 puTCudS6E
The Utah man probably thinks as
the Democrats do, that the tariff law
has not yet had a chance to prove
anything in a price way, because it
has been in operation such compare
lively short time, but political OPP
portunity ought not be lost even if it
comes in connection with a holiday
supposed to be devoted TO prayer and
praise. At any rate, the Republicans
Of course, do not think that there is
much occasion for thanksgiving in
days of Democratic supremacy.
BIames Cold Storage.
Representative Mcclellan Of Tennes-
see, who is a Democrat, is one of
the leading proponents Of the cause
of the investigation into the high
price matters generally. The Ten
nesseean apparently thinks that
the cold storage houses are re-
sponsible in large part for the ad-
vanced cost of many food products
Mr.. McKeIlar's thought is in no wise
new. The cold storage question has
been discussed in congress and out Of
it time after time. It is believed, ap-
paTently, by al Of those who suspect
the cold storage plants Of boosting
the price Of things, that the ultimate
cost is an almost forbiddingly high one
because so much money has been put
out in intermediate transactions. This
question will be gone into specifically
by the Democratic board Of inquiry,
if it gets authorization to go TO work.
Congressman, and others, too, for
that matter, have been told that men
go through the country districts in
the spring buying up eggs for say Il
cents dozen; that these eggs are
then turned over to a dealer for say
16 cents, who turns them over to an
other dealer, a storage man, on d
small scale, for an advanced price,
and he finally turns them over to the
big concerns which can afford to hold
them for seven or eight months, and
sell them for three or four times their
original cost.
OF course the Democratic inquiry
will concern itself with other things
than eggs. Butter, beef, vegetables
and fruit are higher today than ever
they have been and the housewife
does not find it necessary to read such
a government report as that published
recently to prove that providing
breakfast, luncheon and dinner for
the family is a costly operation. To-
day they are selling three fairly good
apples in Washington for % cents.
This was the price of a peck Of ap-
pies not many years ago. Other
things in proposition" as the man said
who was sitting down to breakfast
alone, ordered {, two pound steak.
The desire 10 rest is just as
strong with the president as it
is with any member of congress. Mr..
Wilson wants to get away from Wash
ington, and so does every man on the
big hill, from the speaker down to the
smallest page boy in either house.
Vice-President Marshall has had va
cation and a good many of the repre-
sentatives have taken theirs without
leave" The president, however, has
had to curb his longings, for he
learned through many years as pupil
and as a teacher how to stay in after
hours.
New Years Reception Cancelled.
The New Years reception, the only
great wholly public reception Of the
year at the White House, has been
done away with by executive order, or
what is equivalent to such an order.
The President is tired out and he is
going south to spend a part of the
holiday season If congress takes a re-
cess. The canceling of this White
House reception led to a good deal of
comment, but there is nothing definite
to prove that a reception may not be
held next year. Many presidents want
ed to do away with these receptions,
but none of them has felt that he was
justified in cutting out the function
on the one day of the year when all
people without special invitations
could come in to shake the hand of
the chief executive and to catch a
glimpse of the glories of the interior
of the great house.
At one time the president thought
of going to Panama during the Christ
mas holidays, but this plan has been
given over because the Panama trip,
If he wanted to see the canal in all
it's parts, would probably consume
three weeks and to take so much time
would keep him away from Washing
ton during at least a week of the de-
| liberations of the lawmakers.
Some of the Democrats in congress
are rancorous enough to say that if
Mr.. Wilson had not been at the outset
in such a schoolmaster mood about
getting the currency bill passed the
measure would have gone through long
ago. The ''mean-minded ones" meant
that their colleagues were Tesentful of
the presidents methods and that the
delay in currency was the natural re-
suit of the resentment. In other
words, dragging out the hearings and
putting drags on the wheels were due
not so much to Discrimination on the
part of the senate to pass the bill as
to a desire to get even.
There is probably no soundness in
what the critics of the administration
methods have said, but it is certain,
for one only had to look to learn, that
members of congress were irritable
and snappy under the enforced grind
ing. The currency is a tough enough
subject in itself, for men have dis
agreed concerning it ever since and
probably before sea shells were a me-
dunn of exchange. An irritating sub
ject, irritating weather and irritable
members together conspired, perhaps
ugintentionally, to make Iaggard the
progress of legislation of high national
moment, and conspired also to prevent
cool and proper consideration
A Real Friend.
1t is our real friends that tell US
our faults"
That's why I call my better half
friend wife ; -