Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-09-09
HOT AFTER THE THIEVES.

The United States Government Is
to-day hot ,ftpr a certain class Of
business men Ill over the country
men termed uJsineSS men, but in re-
ality nothing more than commercial
pirates, petty thieves who prey upon
the unfortunate ones caught between
the upper and neither grindstOneS'
in the peculiar situation growing out
OF the inhuman warfare being wagcd
in Europe. The action Of the general
government has had a very statutory
effect upon commercial conditions,
for a general rise in prices all along
the line was tOrCtOld, and it was evil
dent that a general campaign Of
amaSSing fortunes by reason of the
unfortunate situation was being
planned. There are certain men and
agSregatiOnS Of men ever ready to
turn u national or an international
calamity to personal advantage. ag-
graVating the SuffcringS OF people,
adding to their burdens, pressing
them ever harder and still harder to
the wall. if thereby they can add to
their own comforts and magnify the
wealth that they have accumulated.
Fortunately for us, our gOvernmCnt
is wldc-awakC to these things and
ever watChruI over this class Of bust
ness men, and to-day they are being
hailed into court to defend themselves
against charges Of unwarranted
price-raiSing.
Speaking along this line. and in
connection with the 81 cases made
out against commission merchants
and wholesalers in the District OF CO.
lumbia, the new Federal Attorney
General (Gregory) says:
"Under conditions now existing
throughout the world, capitalization
OF misfortune and oppression of our
own people by the arbitrary increase
OF the prices Of foodstuffs is so pc
culiarly reprehensible that, whenever
convictions can be obtained, the gov
ernment will insist upon sentence OF
imprisorlent-nO fine or no civil
remedy will be deemed adequate"
:. = 4 rCfcr In the DuOD'r Of his
oou.'ry o know 'hnt. even though we
az. p"sat by thousands ever ready 10
grasp rslipnW misfortune and tu.u
? Z to 'hojT own advantage uy Inurnas-
! lax Its hUrIshIps 'eN-fDld ihcre
stands at the head OF the nation a
| man of big heart and big soul, ready
to put the mighty machinery Of a
mighty government in motion to pro-
tect the weak against the strong who
would oppress. This speedy action on
the part of the general government
can but command the admiration of
political friend and foe alike, for, as
Mr.. Wilson so aptly says is not
"country greater than any party"?
Mr.. Wilson has risen above party
in two recent in hl,
in Mexico. where his policies were in
direct opposition to many OF the lead
ers OF his own party. and in the pres
ent emergency. though there be no
party aspect to the question. His
Mexican policy, hOoted at and derided
by men high in the councils of both
great parties, is to-day recognized as
the policy Of a far-seeing statesman
who Is not ashamed to mix Christi
anity and humanity with his states
manShip.
With such n man guiding the ship
Of state, even under conditions thai
may we'll inspire grave concern in the
heart OF every citizen, we may feel
that comparative ease that comes
from the knowledge that our govern
mcnt Is in strong and safe hands;
that, come what will. we shall emerge
from the misfOrtuneS of the times
with our people saved from unwise
cntanglemcnts, saved from the ma
chlhauonS OF our own unprinCipled
ones, ready to advance along all lines
OF ciNiIiZation, commerce and indus
try with renewed energy, and with
the assurance always that the integ-
rty OF the nation will never be sacri-