The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1914-10-01
THE eJEFFERSONEAN
PAGE ELETEY

utilized in eXcusing unpardonohio apathy in
situation that mcnaces those who haYe trusted
and elected them
surely these Congressman know that thev are
the sole ones vested with power 70 substitute re-
lief fer despair. They kEoW TIC States can net
issue the money; they rot paes stay laws;
they can not forbid the legitimate industry of
raising cotton, nor can they invest in cotton.
Our President has appeared before Congress
to argue in person many benefcent measures
which he thought and which were important to the
nation
Congress appropriated few months ago over
$300OO,000 to build railroad in Alaska fer
10000 people. 1t builds roads, erects school
houses and provides teachers in the Philippines.
Urges Wilson to Act.
ut bought millions of silver a short time since
to help the miners, and silver is but a commodity
when gold is the standard.
why can not President possessor Of un-
surpassed prestige associated by birth with the
South and presumed by Congress and the nation
to know her conditions and necessities beyond al
men-Why can not he appear before Congress and
recommend legislation in aid of his own people?
He would do SO if Southern Senators, who are by
law his advisers and obtain audience with
him at any time, will acquaint him with the situa-
ton. He could quiet the appreh ension and stiffen
the courage Of those who might fear to displease
him. He could impress on Senators and Repre-
sentatives the wholesome lesson that their first
loyalty is due to their constituents, regardless of
all other considerations"
When the prices Of foodstuhs began to soar
upward at the beginning of the European
War, we were told that the advance was legiti-
mate, that it was caused by the demand which
could not be supplied-that Europes crop was
ruined and that we would have to supply the
countries at war with food.
Since then the prices have fuctuated Just
as they always fluctuate when the gamblers
get to playing high stakes-one day big ad-
vance, and the next day a heavy slump-it all
depending upon which clique of gamblers had
the better Of the situation.
Take wheat for instance, some days the
price has varied as much as SIX to seven cents
per bushel, showing plainly that the gamblers
had control of the market.
And on top Of the gamblers hand being so
plainly shown comes a statement from the
Department Of Agriculture at Washington
telling us that the grain crop of Europe was
mostly harvested before the war commenced,
and that there is no shortage IN Europe.
In Russia there is a bumper crop of wheat,
and the war does not interfere with the harry
est for there is no fighting in Russia.
If the entire wheat crop Of Germany, Aus
tria-Hungary, and France were destroyed
there would be no excuse for such a rise in
-four, for those countries do not raise enough
wheat for the loss Of their crop to make
world shortage.
What we need in this country is a law SINH
lar to England there when there is
corner on foodstutfs, there is a commission
that has the power to seize the f0odstuhs, and
fix legitimate price to the consumer.
In England the man who undertakes to
gamble with food is looked down upon, and
dealt with.