The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1914-08-13


precedent for this it is only necessary to call
attention to the fact that England is preparing
to provide national work for her unemployed,
since the outbreak of war has intensified that
problem for her. If England, at war, can do this
for her unemployed, the United States, at peace,
and in a position to vastly increase its national
revenues by itself being the agent for selling our
surplus products abroad, can undoubtedly do as
much for it's unemployed.
For government to so regulate prices of
necessary commodities and to take over the en-
tire surplus of such as is not consumed at home,
is not so new as some might think. Govern
ment has already established standard price for
gold. The miner bringing his gold to a govern
ment assay office receives in return for each
258 grains of pure gold dollar, at the rate of
$3.50 an ounce.
Similarly the farmer, if government will ex-
ercse it's great power in the interests of human
ity in this country, could take his wheat to gov
ernment office if he found no other market for
it at, say, standard maximum price of one dol
lar bushel and receive money in return for it at
that rate In this way would the governments
surplus for foreign sale be built up.
In other words our government should now,
under the conditions threatening our country,
eliminate the at present necessary speculation by
taking over that function itself. It would be
under necessity of providing any elaborate
storage system to prevent the immediate adop-
tion of this plan as it could use the private stor-
age system already in existence in the country
in the same manner as it is now used by the
spectators.
BY the adoption of this plan widespread and
terrible suffering on the part of millions of
Americans can be absolutely prevented Peace
prices for commodities would prevail in this
country. Work for all would be provided by gov
ernment out of the sums realized on the sale
of our surplus products abroad or by additional
taxes if necessary. In this manner could the
consumer obtain the purchasing power necessary
to create the market for the producer.
If this is not done and the country goes
through all previous ones, the spectators and
farmers alone will benefit. They only will re-
ceive the vast sums that Europe is preparing tc
pay for our surplus products. And that surplus
will be increased because all others of our people
will be unable to buy as much as they have here
tofore bought and as they are inherently anc
ethcally still entitled to buy as long as our coun
try is at peace
4AC ouI1lo AcduACu 4AOIII VIC SdIc VI IIllS SUI
plus abroad and the much higher prices at home
will not get into circulation as readily from pri
vate hands under conditions. That portion
of this surplus above living expenses remaining
to the farming and the specializing classes will
represent new capital And capital is notorious
ly timid of investment during war times.
For the really best interests of all concerned
and in the name of God and humanity, wage
earners salaried workers. widows, orphans ane
retired business living on small fixed in
comes, as we'll as farmers and spectators, ou
government should now step in and establish
during this crisis standard prices for al
necessities of life; guaranteeing that these price
| shall be maximum by providing to take over al
surplus itself for foreign sale. Shutting foreig1
demand out of our market except through gov
! ernment, Europe can have what is left after ou
people fed.
There is nothing inhuman in this propositio
as far as it bears on Europe. Europe not tn
United States, has started this world war. There
fore Europe should get through it in the bes
manner it can without being permitted to max
the people of the United States share in it
suffering.
R. G. LEEDS.