The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-12-01
Is EMBARGO THE REMEDY?

cause universal complaint, keeps on
sky4rocketing without any we'll DE-
fined reason, though there is a broad
cast disposition to blame the Euro
pean war for it. The war is respon-
sible for a good deal Of the material
prosperity of our country because of
the demands made upon it for mu-
nitions of war and large, quantities OF
meat and breadstuffs, but the sunprec-
edented rise in the cost of everything
to eat in this country cannot be just
flied on that account.
We are informed that in Berlin
many foodstuffs are sold cheaper than
they are here. Milk is. sold there lat
8 cents a quart, butter at SO cents for
IL pounds, bread at 8 cents for IL
pounds, and potatoes at rs cents a
peck. These, too, are paid for in the
German mark, which is at discount
of about 25 per cent or more. These
prices can hardly be duplicated in
America. Just think of us paying
1920 for a bushel of potatoes while
they sell in war-burdened Germany at
$1.OO a bushel!
There has been much talk, recently
of placing an embargo on the ship
ping of foodstuffs, and it is said that
President Wilson is, seriously consid-
ering the question. That would be a
drastic measure, and only Congress
could put it into effect, but would il
remedy the situation--would it reach
the cause? 1t might be wise for us
to look for the cause near. home. The
war, as we have said, is responsible
for some things going up in price
but not. for many things that are just
as plentiful as ever. The war is usec
as an excuse to boost prices of many
things, and the people either pay the
prices, curtail the amount they use
or 20 without. Why should thu
mothers of our towns and large citie'
have to pay more for fresh milk fol-
their children than the hausfraus Of
war-stricken Berlin, or why do oul
working people have to pay twice al
much for potatoes as they are sold fol
in Berlin? ..r VI ,..
Mr.. Jordan, State Farmers lnstl
tute Lecturer, in an address at Mont
gomery City the other DAY, suggested
that bad business methods, Ignorance
and dishonesty have much to do with
the high cost of living, and he might
have placed the emphasis on dishon
esty and unholy greed. With all oul
boasting of the Missouri hen and the
size OF her family, why should eggs
be selling at 35, 40 and 50 cents 8
dozen, and hard to get attany price
Perhaps a Chicago news item OF
November 25th might furnish an ans.
wer to this question. We are told
that one James E. Wetz, whe is called
an "egg-king", has 100000 (seven-
ty two millions) eggs locked away
from the people in cold storage. THIS
thing of cornering any food product
and holding it for speculative purpos-
es ought not to be tolerated under any
circumstances. 1t is dastafdly, dis
honest, theft Of the peoples food
for no man has moral right--and
he should not have legal right--to dc
such thing. This Chicago Wetz
fellow has the gall to tapnt the pub
lie with 'I've got 'em, what are you
going to do about it," ,.a3sn va +
Well, the Government ought to
show him and all such disreputable
warty growths on the business meth
dds of the country, what it could dc
about it, or some of these days an in
dignant and excited populace might
show him what they will do about it.
and the latter showing might be as
drastic as it would be demoralizine
and deplorable.
His business methods, if it may
by any stretch of charity be classed
as business, is the kind with varla'
tons that is doing so much to make
it hard for people to live on anything
like a reasonable wage in a country
of plenty and to spare. If the Gov
eminent will get after this class o.
food robbers and spectators and
make their methods impossible, there
need not be any hurry for placing ar
embargo on the shipping Of food
stuffs.