Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-23
Thursday, November %, 1916.
1.-THE Demand for an Embargo"


The high and continually rising
price of food and nearly all other nee
esssries Of life, is a sorrow to the con-
sumer and a daily trial to those who
must provide. With few exceptions
there has been no corresponding in
crease in the ability of consumers to
meet this extraordinary addition to>the
cost of living measured by the prices
of q very few years ago. What can be
done about it? Counsels vary, but the
favorite nostrum Of those who feel the
pinch of prices is an embargo.
If we do not export any food we
would have more for the home market
no doubt, though part OF our difficulty
at present is our inability to import
food that we have been accustomed to
get from abroad. Potatoes, for IN.
stance, are high because we did not
produce enough. The crop was very
short 70 forbid the expectation of
potatoes would do no GOOD, for nature
does that. Ii it were not for the war
and its disarrangement of all commerce
we could get plenty of potatoes
from Norway. Plainly an embargo
would not give us cheaper potatoes.
Neither would it give us cheaper coal,
milk and many other necessarles or
life that are not exported from this
country in any quantities. The high
price of labor would hardly be affected
by an embargo, yet it contributes to
the increase In cost of every article II,
which labor enters largely as a factor.
We had an embargo once and it
brought the country only poverty and
distress. 1t has given the term a sin
lister significance that it has not yet
wholly lost The country therefore
does not respond quickly to the demand
FOR an embargo. The President could
not impose it without an authorizing
Act of Congress and that body will be
very slow to take such an extreme step.
The farmers of the country would re-
gard an embargo ON food as an act
forbidding them to sell their food
where they can get the best price for
it. They would resent such a prohibi-
ton holly and the farmers of the
United States are a host that Con-
Sress is not disposed to disregard We
nave little faith that we shall see any
reduction in the prices of food from an
embargo
The war cannot last forever. The
food pinch that we feel here is trif1ing
compared with the extreme food pres
sure that bears on the inha bitants of
every belligerent country. Economy in
the purchase and use of food would d.,
much for us. This is a virtue little.
practiced by Americans, but the pres
ent is a good time for them to learn
what sensible economy can do for them
III offsetting the high price of food.
The fn,. ,Io
but the prospect for it's being imposed
Is very slight. 1t is better to seek for
other means to Offset the high cost of
1000 than to waste time and energy in
demanding an Observation-Disclosures
Press.
The truth, but not the whole truth.
However, we have no CONTROVERSY with
The distinguished editorial writer of
our big city exchange on that score.
Tor we believe discussion of an emba rpo
Is IA waste Of words. 1t is true that
Americans are paying dearly for feed
ing Europe while they kill each other.
put we are also paying for the eouin-
ment and maintenance of more do
structive host at home.
we do not refer to the 'extrayagant-
tastes of the millions who are inst
managing to exist or the necessity for
economy on the part of those who
nave been sternly driven to practice II
from the day their responsibilities he
gan. But we refer to the unforgiveab1a
waste Of Il people who permit enough
1000 grains to feed untold millions. to
be converted into worse than useless
article of commerce-an article that
breeds only trouble and poverty. that
spreads disease, robs the poor and helm
less. adds misery and pain to want
and quadruples our taxes.
why does not the editor of the phi,a.
deiphia Press and other powerful lead.
ers or thought discuss an embargo on
the grains that go into whiskey and
beer