Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1916-01-28

{1vASe W WILL 1uoy Will nave tne du'
vantage Of the visitors of being on
their own floor, on which they are ac-
customed to playing.
prises Of worth. The passive sit back
and depend on the ambition Of the
Ipther fellow, supplying him with the
money, etc. These passive business
men have lost while the active men
have gained.
The monetary system has something
to do with the hi gh cost of living al
so, the speaker said. Could the pro-
duction Of gold be so monopolized
that the value of money would be
changed as the market fluctuated, the
trouble would be overcome. This idea
is impractical, however, as are many
others which have been advanced by
scientists.
eff prices are raising. are your
wages increasing proportionately -
he asked. He expressed the belief
that there would be no trouble if they
did. The question is whether the AM
erican people are working less or eat
ing more. A careful comparison of
the consumption Of foods in the Unit
ed States for thirty years. shows that
there has been marked increase in
the consumption of wheat products,
corn meal, sugar, coffee, distilled spir-
its, malt liquors and wine, while tea
and raw wool have been one the de-
cline during that time. As a matter
of comparison Mr.. Ebersole stated
that there had been a decrease OF 4
Eper cent in the number of working
| hours, an increase of 81 per cent in
wages and raise in prices Of As per
cent, but the conditions are really not
as bad as the figures would make them
appear. Also there have been added
the various conveniences of housing
and of heating, lighting, etc. Com
PARSONS have proved that conditions
4 are much worse elsewhere. A commit
tee from England found, through in
vestigations in the twin cities, that
wages were 130 per cent higher in this
country than in Europe and that
prices were "a per cent higher. ..,;, s.. g.
f. = were advanced
Eberso1e for getting more for our eff
forts. These were to produce more,
to improve the system Of distribution
and to use less. He did not advise
practicing the latter way, however,
but instead, suggested that more be
used. To help in producing more he
stated that technical training should
be encouraged and the patent laws so
fixed as to increase inventive effort.
"We are just in the beginning Of in
vention,' he said. As a means Of
improving the system Of distribution,
and reducing cost, if one-half Of the
population of the east would move
west, the cost of freight would not be
so great. Domestic science has also
begun to play an important part in
the matter Of improving distribution,
by reducing waste and making the
small amount 60 further.
The effect that the war has on the
cost of living in this country was also
shown by the speaker. The European
countries that are fighting, in order
to carry on this great struggle, are
manipulating the currency system.
England has circulated nearly half
billion in currency, France has ci-cu.
lated billion, Germany billion, Rus.
sia billion, Italy a third Of billion
and the Scandinavian countries fifty
million, making total Of nearly sew.
en- billions of dollars in new currency
put in circulation since the war start
ed. The was has affected the United
States by increasing the circulation Of
money in this country q billion dol
lars in 1915. The increase in check
fcirculation last year was 623 million
dollars. The reserve funds in the cen.
tral banks of the country was q half
billion dollars and one billion more is
i nvNl
this increase had any effect on the
priees9,V the speaker asked. He pro.
ceeded to give figures to show that it
had. In England, in June, 1914, just
before the war broke out, a certain
list of commodities could be purchased
for $25. In December, 1915, this same
list Of commodities could not be pur-
chased for less than $35, which was
an increase Of 40 per cent in year
and a half. In June, 1914, a certain
list of commodities could be purchased
in this country for $8.42, whereas in
January, 1916, it would cost $10.91.
This was an increase of about 26 pei
cent in year and half. This in.
crease will continue if the war keeps
on, especially if it continues to in.
crease steadily. Should it increase by
jumps, however, it is not likely that II
would continue, the speaker stated
On the other hand, if the war should
stop, prices might 60 down, but this
is not certain.
In closing Mr.. Ebersole urged the
business men to get into the active
class and to speculate in their OWL
business and not in the business OF
others.
President Kiewel then announced
THAT short time would be devoted to
five or ten-minute talks by local bust.
ness men. Only one responded to this
invitation, he being R. B. Millard
the club secretary, who gave talk or
1.-THE Jefferson highway, which is rout.
led through this city, but which Long
Prairie, Sauk Centre and other towns
in the western part of the state are
lAxnlained tho matfar SAYING fhat q