The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-11-15
THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD DO 1T


United States has found it necessary
to call upon the people for support
of that governments plans, it has me-
with a ready and hearty cooperation
witness the oversubscription to the
two liberty loans, the food %conserva-
ton campaign, and the acceptance of
the meatless and wheatless days. Nov
this is as it should be. and every true
American is glad and willing to help
the country in every way possible, fl
nancially as well as morally. But
there is another side to this question.
If the people are willing and glad to
cooperate with the government,
surely the government can do no less
than be willing to cooperate with the
people. But has this been the case?
When the food bill was delayed by
congress-, congress was severely criij-
cized by the press of the country for
preventing the fool administrator from
giving the full benefit of his wide
practical experience to help the peO-
pie by the lowering of the cost OF
food. The people were told that Mr..
Hoover's plans were already laid, AMI
that he was only waiting for the word
from congress in order that he might
act freely in behalf of the people and
relieve an almost %unbearable condi-
ton of things. The food administra-
tor has had full permission of con-
gress for unhampered action for al
most two months. Has there been
any reduction in food prices? In Mas
sachusetts communities these condi-
tons have been noted within a day
or two; eggs selling at 65 cents per
dozen, bacon, at As cents per pound,
sugar, practically unobtainable, and
when it can be purchased, selling at a
price of from 10 to Is cents per
pound milk, selling at II to Is cents
FER quart; bread. at 10 to Is cents per
loaf; coal, usually priced at $40 per
ton and upward; and even the humble
Goldfish held, in salt, at the remarkable
price of from % to 25 cents per pound.
And so on.
Now none of these things are luxu-
ries. They are all absolutely neces-
sary for the maintenance of the fam
lily. Yet, when some milk dealers in
Boston undertook to sell milk to the
people over the counter at the price
of 10 cents per quart, which, by the
way, was considered a high price a
year ago, Immediately the food adj
ministrator in Boston was notified
that it caused a hardship to certain
of the small milk dealers. They were
promised relief if hardship could be
proved. They are now getting the re-
lief in an increased price. The same
thing obtained when the coal produc-
ers notified the government that they
were mining coal at a loss, on exist
ing prices. An investigation followed,
and Washington authorized them to
raise the price of bituminous coal As
cents a ton. This was only setting
the example. Shall we now have a
host of other producers and contrac-
tors, making the statement that they
are doing business at a loss, and
somehow getting the relief" desired?
How about the people? Is there no re-
lief in sight for them? The producer
says he has to raise the price of goods
because of the high cost of labor.
This is going round a circle, it seems.
for the laborer demands higher wages
iii order to meet the high cost Of
living.
Let us get down to facts in all this
food supply business. There is an
abundance of everything that is neces-
sary for the maintenance and com
fort of the people in this country. II
the government can conscript millions
of young men for military service
surely they a ~conscript those unfit
for military service and outside the
military age. and place them in posi-
tons that need to be filled for the
benefit of the whole people. Secre-
tary McAdoo thinks lit is a great
honor to announce to the American
that the second liberty loan l.
an overwhelming success" The Ameri
can people would consider it an even
greater honor to the government, nov