Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-26
Let the Senate FolIOp Suit.

no measure that involved dangerous dictator
.h,n or menaced the welfare of the farmer or
threatened any essential interest of the people
could pass the national House of Representatives
BY a vote of three hundred and ffty-six to five.
That is the towering majority by which the
House has set fits approval on the Food Controi
hill. Party lines were obliterated; the ordinary
divisions Of liberal and conservative melted away;
n.tty notifies skunk to its kennel; patriotism be-
cana practical; and With virtually accord the
Representatives granted the President the special
authority he has asked, and so critically needs 10
protect the nations mperiIed interests 1t is graf
flying to note that every member Of the Georgia
delegation in the House voted aye.
In the earlier stages of the discussion, a num-
Der OF Congressman were rather dubious, concern
ing the necessity or wisdom Of Food Control law.
But as fact after fact to light they realized
the gravity OF the conditions which spectators
and mouopoIists have forced upon the country
and the disaster which is inevitable unless RELIEF
and protection are vouchsafed. OF this number.
was Representative GiIlett, Republican, of Massa-
ehusetts He said that when he first read the bill
he was staggered by Its provisions.
IT belong TO that school," he continued,
which believes in the law Of supply and de-
mand hut II now is obvious that the law OF
supply and demand will not meet this situa-
ton The demand is far greater than the
supply and the demand will continue. Hoard
ers can demand any price they please. There
is a new situation in which my old beliefs do
not apply"
The case OF Mr.. Gillett is that of scores who in
ordinary times would not dream OF centering in
the Government the powers which they now grant
willingly because crisis involving the nations
security and the peoples subsistence demands it.
In the teeth OF this emergency, mere theories be-
come meaningless and insistence upon particular
privileges at the risk of the common country be-
comes reasonable.
The almost unanimous vote by which the bill
passed the House is a cheering omen of fits sue
cess in the Senate 1t is important, however that
the same forces of public opinion which fought
for this legislation in the House continue fight
ing for It In the Senate. This is matter in which
we dare not take any chance, and in which any
delay is dangerous. The clutch of the food
gamblers is at the country's throat.
During the past five months, according to con-
sentative estimates, spectators have robbed the
American people of two hundred and fifty million
dollars in the price of -four, and of vast sums in
other staples Flour has been selling at fourteen
dollars a barrel the average and at fifteen doll
lars in many places, when the highest prices paid
the farmer for his wheat and the most liberal al
Iowance for the cost of milling, transportation and
rightfuI profits warrant price of only nine dol
lars a barrel. Who gets that enormous excess?
The farmer doesn't get penny of it; the honest
manufacturers and merchants do not get penny
of IT, The only persons who share in that blood
money, wrung from human hardship and suffering,
are the bIoated greedy spectators and monopolists
who would sell the Kaiser their nations very
birthright.
It IS to end this unjust and perilous state of
affairs that the Food Control bill is designed; and
the sooner the is in operation, the better
for the peoples practical interests and for their
supreme interests in the