Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-02-23
SEASON OF REPRESSION

Yesterday. Feb. %, was the first
day of Lent, when fasting and abstin-
ence are enjoined for a period of forty
days, comments the Bonanza. Strict
observance of this regulation would
do more to choke off the II. c. o. L.
than all the congressional investiga-
lions and the various state legislative
inquiries. The effect would be salu.
tary If the practice were universal,
for II would carry with IL a reduction
in the indulgence in Injuries and COM
pei abstemious living that would quick.
ly convey a lesson to the middleman,
or producer, or jobber or whatever is
responsible for the present peak load
of costs encumbering the domestic
ledger. The system of conducting the
country Is based entirely on an ex-
travagant demand wholly out of parity
with the earnings OF the plain people.
who have to foot the bill of costs. That
such condition as that obtaining in
New York can exist in the country
that prides itself on being the granary
OF the world points out that there is
something radically wrong with the
system of distribution. No later than
last week the railroad managers of
the principal trunk lines met in sol.
emn conclave in Chicago to consider
ways and means to save New York,
Boston and Philadelphia from the
pangs OF starvation. These cities re-
port that their warehouses and storage
places are filled to repletion with
foodstuffs ordered and paid for by ex.
port houses. who are unable to move
their commodities for want of marine
tonnage. This detention has prevented
the local merchant from storing re-
serve stocks and the chief cities OF the
United States therefore are dependent
on the daily arrival OF foodstuffs for
the necessities of life. The account
OF bread riots in New York would be
greeted with skepticism were they re.
ported even from Berlin, Paris or |
Vienna, where war conditions place |
all commodities on an abnormal plane. |
Nevertheless, sordid truth cannot be
The producers of New
York are reduced to penury through
want OF the most ordinary food. Those
people do not crave Injuries, for their |
refer to the high price OF |
the everyday products such as pota.
toes and onions. The latter at II 10
IL cents pound and the former ut
the unheard of price of Z cents a
pound, or 1920 bushel, are enough TO
'tagger business intellect. Yet the
United States Is the supply house OF
he world, the source of the most OF
he food that goes to feed starving
Belgium, oppressed France, boastful
England and the blockaded countries
" Germany and Austria. While we
ire RECALLED daily with reports of food
regulations in tho belligerent countries
I Is also true that, providing the
blockade were raised. potatoes could
Do bought In Berlin and laid down in
New York 80 as TO yield the importer
profit Of over 100 per cent. In the
meantime economic writer's prate OF
which has not meaning for
he poor man who can only look for.
ward with horror to the possibility OF
he country being projected into the
'orrible war that is CONFUSING Europe.
the system is such that food be.
ONES a luxury in times of peace.
that will happen when wars hideous
cad obtrudes itself on the sccne7
he trunk lines will be commandered |
'r troop movements and quarter.
asters' stores, and tho consumer will
} left to the mercy Of an unregulated
cd supply.