The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-15
LOWERING FOOD COSTS.
Cooperation is Doing Much Toward That
End,

Philadelphia, Sept. l5r-Legislation and
proclamations intended TO restrain :he
disposition toward exorbitant prices can
have only temporary and important re-
suits because they touch only superficial
| ly, II at all, the fundamental cause of
extortioh, Peter Hamilton, vice-p president
of the Lawyers Mortgage company of
New York, said In an address here to.
day. Mr. Hamilton discussed What CO.
operation Can DO and Is Doing in Lower.
ing Food Costs" at the national confer
ence on the worlds food being held I'M
der the auspices of the American Acad.
emy of Political and Social Science
Mr. Hamilton emphasized distinc-
tion between producers and consumers
cooperation, holding that the former has
for its underlying motive the making Of
excessive profit and the raising of prices.
Consumers cooperation, he said, is born
of a pressing necessity to reduce costs.
Mr.. Hamilton described the Inaugural
tion of cooperation by the Rochdale
pioneers in 1874 and its developments
throughout the world, asserting that the
co-operator will succeed in bringing down
food prices where the legislator, the re.
former, the Socialist, the syndicalist and
others have failed.
Scarcity of supply, greatly increased
demand, one or both, are the legitimate
immediate causes of high prices" the
speaker said. Monopoly, artificial scar.
city induced by Withholding supplies
from an eager market, cupidity, employ
ing one pretext or another, are the i'm
mediate causes of extortion. But back |
Of monopoly, back of cupidity and chica-
merry, is the selfish motive of private
profit II is for this that men cheat each
other and descend to all the unfair prac-
'eformers. This is the fundamental cause
If extortion and sharp practice between
men and between nations. Indeed, il
complete analysis be made, it is the
'ause of war itself.
"0ur legislators and reformers are like
he old fashioned practitioner, franti-
ally treating symptoms with strong
measures and not effecting a cure. The
on the other hand, are good
They have the cause
nut they are short on therapeutics, and
heir remedy would be likely to throw
he patient into fits. The syndicalists,
nown in this country as the Industrial !.
Workers of the World, have, like the So
ialists, diagnosticated correctly, but ,
heir remedy would be the knife, radi- !
al surgical operation at what ever risk
D the patient.
"The co.operator is the only one
mong these economic doctors who has :
he correct diagnosis and whose remedy =
ill effect cure by removing the cause
ithout unduly upsetting the patient. He :
nows that the disease is chronic and :,
ust, be subjected to a long course of !
'eatment adapted to the patients con
tuition He does not believe in excess
We doses that may disturb the diges +,
on and nervous systems of the invalid. ;,
is purpose is a complete cure, but he :
allies that he need not hurry and does :,
IT administer his remedy faster than it !,
n be absorbed and assimilated. Thus
i'll he succeed where the others have
lied and the outcome is not in doubt
ough the time of its full accomplish n
ent may be deferred"
Mr.. Hamilton said that in the United q
ates cooperation has made sSwer u
ogress than in Europe but that it = =
ould now probably develop rapidly. :;