The Washington herald., 1917-02-18
Interesting Chats
From Hotel Lobbies

The threat OF the United States gov
ernment against the news print paper
combine was just what / expected" |"
said A. l.. Burkhart, paper salesman.
of Columbia, s. c., who is stopping at
the Shoreham. 81 know from expert
ence," remarked Mr.. Burkhart, that
an appeal from the standpoint of busi-
ness honesty would never get very
far. Consequently Uncle Sam had to put
his foot down. These paper men were
Gouging the life out of the small pub
Usher all over the country
Especially has this price boost af-
fected the Southern publishers. big and
little. We were not able to touch some
of the prices quoted on our regular
supply of print paper. Some of these
boys must feel like thirty cents, as they
have intimated for long time tina,
Uncle Sam was powerless. as he wss
being Gouged too. Some of the govern
ment publications have actually been
suspended because OF the high price OF
paper.
I'm 80 per cent Of the cases there was
no real reason for the enormous in
crease in the price of news stock. Max
ing all allowances, the price Of paper
used by newspapers has advanced 60
per cent over the normal raise. The
trust claims all sorts of reasons for the
unusual boost. but 1t cannot produce
facts to back up their statements," and
that is the reason the government was
able to wade in and give instructions
for indictments, which brought them tu
their senses.
'I have no doubt that Uncle Sam will
have to pitch in and do the same thing
with several other combines that are
systematically robbing the consumer.
Some of US will live to see some OF the
food barons put in jail, and some Of US
will take the law in our hands. in re-
gard to the speculators. II we went
after these pirates as we should, II
wouldn't cost so much to live"
We cannot blame the women for kick
ing against the enfranchsement Of Porto
Ricans. when we consider these people
would not know what to do with the vote
after they got It," said A. don Elitio, OF
Key West. Fla, who is registered at the
Raleigh
Personally, 1 think 1t is an insult tc
the people of the District of Columbia
and this act of the President as much
as SAYS that the citizens Of this little ter
miles square are not educated enough
or civilized enough to handle the vote
1t has not been very long since the Demo
Gratis tried to force sef-government- or
the head-hunters of Luzon, still ignorint
the civilized peoples here in this city
War measure or no war measure, Il
Porto Ricans can vote. and the Chief Elk
ecutive thinks they will revolt II the!
don't get what they really don't know
the meaning OF. 1. e.. the vote, what Ar
you people in the District going to do
So far you have protested and protested
but you did not get anywhere. The onl!
thing to do is to have little revol
| of your own.
No wonder the suffragists are kicking
but the men of the District never opened
their mouths when the bill for e1fran
chisement of the Porto Ricans came NJ
in Congress. l will wager that not on
Porto Rican in a million would know Z
vote II he saw one walking down th'
street with a hat on. And now whei
Congress wants TO pass the prohibition
bill. you are still protesting. instead o
making yourselves felt as other people
have done when someone wanted to pu
one over on them. The farther thin
is. and the less II concerns the country
the more anxious Congress is to pass II
and the less it wants to remedy thing
right under its nose. Distance lands en-
I chantment. so it seems. with an America,
body of lawmakers"