Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-15
The Food Gamblers"

1.-The Food Gamblers"
It may as well be understood that
only severely punitive legislation will
keep the food spectators in check.
1t is yet to be considered by Congress.
No time should be lost in taking the
matter up A food gambler is odious
enough in time of peace, in time of war
when the issue may turn upon
supply and prices, as will be the case
in the war for civilization to which
the United States has pledged its
entire resources, food speculator
big enough to undertake to corner the
market in any staple should be put
in the same class with the spy ana
the traitor and share their fate.
Long terms of imprisonment are
now imposed upon the monopolist
who traffic in food for his own
pocket. We shall be weakly indul-
gent if we do not insist upon a Fed
eral statute that makes death the
penalty of an attempt to corner the
market in foodstuffs essential to
successful prosecution of the war.
There would be no hesitancy about
this extreme measure to mt the CRIME
of Withholding or concealing war ma
terial needed at the front, and IN THIS
war food is fully as necessary 10 VIC
tory as shells and guns.
We have no doubt Mr..
Vrooman is right when he says:
"I am told that some OF these men are
actually in Washington today conouc,ils
a lobby against the request OF rIeslueli11
Wilson that Congress empower MIN anu
the Cabinet to take the necessary means
tn nobilize the agricultural resources OF
this nation for victory.
It would curtail their dirty pronts.
1t would put a stop to manipulation
of the market for a rise. Some mem
bers of this INSCRIPTIONS lobby are
no doubt consciously playing the game
of the enemy, others are in MS pay.
The Government should ask for no
unnecessary powers. There will be no
desire to cripple legitimate business.
With the experience of the natlons
that have been at war for nearly
three wears no mistake would be made
in putting the Agricultural Depart
mont on a war basis. The legisla-
tion desired should Of course be dls-
GUESSED in the House and Senate, but
no time should be wasted in reaching
a vote. The peoples eyes are Oh
A suffering people are looking 10
Congress to relieve them of the bufoen
of sneculator jackals. Every citizens
is willing to do his or her part IN
support of the government. The Sao
per capita war tax is small sum 10
nav for the support of good and wise
government; but shall every home
in the land pay double its living COST
to fatten the gamblers and cornerers
and price fixing markets.?
Can any government look us IN the
face today and ask us to support an
outfit that permits present conditions
to go on?
The ridiculous farce staged last
week by the Chicago board OF trace
shou,d seal that organizations fate. 1t
is natent to any reasoning being that
the price fixing game contained no
higher purpose than hope to save
their own selfish necks from the rope
of popular indignation. The American
neon,e are awakening to the oppor-
time time for disposing of some OF
their worst evils-booze and legalized
cutthroating in the guise of markets
for instance. e
Let the government justify Its
claim to war taxes by saving TO the
masses ten times the tax levy from
the clutch of these unscrupulous
traitors and parasites.