The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-22

THE HIGH COST OF
LIVING MACHINERY SPEEDS
UP-PREPARE FOR IT
(Atlanta Georgian. ;

set your mouse IN order. ms
commandment was given forward
looking people centuries ago. And il
was never more pertinent 10 the af
fairs of mankind than today.
Only a few weeks ago the public
was crying out, almost Historically
about the high cost of living. People
liked the idea of war orders and war
profits and increased prosperity
through the sale of munitions and
Il odstuffs to Europe
They did not object to dancing 10
war music. But they baked at pay
ing the orchestra.
in war times, however. demand be-
Genes paramount. The war gods call
for food. ammunition, clothing and
equipment of numerous kinds. And
they will net be denied The ele-
ment of price becomes a secondary
matter.
So prices go up, because the de
mand is urgent. Buying predomi-
mates overseeing.
War increases the demand for the
neeessaries Of life without adding To
the supply
and now with great information
al crisis at hand and big railroad
strike threatening, we find our
selves confronted with still more ag-
grarated problems of living.
II the worst does come, then we, a
young and care-free people, will
have need of new kind of prepar-
edness. This will be to school our
selves to do with less--to eat less
and more carefully; to conserve our
strength and our money and ur
credit.
This does not mean to cut down
expenditures, but to make them more
wisely. To take the substance and
let the shadow go. Don't be pessi-
mistic. as things will right them
selves in due time. Cheer up-but be
sensible and look facts in the face
1t will be discipline of kind not
taught on military parade grounds
We will have to learn to buy only
those things we have need of rather
than those we want
Prices soar Some commodities may
have reached their limit. But, II so,
others will advance.
Beans and bacon and flour. Yes
they are high now. But If the gov-
eminent enters the market to pur
chase supplies for an increased army
and navy, who knows how high they
may go?
Soldiers must also have fresh beef
canned beef, salt fish. potatoes. rice.
dried applies. dried prunes, coffee
and sugar Hominy. too, is general
~ in their rations.
Then, soldiers need clothes. wool
en- suits and khaki. Shoes also are
necessary. This will create an in
creased demand for wool and cotton
and leather. all of which will go
hiaher
Only peace In the land or the hand
of divine intelligence can prevent 1t.
So set your house in order and
make ready for discipline.
because, if war does not come, you
may have need of it, anyway
While foodstuffs and the necessar
les of life are not likely to jump as
in the case of war. they are likely
t. remain at high level while the
.ereat cCnfiagration across the Allan
tir continues to consume the prod
ucts of half the globe.
ii is big fire that will light the
pages of many volumes Of history.
but it will be an expensive edition
/ However. the plain people OF Geor-
gia may congratulate themselves CT
the United States can keep out of 1t.
And so can the grocer. For when
prices take war wings. foodstuHs
make themselves scarce.
War has become a starvation
game England is trying to starve
Germany and Germany is trying &c
starye England.
And If America should go to war
some of the poor in this country will
let. -, r1rS