Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-08-17
PAGE SEVEN

exploitation profitable 1t may be as
|sumed tina: these forces will do moth
ing to smooth the way for proper en-
forcemert of the law, but on the
other hand will do all they can to
make enforcement difficult. The out
come will hinge very largely, assum-
ing that Hoover is the right man IN
the right place, upon whether the law
contains teeth that are numerous
enough and sharp enough to make
this obstruction dangerous.
1t is figured that the middlemen
will continue in business. A part Of
his oldtime profits, however, will go
to the grower of foodstuffs, who has
been the under dog for many years.
Then, after the middleman has been
allowed his own just profits, it may
be that there will not be a great deal
left for reducing the price to the con-
sumner. This question. as already in
dicated, cannot be answered definite.
ly at this time, although there is q
disposition to believe that retail prices
will not show any marked decline 70:
some time. But the plan as finally
evolved will be economically Just to
all concerned, which makes a good
beginning.
II the law Is really workable it IA
therefore seen the United States with
the war lasting even one more year,
will have an opportunity to make an
experiment which promises to revolu-
tionize our economies to the extent Of
whipping out the middleman a. he
now is known, giving the farmer
living wage and not making the bur-
den heavier upon the consumer. It
is possible that the consumers burden
will be lightened somewhat.
II the law should remain in forcs
after the coming of peace. when pro.
duction is again cheap, It is predicted
that 1t will be lightened considerably.
With this experiment lasting for q
year, and it is more likely to last two
years than one, the country will know
whether the government can handle
food distribution better than private
capital has been handling 1t. That It
can do so is not doubted, and in this
thought is found the motive for the
fierce opposition the bill encountered
in the senate.
Chaos VIII Disappear.
II the government. during the war,
can bring about equitable distribu-
ton, at fair prices and fair profits,
with the promise in time Of decreas-
ing retail prices, the chaos Of unreg-
ulated private control will not reap
pear after the waf. The farmer will
no longer be compelled to pillow under
his food crops because the middleman
will not buy them, nor will the city
consumer. while the crops are being
plowed under, be compelled to pay
almost famine prices for the necessi-
ties OF life.
The government IL already stop
ping the waste at the garbage can.
through cooperation with housewives
and hotel keepers. Under the new
law It will endeavor to stop the waste
that has come through methods Of
food distribution which are an out
growth Of the past.
The food manipulation ID no better
and no worse than other men, but hc
has been more sorely tempted than
most other men. Most Of ~ would
probably do az he has been doing II
placed in his environment. The now
law will seek to remove the tempta-
ton, and cause the activities Of this
class OF men to operate In . way that
will not Cypress the public.
The waste and injustice Of present
methods Of distribution will be ended
voluntarily. II possible; the middle
men will be given an opportunity to
cooperate: II they decline it. the Law
will be invoked and there Will be liti-
CATION to determine Just what the
rights Of the public are - against the
self-constituted rights Of the class
that for so many years has been add
ing enormously to the burdens Of
daily life.
win Bring Middlemen to TeG1ns.
The sections against boarding and
monopolixing will be depended upon
to bring the middlemen to terms,
either voluntarily or through the
courts. Hoover has surrounded him
self with volunteer assistants Of an
unusually high type, who, like him
self, are giving their services to tho
country without pay. Many Of them.
also like him, have come into govern
ment service at great financial sacrt-
fee.
They have been called the best body
of men the war has brought to the
national capital. Hoover has the adj