The Washington herald., 1917-02-12
Interesting Chats
From Hotel Lobbies

The automobile manufacturer who said
Gowa's roads were no good. could have
never been in the State" said F. X.
Carmichael OF Des Moines, Iowa, reg
Istered at the Raleigh. I know because
have helped to build good many roads
In my State. There is more real farming
done in the State Of Iowa than any State
in the union. and the farmers are more
prosperous than any other State
Good roads and good farming have to
go together. II farming is 10 be a sue
cess. The state of Iowa raises and sells
enough produce every year TO build an
other Panama Canal OF course there
are sections in Iowa. like everywhere
else, where the COW paths and trails are
not much account But on the whole
Iowa is far ahead of 20 per cent of the
other States in roadbuilding. l wonder
how the auto manufacturer accounts for
the large number of his cars. which, by
the way. are not at all cheap. manage to
get into the hands of IOwan farmers
and on what kind of roads these heavy
cars travel?
They could not possibly travel on the
roads he says We have. According to
his statement fish would have a hard
time getting along. 1t is inconceivable
how man in business can afford to
strike at the best territory in the West
Tor his cars. Here We have the native
inconsistency of the American. He did
not mention the fact that his own State
where the great majority OF autos are
made, appropriates less money for roads
yearly than the State OF Virginia, where
no automobile factories exist.
IF the other States in the Union would
do as well as the State of Iowa in road
building and buying autos. l do not be-
lieve the factories could supply the de-
nand. Bring your car out and see what
the State really is"'
While some of US are rolling in nros-
perity, others are struggling for what is
now a reduced ration, barely getting
enough TO live on" remarked J. G, Hin
man, commission merchant of Nash
Vile. Tenn. who is stopping at the Will
lard. Il notice that the commission mer-
chant is coming In for considers BILE
share of the blame. He should not have
all the responsibility. l know from per-
sonal experience that hundreds Of COM
mission men are not making the profit
they did when food was cheaper They
sell on lower margins than ever before.
The farmer is also responsible. He has
learned few tricks from INSCRIPTIONS
dealers and is trying his hand at the
game of boosting prices because other
commodities have risen. wages have
'iS'ii' Nht SOuHNlN DtiUt uOOOeOt IN some
parts, with money and the temptation is
too great for lots OF them
The retailer is also responsible. He
raises prices and biames It on the COM
mission man and the broker. When Henry
Ford raised the wages Of his employees i'm
Detroit lots of retailers, without good
and sufficient reason. tackled on a dime
or quarter here and there. They want
ed their share Of the workmen's Increase
and they got II without working for it.
This business reached everybody. not
Ford's workmen alone. Every one who
bought anything at the stores situated
near the factories also were stung One
great reason for the high cost of living is
the extra demand for food. The work
man never had so much money before,
and for that reason he buys more food
wastes more and is apparently willing to
pay more. More people are at the shops
and factories and the standard of living
has risen. Naturally prices have risen
also"