The weekly soliphone., 1917-02-22

felt that the mills were in collision in restraint of trade. In this assumption they were in all probability, right Papermakers not in position to face the storm ot universal condemnation being directed against them by than two thousand eWs-wrers, and they hosted the white flag indication of surrender In this n- stance the nations editors have helped themselves and the public joins but hafheartedly in the feeling of sat- sfaction yet the fight is only of thousands that newspapers have successfully conducted during the past few yeas-and it is the only fought for their indi- vidual interests
 Fixing the blame for high prices is in no the duty of the newspapers It is the duty of newspaper however, to pesstenty call attention to abnormal con- dOnS in trade circles, to the end that mulcpa state federal governmental agencies do their duty toward the ultimate consumer While millions of dollars have been unistly eXtorted from newspapers and periodical publishers prices all kinds of job stocks used in the production of stationery have continued to rsen some instances advance of three and four hundred per cent being shown. The fact that makers of news print have agreed to enormous reductions Tn this commodity is an admission of previous criminal overcharges. The only change in methods seems possible IS the fact that federal prosecutions Haunted III the races of the "higher up in the business It IS compro- mise wherein the manufacturers assume that by lowering figures efforts to land some of the thieves behind ps ed bars will be stopped and the millions already stolen soon forgotten In the meantime other millions are be- ing made through the manufacture of job stock papers These overcharges passed to the ultimate con- S}mer which, Dy-the-Way IS the only pOSolole HeIou available whereby printers make both ends meet.
 The familiar quotation that "Theres something rot ten in Denmark undoubtedly holds true with reference to food prices Millions being made overnight byI speculaors who have enough to risk few thou sand These millions, cleared passed on to the fellows who make fifty and sixty dollars month oilng the wheels of industry, and government sits III Judg nent. The proposal to make complete investigation ot food prices is undertaking and will require an army of trained and many weeks of time It Will probably be found that agents for foreign governments have bought hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain for export that millions have been invested in commod- tics essential mems comfort and physical upkeep, and that these millions from foreign countries where the insane passion for slaughter is daily receptng for tax budgets that will ultimately make paupers Of those who survive It is not for any of us unaided, to say that this or that should be done, At the same time, we all know that the fellow who produces seldom receives more than fifty per cent of the final selling price, though ne must devote weeks to the task of preparing soil and cutivating the vegetable fruit grain, the case may be- whereas, he who adds additional fifty per cent does so at the expense of few hours toll. system of marketing which permits of such disclmlnatons IS essentially wrong. Perhap the Federal Trade Commls- sion will suggest practical corrections.