The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-13
HOW ABoUT THE PEOPLE?

Whenever the government of the
United States has found it necessary
to call upon the people for support of
that governments plans, it has met
with a ready and hearty cooperation.
Witness the oversubscription to the
two liberty loans. the food conserva-
ton campaign, and the acceptance of
the meatless and wheatless days. Now
this is as it should be. and every true
American is glad and willing to help
the country in every possible way,
financially as well as morally. But,
say the Christian Science Monitor,
There is another side to this question.
If the people are willing and glad to
cooperate with the government. sure
ly the government can do no less than
be willing to cooperate with the peo-
pie. But has this been the case?
When the food bill was delayed by
congress, congress was severely crit
icised by the press of the country for
preventing the food administrator
from giving the full benefit of his
wide practical experience to help the
people by the lowering of the cost of
Hoover's plans were already laid, and
that ne was only waiting for the word
from congress in order-that he might
act freely in behalf of the people and
relieve an almost unbearable condi-
ton of things. The Food Admins
TRAITOR has had the full permission of
Congress for unhampered action for
almost two months. Has there been
any reduction in food prices? After
calling attention to the high prices of
various articles of food in Boston the
Monitor continues:
Now none of these things are lux
uries. They are all absolutely neces-
sary for the maintenance of the fam
tly. Yet, when some milk dealers in
Boston undertook to sell milk to the
people over the counter at the price
or 10 cents per quart, which, by the
way, was considered a high price a
year or so ago, imme diately the food
administrator in Boston was notified
that it caused a hardship to certain
of the small milk dealers. They were
promised relief if hardship could be
proved. They are now getting the re-
lief in an increased price. The same
thing obtained when the coal produc-
ers notified the government that they
were mining coal at a loss, on exist
ing prices. An investigation followed
and Washington authorized them to
raise the price of bituminous coal As
cents ton. This was only setting
the example
Shall we now have a host of other
producers and contractors, making
the statement that they are doing
business at loss, and somehow get
ting the ''relief" desired? How about
the people? Is there no relief in
sight for them? The producer says
he has to raise the price of goods be-
cause of the high cost of labor. This
is going around a circle it seems, for
the laborer demands higher wages in
order to meet the high cost of living.
Let us get down to facts in all this
abundance of everything that is nee
essary for the maintenance and com
fort of the people in this country If
the government can conscript mill
lions of young men for military serv-
ice, surely they can conscript those
unfit for military service and outside
the military age, and place them in
positions that need to be filled for the
/ benefit of the whole people.
Secretary McAdoo thinks cit is a
great honor to announce to the
American people that the second lib
erty loan is an overwhelming success -
The American people would consider
1t an even greater honor to the gov
eminent, now that this crisis is past.
If that government, instead of MAX
ing any more promises and appoint
ing more commissions and commit
tees, would buckle down to fight this
battle of the people against the high
cost of living, with the same vigor and
effectiveness that the people have
second liberty loan a success.