The daily Alaskan., 1917-01-16
By ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Capital VIII Go Dry.
 By ARTHUR w. DUNN. Washington, Dec. 25. -LspeciaLl- There is no longer any attempt to play politics with the high cost of living. No one goes so far now as to say that the high cost of living was caused by the protection policies of the Republic ans or the low tariff policies of the Democrats. Both parties have tried to make their opponents responsible for the high cost of living. In the cam palgns of 1910 and 1912 the Democrats asserted with the utmost posidveness that the party then in power and Its tariff policies caused the high cost of living. In 1916 the Republicans talked about the increased cost Of living, and many asserted that the party ln power had done nothing to relieve the situa- ton and that their legislation had been followed by constantly increased cost of living. But no one takes any stock in the political side of the subject Matter of Distribution.
 In the paper hearing before the fed eral trade commission 1t was shown that the apparent shortage might be met by proper distribution. So 1t may be found with food. Perhaps it will be found that the food supply is not properly distributed; also that there Is a determination of handlers of food to make undue profits. It may turn out that those who are trying to make so much money out of present conditions | will overreach themselves Nothing tends to government control and state Socialism to quite such an extent as | famine on one side and cornerlng Of the necessaries of life on the other by those having temporary control
 Washington Going Dry.
 It is only a question of time until Washington will be dry as other prohi- bition territory. The determination of the prohibitoniSts to make the nation al capital dry is not to be stopped, al- though 1t may be postponed for time. The constantly increasing number of dry states and dry communities l throughout the country makes more members vote dry whenever the propo, sition Is presented.
 It is doubtful whether Washington will be dry all at once-that Is, that drastic legislation preventing the per sonal possession of liquor will pass, ! but at all events the saloons will have l to go.
 Repeal Oeo Tax7
 Now comes Congressman Aswell of Louisiana and offers bill to repeal or reduce the tax on oleomargarine ln \ order to reduce the cost of living. What! say the farmers. Are you going to injure a most important farm In dustry? The oleo tax will stay.
 They Don't Mix.
 There are elements in the Demo cratic party that do not mix or har' monize. The clash between Fitzgerald of New York and Bob Henry of Texas shows that there Is just as much diff ference among Democrats as among Republicans. The only reason that 1t does not figure in the Democratic par ty is because President Wilson forces those elements into agreement for vot- ing purposes.
 Make Bryan the Editor.
 Senator Owen of Oklahoma has in- troduced q bill to establish a govern ment owned and conducted paper so that governmental ideas may be accu- rately set forth and to such an extent as to give the people a view of what the government Is doing. The sug- gestion originally came from William J. Bryan, and quite a number of news paper men are giving 1t a further boost and suggesting that Bryan be made the editor.
 Monuments For Great Men.
 A bill passed the senate one day for & monument to Matthew FOntaine Maury for the reason that he was practically the originator of the pres ent weather bureau. It would not have passed but for the personal ap- I peal of Senator Martin of Virginia. Senators cannot resist Martins ap- peals for Yirginians. But Senator Shoot said that there were siGty-seven l bills for monuments which would cost many millions. He thought this was no time to take money out of the treas ury for monuments.
 Clapp's Question.
 During the discussion of bill which would mean taking more money out of the treasury for officers who served in the civil war Senator Clapp of Mime. l sota made this inquiry:
 Does the senator approve of the act of the last session placing $40O,OO0,000 upon the backs of the people for the army and navy in times of profound peace?"
 Bryan of Florida. who was inter rogated, did not approve 1t. In fact, there are quite a number of men in congress who are beginning to wonder whether the country is going to get | the worth of all that money, especially