Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-07-12
AN EMBARGO NECESSARY.

country over the immediate result OF
the proposed embargo on exports laid
with the idea of absolutely preventing
supplies of any kind from reaching the
Central Powers. The prediction is
freely expressed that a decided drop
in the price of practically all necessi-
ties is bound to occur and that five
cent bread, with potatoes at 40 cents a
peck will be the order of the day when
the embargo is put into force, and the
enormous quantities of supplies Of all
kinds diverted from channels eventu-
tally leading to the Teuton nations, to
1.-THE domestic markets.
The mere suggestion that such an
embargo is to be enforced has had a
truly wonderful effect on prices in the
United States. How much more effect
i've along this line would be the actual
operation of the plan?
The announcement that the United
States, unless drastic measures were
taken to remedy the situation, would
mot be able to feed itself and its allies,
to say nothing of supplying the de-
mands of neutral nations, produced
such unheard-of advances in prices
that the public clamor for remedial ac-
ton became too strong to be disre-
garded, even supposing that no other
motive actuated the administration
leaders.
Be it said to their credit, however,
that President Wilson and his co-work-
ers were moved to propose the en-
barge, not only to relieve dangerous
domestic situation, but to curtail eff
fectually a source of supply through
which the Teutonic powers were per
mitted to replenish their rapidly van
ishing stores of materials essential t.
: the continuance of the war.
5 The traffic with neutral nations, upor
being thoroughly investigated, has
been shown to have vastly increased
since the war began Particularly il
this true with reference to those neu
trails adjacent to the Teutonic empire.
and the east with which supplies car
be transported across the boundarie.
into Teuton hands is proven by the
enormous quantities of food supple,
and war materials handled by neutra
importers during the past three years
The fundamental causes of the rad
ical action Of this nation with refer
ence to the embargo, are ably outlined
by the Florida Times Union as fol
lows:
Because we are at war and for NJ
other reason, the government of tn,
United States proposes to step in ant
dictate to producers and spectators
how and where they may dispose O
stuff they make or secure There il
nothing democratic in such action
but circumstances demand that tn,
wishes of the may shall be regarded
even to the detriment or disgruntIe
ment of the few. If every citizen Of
the United States was a patriot ana
, believed that this country should stant
as a great mass of men for its gen.
eral principles, there would be no nee(
for embargoes. The patriot, when con
;, WINGED that foodstuff and other nee
essities shipped to Holland and Nor.
way and Sweden, perhaps. are re-ship-
ped as quickly and as rapidly as pos
sible to the enemies of the United
States they would refuse such ship
Iments To give comfort to the enemy
is suicidal in its effect, and a patriot
would not consider the proposition. Bu
there are enemies of the country. with
III the country Very closely allied
with the big industries and the great
corporations that handle commodities
n1quantity are men who are ready tc
sen the land they pretend to respect
for the mess of pottage. That there
are some who would perhaps play into