The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-05
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

mingham. I hope rationing VIII never come here, as it has already done In England, but unless the American peo- pie learn thrift and cut out waste we are headed for 1t if the war goes beyond 1919
 Price fixing is about as popular as reg ulation. The American people have been so independent and revelled so long in freedom that it isn't easy to come under the yoke. We have yet to learn the les son of discipline which Europe has al ready learned.
 There is no use and little patriotism
 in kicking against the governmental bricks which are. puncturing some of our long cherished rights. It is a time when we must submerge our individual wants in the interest of the whole peo- pie. We cannot always go through ffs having our own sweet way and doing s
 we please. The war has changed all 9{ that The soldiers should not be the only ones to sacrifice It's up to the civilian to do without some things. Self denial Is hard lesson to learn, but l be- lieve Americans will learn it, when 1t dawns on them that it is a necessity i'll order to lick the Kaiser
 Now food regulation isn't any more popular than any other kind of regula- tion. For years the saloons kicked against being regulated and fought early olo he endorsement
 of Sunday closing laws, but when the prohibitionists got out of the long haired stage and gathered strength in city, county, state, and national legislative halls, it was quite willing to be regu- lated, and wanted certain restrictions put upon it. But the reform from with
 in came too late.
 For years there was talk of regulat- ing over some learned discussions of the subject. But what Is the use to bring up an unpleasant thing like the long strug- gle between the railroads and the ship pers, and the public. Evidently the President did not think that those 1T,
 
 tems were meeting the war needs and so overnight the government assumed control, and friend McAdoo has been
 given about the biggest job ever tackled by a modern captain of industry. I do not know what is in store for the coal operators, but if they can read the ci of ba hav wi tbnif , houses in order, for Uncle Sam may get them between sunset and dawn. I have heard some of the big operators say they would not care. 1t is hard to get at the real truth, but I am sure of one
 thing, that any thought that may be lingering in their minds that present
 conditions are satisfactory and that they
 can continue without fear of being taken over has gone glimmering It is liable
 to happen any moment.
 The packers are realizing that the United States is in no mood to be trifled with and that the government is not go- ing to put up with any more Spanish American methods of meat supply, ano all this in the face of the patriotic as sertions of the meat kings that they are willing to turn over their plants at any time the authorities see fit to take then and operate them. The public somehow does not feel that it has had fair treat ment at their hands and is anxious fol 1 the probe to uncover the past as well as provide for the future against any com !; ;,, oP
 
 | The sugar manipulators have already read the handwriting on the wall, and I in spite of the fact that some of the bis 1 refiners are trying to discredit Hoover 1 and the investigation the public ha! 1 caught on to the fact that the how ] comes because some of the mare having ! their poclxetbooks flattened. Does any ont 1 of common sense believe that We coule concerns had been permitted to go or unmolested.
 l Now, I do not pretend to be wise
 enough to sit in judgment on the mer and the issues and deliver fair judicia I opinion as to regulating the big indus tries or controlling them through gov i ernmental interference. The times art out of joint l do not know that it's tn, l part of patriotism and wisdom for tht ! industrial leaders to try and smooth out and compose the situation. for these bs war times and the temper of the public
 is not going to be readily appeased bA | subterfuges or makeshifts.
 l Price fixing Is always sure to brint 1 about much confusion, and in many in ! stances works hardships on individual ] and corporations. But the dollar pur chasing power being cut into calls for ; l readjustment of many economic prob \ lems Price fixing involves the risk 0 I stopping certain lines of business alto gether by being too high in the case Q maximum prices and too low in the cas- \ of the minimum ones No man can b. Il compelled to carry on a business at ; \ loss, though some people think that foot 1 dealers should be compelled to do so. / | great hindrance to fixed price is du
 to the intricate interdependence of diff ferent trades.
 T It's up to us as good citizens to co operate in every possible way with fed eral food board of Birmingham, whicl T has the difficult and unpleasant task o fixing prices. I do not envy Chairman Paul Earle his job yet he goes abou 1 # u,ith tha convict on that if Is hie dut