Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-11-10


 Little Rock, Nov 9.-No more in- portant statement dealing with eXces- sive profits has ever come from the government than that contained in a 1 special pamphlet gotten out by State i Food Administrator Hamp Williamh, i entitled "Profiteering nI Food Is a i Crime.' It is addressed for the very :! thoughtful consideration and careful deliberation o fthose who believe in the doctrine of justice and equality, l who appreciate fair treatment, and who should practice the gospel of the Golden Rule.'
 After emphasizing the importance of food, acknowledging the high cost of living, demanding the conserva- tion of foodstuffs and declaring "food will save the world," MT. Williams says:
 Excessive Profit Not Justified. i If you are conducting big fur nlshing store and selling food on time from year to year, quit it now while you have good excuse. The profit you are allowed to make under the rules of the United Stateh Food Administration will not justify long terms Furthermore, you are not justi- fled in adding from 40 to 100 per cent profit for charge and delivery If you must sell on time, charge cash and carry price and add a legal rate of interest for the time you wait. If deliveryes made, charge reasonable price for that also.
 1 Landlords, Attention. "f you are an owner of a big plantation and merchants refuse to sell your tenants on credit at cash prices, furnish money to pay for this food and charge legal rate of inter- est until paid. You are safe for your money. The crop is on. your land. You can hold it. You State Crops may be a allure, in which event the tenant cannot pay. They can come nearer paying for food sold them at cash price than they can at extort- ionate prices. The high prices do not help them pay. Remember, too, high prices will not prevent crop failure. If you sell food on a credit and are not willing to trust the honor of your customers, take security.
 If you are selling negroes work ing big plantations, have the land lords put up money. They are able to do it, especially while cotton is bring ing 30 and 5 cents a pound. If the landlords refuse the negroes will not starve. There are landlords who can and will put up the money. If the merchants and landlords who are splitting these fancy profits 50-5O are prevented from charging these out rageous profits they won't be so anx- ious to sell food and great waste will be prevented. Then they will en- courage their tenants to grow some thing to eat The landlords who re- fuses to allow his tenants to grow food is not true American MT. Williams then called attention to the Fair Price Interpreting Boards now being organized throughout the state R. O. Schaefer is chief of this division and a recent addition to the staff of the Food Administration. These boards will try to "set mer- chants right on profits" and will pun ish those who exceed the markin of profit prescribed by the government for foodstuffs.
 All Depends On Crops.
 "All lines of business" says MT. Williams, 'are more or less depend ent upon crops. The winning of this war is dependent upon crops and their proper distribution, which the United States Food Administration had undertaken to look after. "We want Arkansas to 'go over the tou' on everything except excessive, unlawful profits.
 I've have waited more than one year for merchants to adjust their business to smaller profits on food. Some have conformed to the rules of the Food Administrat tion and others will when they are made to do so. That time has come! Profiteering is c.ime under the Federal law. The United States Food Administration would rather have jealous co-opera- tion than sullen obedience"