The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-09-22
SILK HATS and
THE HIGH COST
OF LIVING

If the production of silk hats were
to fall off almost to nothing the coun-
try would survive and its citizens
would not be greatly disconnected.
There might be some embarrassment
in diplomatic and high social circles
but even the diplomats and danries
would get along somehow.
But the production of necessities of
life is different matter
President Wilson has pointed out
that I'VE are face to face with sit
uation more likely to affect the happi-
ness and prosperity and even the life
of our people than the war itself" He
has declared that the primary first
step to relieve the nation of the cruel
burden of high prices is to increase
production and that only by increas-
ing production and by rigid economy
and saving by the people, can we hope
for large decreases in the cost of liv-
ing.
There is only one really sane meth
cd of reducing the cost of living and
restoring the dollar to its normal pur-
chasing power, and that is of as much
interest to the farmer as to anyone
else. His dollars will buy no more, at
the present rate, than any other mans
dollar.
The President has given the form.
ula. The world shortages are in the
necessities of life The labor of the
world must be turned to the produc-
ton of necessities, in so far as posi-
BILE. And one of the first demands is
for food There must be intensive
production and steady conservation.
During the war, the farmers of the
nation periodically demonstrated that
they could produce more than they
ever had expected to produce from
their acres. The demand for food at
this time is no less vital than 1t was
in war-times.
The people showed, too, during the
war, that they could live we'll on plain
foods and great saving was accom-
plished. Waste was eliminated. The
people can be counted upon to heed
the Presidents appeal, And the au-
thority of the Government is descend
;n1 boo,,;l,, ,nop food boordarc prD-
fiteers and others who, by wilful acts
are obtaining entortionate prices from
the public.
But these things en- do no great
good unless the production of food is
increased. And even If the
of food is increased, there
must be consistent saving and wise
and careful spending of money. For
if money is spent for luXuries and non
essential commodities the production
of other notwithstanding shoes
building materials and buildings, ne
cessary machines for industry and
agriculture will be retarded.
Money saved and placed in Govern
ment securities, is withheld from the
purchase of non-essentials. Moreover,
money saved, and placed at interest,
figures nightly in reducing the cost
of production. If the farmer is oper-
ating on money borrowed from the
bank on which he is paying interest,
his cost of production is
higher than If he is his own banker.
There need be no fear Of the bogie
over production" The world short
age is large enough to take all the
food, clothing or any other necessary
commodity that can be produced Pro-
fits to the farmer will remain and will
be intensified and increased through
lower prices for what the farmer buys
Business methods of accounting, in
tensive cultivation and other scientific
that. will increase the yield
Of his land will increase those profits.