Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-12-26
PALMER JOLTS
The PROFITEER
Attorney General Tells Confer
ence to Expose Him to
Public Scorn.
GIVES 3 CAUSES FOR H. C. |.
Wars Taking Out Of the Ranks Of In
dustry Millions Of Men, Increased
Credit Currency and Passing
on Of Government Taxation.

Chicago, Dec. 18.-Attorney Gener-
al A. Mitchell Palmer arrived IN chi
cago heralding battle against the
high cost of living and the prohteers
that are behind it.
Root out the protiteer-expose him
to public scorn," was the keynote OF
his message, which he delivered be-
fore a gathering of mayors of Illinois
towns and cities, club women, omclals
of retail dealers associations, dlstrlct
attorneys and state officials. Cover
nor Lowden presided at the meeting.
Palmers message, given to report
ers, was:
1--WE will enforce the existing food
laws to the strictest letter. In antlcl-
patton of the enactment of legislation
that would enable the department to
deal more effectively with pronteer-
ing and other causes of the high cost
of living, the fair price committee
idea has been put in operation.
Through these and through gener-
al public cooperation we hope to get
at the root of the problem and as
sure that every corrective measure
within the power of the United States
attorneys Office will be exerted 70
remedy present conditions
He asserted that prices had not adj
vanced recently, but had maintained
a nearly stable figure. This. he point
ed out, was an indication that activ-
tiles directed against protiteerlng al
ready were having effect.
IF we can keep prices stationary
for time they are bound to go down "
he said. IF we can stop the move
ment of this vicious circle-increased
wages, increased prices and increased
profits chasing each other around
like a dog chasing its tail-find
hold the line steady, prices will drop
just as sure as gun is iron.
Mr.. Palmer was hurried from the
depot to the waiting gathering, where
he was given an enthusiastic recep-
ton.
In his opening remarks he de-
nounced the profiteer and laid the
blame for high prices to three causes
the wars taking out of the ranks
of industry millions of producers,
the increased credit currency OF the
world and the passing on of govern
nent taxation.
"Relief is in sight. however" he
said. Some relief has come even in
the retail trade. Take food products.
Cattle and hogs in the hands Of the
original producer in the West have
gone down so far that the cattle and
hog men have been TO Washington pro-
testing vigorously against this cam
paign, which they say is going to rob
them Of theif profits.
'.That has so far been reflected in
the wholesale price of meats, for you
can observe from the market quota
lions from day to day that bacon and
other pork products. as we'll as meats,
as lar as the wholesale prices arc
concerned, have fallen off in some in
stances something like 20 or 25 per
cent. To some slight extent that has
also been reflected in the re-
tail distribution. but not nearly SO
much.
aBut the stream lows down hill,
not up, and once tits started on i
steady flow the result will finally be
appreciated. because it can plainly be
seen upon the table of the American
people
"Under the law. if retailer sells
at an unjust or unreasonable rate Of
profit he may be punished but a jury
must say that he has done 50. Our
theory is that if we put into the hands
of jury of II men of the commu,
nity the same evidence that convinced
your fair price committee that GER
rain price was just and reasonable.
that Jury will do just what your fair
price committee did. and the result of
# will be that the profiteer will find
himself a criminal. so that the fair
price committee in cooperation with
the prosecuting attorney, may thus be
the engine behind the enforcement OF
this law in way that will terrify. in
my Judgment the profiteer In every
community.
II am strong believer in the Grim
inal law in connection with these mat
tiers. have great confidence that the
fear Of punishment IS the greatest de-
torrent in the mind of any dealer who
starts out to gouge the people in any
line"
Women took II prominent part in
the conference.