Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-17
Attorney General Pledges Full
Power of His Department in
Prosecution Of Hoarders and
Profiteers in Country.
MUNICIPAL OFFICERS
TO BACK UP CITIZENS
Organization of Women Asked
Who Will Refuse to Buy Any
thing But Actual Necessities
Until Prices Come Down.

Chicago, Dec. l6.-Attorrey Gene
eral A. Mitchell Palmer today
mapped out the program of the De-
partment of Justice to bring down
the cost of living at a meeting Oh
400 city officials, head of civic orr
ganizations and club women Of Illi-
nois, called by Governor Lowden.
Pledging the full power of his deg
partment in the prosecution oi
hoarders and pro6teers, Mr.. Palmer
called for the assistance of every
man and woman in the country fol-
national fight against high prices
Explaining the plan of action
whereby fair price committees in
every community become agents OF
the federal government in enforc-
ing its DEGREES, Mr.. Palmer laid
down program of FIVE courses of
action, which, if carried out, would
do much to deal death blow to
the high cost of living. They aref
Five Courses of Action.
I l. Organization of fair price
committees in every city and
county, backed by mayors and
| PIooSSdtliS dLtoLhSyS, Will NiiN
committees supporting United
States district attorneys.
2. Organization of women to
refuse to buy anything but ac-
tual necessities until prices
come down.
3. Holding of Conservation
and economic meetings" in
every community under the aus
pices of civic bodies.
4. Influence of mayors and
prosecutors to be brought to
bear on the "warring elements"
to prevent "factional disturb
ances in industry" and particu-
larly to bring about an indus
trial peace of at least six
months duration.
S. Rehabilitation of the
"four- minute men" to deliver
work and save" addresses in
theaters each night.
Despite all objections and ob4
stacles, | purpose to go through
with this campaign" Mr.. Palmer
told tlle delegates. "If industrial
conditions do not get too bad dur<
ing the next few months. we can
bring real relief"
Salaried Worker Hurt.
The wage earners were in tho
class of the rich, in that their ir,-
come, as rule, had kept pace with
the rapidly mounting cost OF liv-
ing, Mr.. Palmer added. The salaried
worker was the man who lad felt
the full brunt of higher costs, be-
cause he had been the last to obtain
relief.
The chief causes of the high cost
of living, he pointed out, were de-
creased production. incident to the
war, inflated currency, due to govs
ernrent borrowings and heavy
taxes, which he charged were passed
on by business men TO the ultis
mate consumer.
Tr every line of trade there ara
selfish and greedy men who have
taken advantage of after-war con.
ditions to add Bit to their prices
ami profits Mr. Palmer said. Such
men are the profiteers and ! pur-
pose to devote all the power at
my command to root them out and
expose them to public scorn and,
if necessary in public prisons. The
proiteer is worse than unpatriotic.
he is criminal. ask the states
attorneys of Illinois to go after
these devils with all the force you
command"
ZIG Hoarders Found Out.
Activities of the Department OF
Justice, he said, had already un-
covered 2l9 cases against food
hoarders, which had resulted in the
libeling and distribution in IS states
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