Arizona republican., 1919-08-10
The President and Prices


 Whether all the suggestions of the president for reducing the high cost of living practical we do not know He does not claim that a complete solu- tion offered, but he certainly points the way to relief and the will be held responsible fl It fails to enact the necessary legislation into effect vigorous against profeers, high and low and large and small.
 The argument will be heard, of course, that gov ernment interference with industry and commerce will produce derangement Of thing the whole coun- try convinced that is that the present arrange nent is bad, is longer supportable. In such cir cumstances encouragement is necessary and that is seldom accomplished without derangement.
 When the government undertook control of the food supply was supposed would exercise a full control for the protection of the consumer who was to be called upon great sacrifices But it never extended the It benefited him to some extent by guarding him against the exortons of specuators in wheat coal and other prime necessities but it left him exposed to great deal of proteerng by the retailer the wholesaler and all other inter- mediaries.
 The government probably did the best it could in the circumstances It had to pursue rather narrow way hemmed in side by need of the greatest possible production of food and other necessities of life and on the other by tendency toward shame less profiteering
  more from the government. Their acquiescence in conditions was part of their contribution to the it was a form of expression of their patriotism. But there is and it is not patriotic to yield to oppression so that congress and the government will have to do something. The people will no longer be appeased by investigations and deliberations
 As the president points out, the supplies of sities in this country greater than they ago; greater than they month ago; yet prices are higher No in these circumstances de- fend the mounting prices, except by reference to the law of supply and demand. If the demand were not so great it may be urged prices would not be so high That law, though it has been in force from the time men began to trade, has often been mscon- strued It was so wofuly misconstrued in England long as 300 400 years that became necessary to hang foresallers who claimed that they operating under the law of supply and demand. If the people did not demand the goods they had cor nered they did not have to buy them. n The government has a right regulate profits necessities If that is questioned certainly the people will not hesitate to give the government the power and the power punish the volators of the ation will bring the hearts of all profit eers large and small.
 There are other causes of high prices which not be removed by government action by any pos sibe legislation. The president recognizes these causes which only time and the natural change of conditions But if be succeed in reducing the great margin of profits which piled up between the producer and the consumer, all the reasonably expected relief will be furnished q We may pardon his interjection of the peace treaty-the early ratification of which he believes would be remedial of the present situation though it is difficult to how that would affect it, or to follow the presidents description of the relations be- tween the peace treaty and the high cost of living.
 His warning to labor. coming from who has done much for labor practically and theoretically, should be needed by labor leaders.