Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-08-27
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

An Albany merchant, whose observations are pub
hshed in the Trailing the News" column the front
page of todays Times Recorder lays much of pres
ent troubles to the Cost of High Living, rather than
to the High Cost of Living Judge Lttlejohn, in his
charge the grand jury Monday did the thing,
in different language. And great many observers
in goods say they know this to be the fact Others
dispute it and offer their opinions the basis of
present day high prices and chaotic conditions
A we-known Americas merchant was discussing
this subject yesterday in small group of citizens.
He declared Judge Littejohns summary of the stu
alton, placing the blame for high prices upon the de-
mand of the public for nothing but the best regard
less of price, to be rue from his own experience
Before the war said he, 1--WE used to keep in
stock work shirts Of two qualities; was sold for
SO cents and another of vastly superior quality for
rs cents We sold of the so cent quality shirts
to of the higher priced Today the situation is
exactly reversed We carry both qualities of shirts
just always did, although they sell for con-
siderably now, but sell ten of the better
grade shirt, regardless of its higher price, to one of
the cheaper shirt.
THE same is true of silk and cotton stockings
and sox, of mems shirts, and almost any commodity
YOU may name. The people have the money and are
buying only the best They won't have anything else'
Another citizen a lawyer was talking yester-
day in another group of citizens. 81 take issue with
Judge Littlejohn he sid in discussing the same sub
He
not My income hasn't increased in more than two
years and give you my word that the scale of living
of myself and family has been growing worse and worse
until don't see where we can do with any less We
have never lived so meagerly as we are doing now
prices keep on going higher l can show you scores
of people in the fix; incomes have stood still
White prices have continued to mount.
Profteering, not the prosperity of the people, is
the cause of it, and here is my remedy: If | was
the government I would take the average price of
meats clothing, -four and all other necessities for ten
years and would say to the packers the manufactur-
ers and the dealers of all kinds that this average was
to be the limit in price, and every that violated
that rule by selling article for more would 90 to
the penitentiary and give his place to someone who
would sell for the prices named And I'd see that
they went, too. 1t wouldn't take long to settle this
problem of high prices"
But this man speaking of his own experience
and that of limited number of acquaintance He
forgot that whereas his own salary and those of GER
tain other he knew had remained stationary
the wages being paid labor of every kind have beer
steadily mounting during the last two years. We have
few Of the skilled labor class here and hence do moi
observe real conditions But it is fact that the PEG
pie who never knew prosperity or luxury before
know it and indulgng to their hearts con
tent regardless of high prices. They are buying lit
orally everything that the manufacturer can produce
Any merchant will tell you that
But" the lawyer qouted above answered to tina
argument, "the manufacturers are holding back the,
are not producing to their capacity"
Measured by old standards, they not producing t.
their capacity But must be remembered that factore
cannot produce as much much shorter working day
and holidays they could under old conditions
despite the fact that this same decreased labor cost
greatly more And it is the experience Of many EN-
ployers that the hour Of labor of today, considering tn