Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-12-27
WILL FIGHT HIGH
Z PRICES TO FINISH
Palmer Asks the Assistance
], Of Every. Man and Woman
IN This Country.

va CtJitCl-ldJT II
Chicago, Ill.-Attorney General A.
Mitchell Palmer Tuesday mapped out
the program of the department Of JUS
tice to bring. down the cost Of living
at q meeting of 400 city officials, heads
OF civic Organizations and clubwomen
OF Illinois, called by Governor Frank
o. Lowdens oaod 9ui 9ltl ait" 52tS
b Pledgihg the full power Of his de-
partmant in the prosecution Of hoard
ers and profiteerss Mr., Palmer called
for the assistance of every man and
woman in the country for national
fight against high prices Is l5;g, y.
Explaining the plan Of action where
by fair price committees in every com
munfty become agents OF the federal
government in enforcing its DEGREES,
Mr.. Palmer laid down a program Of
five Shings which if carried out, he;
thought, would do much to deal q
death blow to the high cost OF living.
They are:gd u5hq aV y5aom ri
4, Organization Of fair price com
mittees in every city and county, back
ed by mayors and prosecuting attor-
neys,. with committees supporting
United States district attorneys.
2. Organization Of women to refuse
to buy anything but actual necessities
until prices come down.
3. Holding Of conservation and
economy" meetings in every commun-
ity under the auspices Of civic bodies.
l. Influence of mayors and prose
cutors to be brought to bear on the
WEARING elements" to prevent FAC
tional disturbances in industry" and
particularly to bring about an indus
trial peace Of at least six months du-
ration. :. t-5
5. Rehabilitation Of the "four-min-
ute men" to deliver work and save"
addresses in theatres each night.
Despite all objections and obstacles
/ purpose to 60 through with this cam
paign," Mr. Palmer said. "If indus
trial conditions do not get too bad dur
ing the next few months we can bring
relief"
The chief cause Of the high cost Of
living, he said, were decreased produc-
ton incident to the war, inflated cur
rency, due to government borrowings,
and heavy taxes, which he charged
were passed on by business men to the
ultimate consumer.
Activities of the department of JUS
tice, he said, had already uncovered
219 cases against food hoarders, which
had resulted in the libeling and dis
tribution in eighteen states of millions
of dollars worth of food.
Ninety-eight cases had been brought
against profiteers, many Of whom were
indicted, and some of whom were
serving sentences.
Mr.. Palmer described the efforts to
have congress continue the operations
of the Lever food act six months after
declaring of peace, and also to pass a
law requiring the price at which an
article left the producer to be stamped
on the article.
eff we can get that law we will stop
profiteering," he said when you go
to the shoe store if you see plainly
stamped on a pair Of shoes the whole
sale price of $3.50 you simply aren't
going to pay SIS for that pair of shoes.
can organization of women, organ
lied as they never were before, will
do more to bring down prices than any
single movement. Their power is in
calculable.
zone of the greatest crimes of the
day is idleness. If men and women
would do 10 per cent more work
prices would come down 20 per cent,
and if they would economic and save
10 per cent this problem of high cost
of living would be solved"