The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-08-18
FUNDAMENTAL FACTS
New York World)

New York World)
,>e.e,. ,d.p@. 74S Il
In so far as the excessive cost of
Living is due to the greedy operations
of the protiteer, it can be dealt with
by Government. In so far as it is
economic. it must be dealt with by
everybody.
This is not an American problem
alone. 1t is a universal problem, and
every Government is forced to meet
lit.
What the profiteer can do in the
way of increasing the cost OF living Is
illustrated by the report Of the FEEDER
al Trade Commission on the leather
industry Everybody has been goug-
ing the consumer, from the packers
that control the hide supply to the re-
tailers that sell the shoes over the
counter.
But the economic aspect of high
prices is quite different question.
The war has cost more than 100000
lives and fully $2OO,O00,OOO,OOO in
money to say nothing of the 4O,OOO,OOO
men that have been left manned. 1t
: has crippled the economic machinery
of the whole world and disorganized
all the agencies Of production and dis
tribution. Hitherto Governments have
have been paying the costs of the war
by operating printing presses, for that
I is what all these vast issues Of bonds
I and notes amount to. This process
l. cannot 60 on any longer, for the real
n cost must be met by means of produc'
o ton.
r The labor unions that are demand
J. ing new wage increases and shorter
n hours under the pretense Of meeting
1t THE high cost of living are only max
it ing bad matter worse for themselves
IL and for everybody else. If they are
4 really concerned with reducing the
u cost of living they must begin to take
e an interest in the matter of produc
y ton. This war cannot be liquidateC
Is by schemes for doing less work fol
sr more pay, and the whole world is
IL bound to be confronted by high prices
'e until some of the loss and waste o.
$, war has been replaced.
a. 1t is idle to expect that the econom
= ic system of the country can begil
to function normally until peace ii
established, and the Republican ma
jority in the United States Senate re
fuses to permit peace to be es
tablished. 1t is still muddling owe
the treaty and will continue for week
and months to come unless publ
pressure is exerted upon Senators VIII
think the destiny of civilization
merely a personal controversy bt
tween them and the President of tn
United States who helped negotiat
the treaty of peace.
The reduction in the speculatiy
lprices of certain foodstuffs which ha
followed the agitation in Washingto
is bound to be temporary, and no e.
pedient of Government, except for tn
suppression of profteering, can brin
permanent relief until peace is fac
until the uncertainty is dispelled an
the country can devote its undivide
attention to the business of recoi
struction. More than any other age
cy in the world, the United State
- = Senate is playing into the hands {
.r the spectators by maintaining a CO..
If dition of doubt and uncertainty.
n This is fundamental, and the longt
!. the Senate is allowed to play fast an
q. loose with the treaty the longer I'll
Z period of suspense will continue an
Is the greater will be the danger fro
+. the unrest that results. This may nj
Il appeal to Senator Lodge and his ass
ciates who live in world of partisa