davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1919-02-09
Cost Is Deterrninable.

A strong argument in support
of this plan is that its cost to the
taxpayer as well as the benefit to
the consuming public both can be
determined in advance with
fair degree Of accuracy.
1t is contemplated that the
subsidy shall run only on aour
for domestic consumption. This
amounts to about 115.m, 600
barrels year. The present
price of -four averages in the
neighbofhood of $40 barrel. 1t
would be substantially the same
with -four milled from the com
ing crop, provided the price
maintaining policy was carried
through. A subsidy of S. a bar
rel would be necessary in order
to have pound loaf of bread
tor hive cents, a tax on the
Treasury of about s6OO.000,000
Under : the plan the miller
would get his present fixed price
per barrel for milling, the whole
sa1er, the retailer and the baker
would get their present fixed
percentages of profit on turn
over. This turnover profit
would be less, naturally, when
-four was S. barrel than when
it was $40, so it works out that
the American people would get
their years bread for about
S800,000,0O0 less than they now
are paying, net gain of $780,
100000 after they had paid in
taxes the $600,O0oooO necessary
to make good the subsidy.
Evening star., 1919-02-09
On Lookout For Customers.

1
When the big munitions factories
quit war production they looked
around for sporting goods customers
! Theoretically the prospect for busi-
ness was good Shotguns, sporting
| rifles and cartridges have been In
good demand all through the war
Thousands of shotguns and millions
of clay pigeons have been used in
| training aviators. Military training
makes men love the wide outdoors
SO the sporting goods business may
easily be greater than it ever was
before. Full of enthusiasm, the mu-
nitions manufacturers went to the
jobbers and retail merchants and tried
to impart their vision. But the rner-
chants, as buyers, were interested
only in prices, and hesitated to stock
up.
In support of their belief that prices
must come down, the buyers pointed
to canceling of war contracts, to
growing idleness in factory towns
and like conditions.
In support of their belief that prices
would stay UP, the manufacturers
pointed to high food prices, virtual
government control of wages in their
industry. the worlds general hunger
for raw materials etc.
For several weeks buyer and seller
argued back and forth, each trying to
overwhelm the other with forecasts
figures. estimates. Nobody was getting
anywhere in peace-time industry or
trade.
Then one large manufacturing con-
Germ broke the deadlock with a definite
price proposal
train, lay aside his mail and Office work
and start for the customers Office.
Then, just as he is about to open the
door. the great menace of the motor
truck industry will suddenly pounce
down and scare out of him most of his
pep and all his joy in life and work.
Government motor trucksi
That is the menace" of the motor
truck industry.
We made 25o,00e motor trucks in
Evening star., 1919-02-09

J" HERE apparently is no
escaping the conse-
quenceS of the fact that
the American govern
ment is in hole as a
result of its guarantee of $40 a
bushel for the wheat crop to be
harvested this year. Being i'll
hole, the concern of the govern
ment and of the people is how
escape may be effected with the
least possible damage.
AS means of escape, two
main proposals are advanced
The first is that the govern
ment, following the same meth
DDS as in handling last years
crop, shall maintain such prices,
both to domestic consumers and
export buyers, as will save the
Treasury from loss.
The second is that the govern
ment shall buy the entire crop
at the guaranteed price and re-
sell the wheat at a lower price,
pocketing the loss and reimburs-
ing itself through taxation.
The second proposal is divided
into several subproposals. One
is that resale shall be at the
world price" whatever that may
chance to be. Anothefs is that
resale shall be at a price to be
determined in advance, $1.25
bushel being a figure which ap-
pears to have attracted consider
able support.
Evening star., 1919-02-09
Dear Bread False Economy.

Economic logic is against fore
ing the American people in the
coming year to pay for bread a
price high enough to save the
government from loss on its
wheat guarantee. No matter
which horn of the dilemma is
taken, the loss eventually must
fall on the people. If prices are
maintained the people will pay
directly from their pockets. If
the loss comes Immediately out
of the Treasury the people will,
in the end, pay indirectly through
taxation.
Such being the case, Congress
should determine the issue sole
ly on the consideration as to
which plan would be least bur-
densome to the burden-bearers.
If the governments loss is made
good through taxation, the bur-
den will be SO distributed that
those best able to bear it will
bear the most. If it is made
good by maintaining the price
of wheat and -four, the loss will
be made good in accord with the
need of bread, without regard to
the resources of the bread d-eaters.
Evening star., 1919-02-09
For a Scent Loaf.

A third program, and one
which would seem to have much
to commend it despite apparent
difficulties, is that the govern
ment should pay the guarantee
price for wheat, but sell -four at
a price which would give the
American people pound loaf of
bread for FIVE cents. Proposers
of this plan insist that under no
circumstances should foreigners
be permitted to profit By 4 gov
efdlst s,lblsid that fiis ~
portsble surplus should be sold
at i price based on the guaran-
tee, or with As little loss as pos
sibte.
An examination of the pro-
posals would seem to justify dis
missaf of the first with scafit con-
sideration. It is economically
unsound and politically unwise.
Evening star., 1919-02-09
BY JAMES IL. COLLINS.

A LII the world loves "A menace
~ Tomorrow morning Charlie
~ Stubbs. the motor truck sales
man. is going TO jump out of bed
fun of joy de veever and JOY de oover-
which is to say that he likes the world
and likes his work. The war is over.
All indications point to quick recon
struction and great prosperity in the
automobile industry Charlie Stubbs
knows prospect who is just about
ready to buy a battery of fve-ton
trucks Watching that customers haul
ing problem for six months Charlie has
seen the traffic grow, and he knows that
with just little more business this
prospect will need more trucks.
A good sale dramatizes like a good
play. There must be lines for the sales
man and the customer. and stage busi-
Less. and sometimes even props.
Evening star., 1919-02-09

will fail to materialiZe ana that the
country will promptly settle down to
"facing the music" which is to say
going upon basis to meet the taxa
ton and still keep business moving
Congress sis a bull on T. S. A"
i 4
Agreement by the conferees on the
mineral lands leasing bill brought great
cheer to one
West Is Jubilant section oil the
Over Minerals Bill. world The
public at large knows little of the tre-
mendous Importance of this act which
will open up for development $4,000, 900
acres of government-owne oil. gas,
coal. phosphate and sodium lands.
All winter long the Capitol has been
besieged by anxious westerners urging
agreement between the House and Sen
to the western country. and at times the
delay seemed heartbreaking. The rich
mineral and oil deposits will be de-
veloped by private enterprise. a royalty
to be paid to the government.
The next big development measure
desired by the west is the water power
bill, and there appears good prospect
that it will be law before the end of
this Congress.
= !.
The Senate committee on commerce
is to undertake some constructive
work for the
Senate to Study merchant ma
Shipping Problems. ping inter
ests 1t is to investigate and report
upon the difference in cost of operat-
ing vessels of the United States and
of foreign countries. and to explain
the causes.
Shipping men have told Congress
to go ahead building up a big mer-
chant marine. if the ships cannot be
operated. under existing maritime
laws. in competition with foreign
vessels. Now the committee is to
bring out the facts and get at the
cause.
The House had q week of steady
grind on the naval appropriation bill.
in t erspersed
General Debate with 9 Q m
Holds Back Work. ,s.ion on hi
nor bills and lot of general talk.
There were more heartrending ex-
posures of cruelty to and neglect of
the soldiers; reports OF gross waste
Of government stores. furthef acs
counts of the complaints against the
war pay and allotment divjsfons and
4 general outpouring OF erftici6n1 OF
the way the war ts being wound Nrs
Nothing was done however. except 10
spread the accounts in the Record
The Senate sat long hours. butt made
little progress with its appropriation:
bills. Senator Bankhead, in charge
of the post Office appropriation BILL
found his patience so tried at the 3n-
terruptions Of general debate that he
besought his colleagues. huinorously,
to take pity upon him and push along.
For one thing, the debate over the
Newherry-Ford election case took mp
a lot of time. Then there were sew
erai speeches on the peace congress
and a long discussion OF the Bfifinh
restrictions on American trade.
Evening star., 1919-02-09
Makes Every One Wary.

But having taken off their coats,
ready to work at the nearest peace
time task, men find themselves fac
ing this question of 1919 prices. Ii
is the first question to be settled by
everybody The merchant is afraid TO
stock goods until he knows that their
value viii not drop on his shelves.
The manufacturer is afraid to plan,
because. if wages and raw materials
materials and labor. and these may
fall. The capitalist is wary about fi-s
nancing building and public utilities.
because if wages and raw materials
drop. his Office structure or trolley line
will operate under disadvantages of
investment cost compared with those
built later. The farmer is apprehen-
sive about prices for his crop and
the wage-earner is between the devil
and the deep sea. with high food prices
on one hand and on the other the
prospect of unemployment or wage
decreases due 10 the general marking
time.
Everybody grumbled about war
prices. But war prices were simple
problem compared with 1919 peace
prices. War prices are usually going
up. with the sky as the limit. Man
ufacturers and merchants can plan
and buy in comparative security, be-
cause stuff required today will al
most certainly be worth more to-
morrow But peace prices are falling
prices. and values disappear in the
WORKS ana on the merchants SheIVeS.
The situation was thoroughly yisu-
How Deadlock Was Broken.
stock up with our guns and car
tridpes, it said. Go the limit in
building business. If at any time DUR
ing 1919 we sell any of our products
below the price at which you buy
them we will make good to you the
difference in either credit or goods
This policy was soon general in that
particular field. No agreement as to
prices was made between the different
manufacturers. for this would run
foul of the antitrust law. Each man
ufacturer simply guarantees prices on
his own goods. The plan seems to in
volve little risk for manufacturers.
They believe that some materials.
such as lead. may fall in price, but
that copper, steel. chemicals and
other materials will not fall this year
some chemical ingredients are
slightly rising. .sss~
The largest part of their manufac-
turing cost is labor Until peace
terms are signed. government wage
scales must be followed in those de-
partments of their factories engaged
in government work. This virtually
sets wages for workers on sporting
goods. as a disparity would lead to
labor trouble-manufactur them
selves admit that 1t would be unfair.
Even when government wage scn3e0
cease, it is believed that food pr1coR
housing scarcity and other faczA0 Il
lConftnued on Fourth Fagu 8 q
rU4
Evening star., 1919-02-09

Next to the difficulties connecte1I
with the settlement of governmeaf.
contracts for war material, and the
tying up of capital badly needed by
manufacturers. large and small, this
problem of 1919 prices is undoubted1y.
the greatest obstacle to peace proe-
perity. ssS
All over the country merchantS
shelves are unstocked with mer-
chandise-in many lines there is 4
parallel with Mother Hubbard's cup
board. Cities are short of houses.
apartments. hotel accommodations
and office space, because the building
business was mobilized almost solidly
for war industries. The railroads.
trolley lines and public services
generally are underbuilt, along with
public works in cities and states. Our
highways are not only down at the
heel. but if they were in the pink of
condition on pre-war lines would
still be inadequate-our whole con-
cept of highways must be changed.
boosted up.
We know that when the nation and
the world start building and produce
ing again both the demand and OUT
put will be on an unheard-of SCALE
For the war was fought to make
a new world--a world of higher fv-
ing standards. free from some of the
old economic handicaps.
Evening star., 1919-02-09
What Congress IS Doing.

Advocates of Woman Suffrage to Press for
Senate Vote if They Can Count Enough
Supporters = Republican Leaders Making
Plans for Expected Extra Session.
Evening star., 1919-02-09
Menace Theory Disputed.

Now those who have really studied
this situation maintain that Uncl6
Sans trucks are not menace at All.
None of the trucks shipped abroad
viii ever come back--they will wear
out over there. The Post once De-
partment is taking from 2oo00- 10
1000 of those left i'm this country.
The Army will need thousands of
trucks as permanent equipment, ana
1t is reported that foreign govern-S
ments are anxious to buy every truck
that Cncie Sam does not need him-
SELF Uncle Sam has announced thar
he will dispose of war material II
ways calculated to prevent Industrial
disturbance
Again, Charles Stubb' prospect is
IN the market for big trucks of five
or six tons capacity. Uncle Sans
motor equipment included tens OF
thousands of light trucks. such as
ambulances, so that when the actual
number of big trucks likely to bel
sold in the open market is known,
probably there will be none at ALL
SO much for the bald figures on tlIis
fancffui menace. Yet it scares
Charlie Stubbs, makes price troubfe
with his customers. and is unques<'
tionably holding back peace-tfm8s
business development.
Evening star., 1919-02-09
Plans Sale Like Play.

A good salesman. knowing his Gus
toner. and being largely an artist. viii
mentally lay out his sales play in ad-
vance, with lines and business. Then
he hunts up the customer and they act
it together-though the customer prob
ably does not know il. Charlie Stubbs
viii be full of this sale. full of health.
He will key his whole day on this event
hurry through breakfast catch an early
allied in a statement by a large pack
ing company the other day that
drop OF one cent pound in pork
would result in a loss of s2,500 900
to that concern alone.
Process Long One.
This process of price adjustment
promises to go on for months, if not
years, and ultimately must affect
every manufacturer, merchant. farmer
and wage Garner. 1t is international in
scope Strong artificial barriers Gre
ated by war will be broken down all
over the world. The demand for food,
capital, building material and man.
ufacturing equipment in Europe is
abnormal. and will exert a pull in
conceivable in peace time. The stores
of wheat, hides, wool, vegetable oils
and other materials in countries which
have been cut off by the war scarcity
OF shipping, illustrate another abnor-
NAL situation-and when ocean trans
portation is available to reach trop-
lcai countries, the southern hemi-
sphere and the orient, something is
bound to happen to prices.
A beginning in price adjustment has
already been made. The manufactures,
anxious to resume peace production,
and the merchant with bare shelves
and waiting customers get together,
as buyer and seller. The merchant
takes the stand that prices must come
down. He is in the market for cheaper
goods-maybe bargains He buys
from hand to mouth, il iso buys at an.
and will not commit 9imself to pur-
chases to be delivered several months
hence. OF the sort manufacturers must
have to run their mills The manufac-
turer takes the stand that prices will
not come down this year. He is deal
Ing with labor and market conditions
which strengthen him in this belief.
He insists that 1919 prices must stand.
And there is deadlock
Evening star., 1919-02-09
II. S. BUSINESS FINDS &
A WAY TO OVERCOME
HANDICAP OF PRICES
System of Insuring Merchants Against Fall
ing Market Induces Them to Stock IS
Up Depleted Shelves.

1918, which was so. 0ag more Than Ne
ever made before in one year In 1914
we made only 35, 5,0eo. More than oue-
half OF these were made for unc1e
sam, whose war plans in this detail.
IKE everything else, were la id down
largely to lick the enemy by sheer
weight and numbers Of motor trucks.
$4,000 Trucks Left Over.
When the armistice was signed only
1900 trucks had been shipped abroad.
leaving something like as, ,0eo in this'
country, finished or under way. be-
longing to the government
W nat viii happen 10 my market II
the government sells these trucks IN
competition with our 1919 outputr
groans Charlie Stubbs Twice -
many as the whole industry built ffye
years ago." And his boss, the auto
manufacture, specuiates on thar IN
laying out peace-time factory plans
The thought chills him as producer
and seller. -
Meanwhile. prospective purchasers
OF motor trucks have heard aborrf
these government holdings of haulfnf
equipment.
We ought to have a few mora
trucks when business picks up they.
say. But watt Maybe we can 1e,f
a bargain from the governmeu1--
Uncle sam Will have 10 sell a lot OF
that equipment"
SO there is, in the motor truck
business. between seller and buyer.
not exactly deadlock, but stAeS
Wait-a disposition to postpone paifs,
chases until one sees what the gov
ernment is going to do. This is the
menace that suddenly takes all the
pep out of Charlie Stubbs: he knows
that even ii his prospect is dispose&
10 sign an order at once he will uaA
inns factor of government trucks la
debating prices. ~
Evening star., 1919-02-09

Funless the President sooner returns. The
conferees. after weeks OF struggling. have
whipped the bill into shape and the
country now knows the worst in the
Way Of taxation.
6ix billion dollars to pay this year,
e4.eoo. 600 next year. seems lot of
{money. hut 1t will be paid. Gloomy FORE
cssts are made In some quarters Of the
ke4ece upon business Of the enormous
>taEess but tho consensus OF opinion in
ceoS5sss 10 that the doleful predictions
Evening star., 1919-02-09

William Jennings Bryan read the
riot act to the southern democratic
Evening star., 1919-02-09
Riot Act Read
by W. J. Bryan.

So confirmed in opinion are the re-
publican managers that an extraordi-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-09-14
Only q Hsx m'nufe'
from ITO Shopping. 4
and Mcafrscdl ?
District.

This is the last call to those
who have not yet decided on
the hotel where they will live
during the Fall and Winter
months. If you have the Belle
claire on your list. please act
Immediately if you expect US
to accommodate you with a
suite. Nearly every suite has
been leased. Do not overlook
the comforts Of living at a
home hotel where you get
combination of splendid house
keeping, prompt and efficient
service. and about as good
cooking as you can find any
where in the whole world.
Guests at the Belleclaire-
permanent or transient-are
always treated as members of
big family, each receiving the
courtesies and attentions that
one has a right to expect in
weIl-organized and happy
home.
ROBERT D. BLACKMAN.
Proprietor
Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1919-01-02
Real Estate Transfesr

N. T. Dodge Jr., to Wilhelm G.
Jacket. Lots So and SO, Belmont Add.
s32S.0O.
N. F. Dodge to August Bromberg,
Let 1O6. Belmont Add. $4,000
Rhoda s. Dixon to George w. Dixon,
All Of Cottage place, s1.00.
Dan Ryan to the Eastern Invest
rnent CO, South 10 feet of Lot 2, and
all Of Lots 3 and 4, Block 8. Brooks
Add. s1.0o.
Dan Ryan to The Eastern Invest
rnent co, Lots II and Is. Block II.
Kemp Bros Add. s1.00
Joseph Baldwin to George "A. Sly, Lot
1. Block 10, r. F. Pettigrews Add. 81,
Henry abbey to Emil Abbey, und1a
intsrest lib SWA 1a-1I7-52.s1.e q
Emil Abbey to Henry Abbey, IND "
interest In SCI 1s-Il75s2. $500.
Bernard Fca-tu i. Wynian, Lot {
Block 3 Gesley's Add. $1.0O.
Annie Scott to Alice May Hiltz
Lots Is and "A, Block 80 Of the Sub
division. entitled Blocks IS to "a IN
elusive. Of Second Railway Add s1.00
City Of Watertown I p James A
Matters, WAkSof Lot 81, Sec. g. Noun
Hope Cemetery. $1,000
John ~ Martin Il Rev Vim s
iot1feara,g Outlet 8. In My i7--ilJ-S
Nls0c.
Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1919-01-02

get and if I could spare him some.
1 explained that / was sorry but 1 had
gone to a great deal of trouble to get
them for just 10 wounded American
soldiers It the hospital and therefore /
couldn't even spare a pack. He
apo1ogized profusely, of course, when
I left I noticed a CLEAN in his sad
sunken eye. / know he suspects me
Of smoking them all up myself.
We have long become resigned to
devilish females smoking after dinner
and luncheons and at tea time at
home and in the smart hotels in our
big American cities. What the folks
back home nave to get adneatea- to
now is seeing their darling daughters,
wives and sweethearts strolling along
hotel corridors, popping in or out of
taxis, with a dainty cigarette held
noncholantly 'twixt their ruby lips or
else extended at a more Discreet dis
lance at the end of a gayly hued
cigarette holder.
These cigarette holders are alluring-
" irrisistable in their gay color
schemes of bright reds, green's, blue
and yellows combined with ivory
banded in gold m~onogramed, or else
in just one solid vivid shade, but all
and everyoen very long and slender
OF line. Most any girl would be will
ing to smoke herself to death just te
own and manipulate one of these
charming accessories. Then there
are the Fascinating briauets ttha1
sometime work. and the cigarette
cases made by the wounded soldiers
that heap furher temptation in the
mokesses' way.