Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-14

Why the continued high cost OF
Iiyings Who is responsibles What
10 going to be done about it! These
questions have framed themselves
in the universal mind for many
months. They had their origin in
that stressful time when the pur-
poses of all honest men were ad-
\ dressed sternly to the unselfish aim
of putting the military victory
across. 1t was considered the legacy
of patriotism to shrug ones shout
ders as he dug deeper into the dim
finishing family gold reserve. and say,
rob, we'll, it's the war. When that's
over and the boys get back prices
will come down all right after
wards"
Public Wants Answer.
~Afterwards" Is here. The boys
are back. Lower prices are not.
The public, freed now from the
necessity of accomplishing tolera-
ton which silenced criticism in war
time, is demanding answers to
these questions; and it is going to
have them.
The president has been moved by
the force of the situation to address
a pointed message to congress, de-
manding drastic legislation enforced
by a drastic hand. That body has
snapped out of its dream and re-
sponded with five remedial bills. A
few seizures of horded stocks have
taken place. Army supplies worth
millions have been thrown on the
market at the lowest possible fig
ures. An arrest or so has been re-
corded. Investigating bodies, ma
tional, state and city, are probing,
prying and talking.
Into the crystal of these activities
the public is required to gaze to
read the answer to its questions. 1t
does-and finds little solace.
Strikes Service Man.
The rising tide of prices, which
Samuel Gompers calls greater
menace to the nations veal than
bolshevism, sweeps on. Particularly
does it smite the newly returned ex-
service Anan and beset his uphill road
to industrial re-establishment with
almost insuperable difficulties. He
finds the cost of living for Ameri-
can wage-earners has risen II per
cent sinceSJuly, 1914, the month the
war began. Clothing has doubled
in price, food has risen IS per cent,
fuel, heat and light 81 per cent.
rents as high as As per cent; and
50 on down the list Even since
last March clothes have added III
cents to every dollar they cost.
Supply No Excuse.
Grammar school knowledge of the
law OF supply and demand tells us
that when supply is small, prices
rise. Therefore, you assume, sup
plies must be very low, because
prices are very high. AS matter
Of fact, the supply of many neees-
sary commodities has never been SO
large. Excluding army stores, June
I Of this year saw greater supply
Of foodstuffs in this country than
the same date last year, the increase
running from 10 per cent in fresh
eggs to 298 per cent in frozen poul-
try. Yet eggs have risen 50 pei
cent in price, and fowls have ad
vanced 10 per cent. Almost twice
as much canned corn is now stored
away in American warehouses as
there was a year ago, but the price
of canned corn has not changed
.'In the combined total Of a number
of the most important foods in dry
and cold storage the excess Cover
last year, is quite 10 per cent" says
President Wilson to congress. "Anc
yet prices have risen.
Sharpen Weapons.
The weapons which an aroused
country is now sharpening to do bat
tie against this condition afford th'
best clues as to what, i'll the opinion
of those supposedly best qualihed t.
know. are the causes of the phe
nomenon. When the railroad broth
erhoods delivered their ultimatufi
about three weeks ago, demanding
either higher wages or lower living
EXPENSES, the nation awoke almos
overnight to the imperative neeessit!
of instant action. Accordingly, TIT
president addressed Joint session
of congress on August 8, laying tn
general plans for the great battle o
people against prices. He mad'
eight suggestions for congress to &C
upon, and explained five steps whicl
the executive departments OF TIL
government would take.
Where Is the "Nigger?
The states entered the fight wit
all the machinery at their com
mand, while the press OF the coun
try more than fulfilled the presi
dents hope for full publicity. Rarel
have we seen such sudden, intens
activity and interest on the part o
every governmental agency, OF tn
press and of the people as has bee
displayed during the openin
skirmishes of the new offensive.
And what is it all driving at
Where is the nigger in the wood
pile.
One Of The state iced ad1inii