The Cordova daily times., 1919-04-04
ONE METHOD OF RELIEF


 American history the people are seek ing some means of relief. There is a widespread impression that unless prices are adjusted to wages and to pocketbooks generally the country will drift into a serious commercial crisis.
 When the poor man is compelled to pay taxes that surpass any thing he could have imagined three or four years ago and looks forward to years of taxation on an equal scale he is bound to demand as much for his money as he can get.
 For purposes of consideration and discussion we desire to suggest plan which has been tactily or purposely ignored.
 The government has in it's posses sion war materials worth hundreds of millions of dollars. When nation goes to war it utilizes everything that is needed in all the arts and pursuits of peace and many things in addition. Gigantic communities have been established at dozens of points in this country and the government has amassed at these points iron, steel, lumber, copper foodstuffs and count less machines, tools and implements. Decay and rust are daily reducing the value of automobiles and auto trucks, of vehicles, implements, lumber and of foodstuffs, and we are pouring in taxes by the billions so that the gov ernment may pay for materials which it purchased long ago and which are going to waste. The whole country has the feeling of paying for a dead horse.
 Why does not the government place these goods on the market and reduce prices?
 ''It would be ruinous," cry dealers. We can hear the clamor of manu- facturers, wholesalers and retailers.
 But would it? Is it possible that it would be ruinous to utilize the wealth that we have stored up, wealth that the world needs Remember, money is merely representative of wealth. Wealth consists in useful products, buildings, goods, wares and merchan- disc. If these be not used, are we not wasting our wealth?
 But the argument will be that if the government sells these goods at low prices and unloads them on the markets the dealers who have paid high prices will be ruined.
 But is not that stating the proposi- tion crudely! Are we so incapable that we cannot devise ways and means of placing these materials on the markets without causing a great disturbance.
 The dealers who cry out against the plan are the men who must sell these goods ultimately. Cannot the government and the dealers arrange matters so that the goods now de- generating in government camps and storehouses shall be sold at reason able prices over period of months and cannot this arrangement be made without injuring either manufactur- ers,, wholesalers or retailers?
 It is true that the consumers will not permit any conspiracy by which the government and the dealers shall dispose of these wares at present prices. The main object to be ob- tained is lower level of prices. That sounds like terrific blow at business, but if the lower level Is attained gradually profits will still be reason able.
 At one encampment million dol lars worth of automobiles and motor trucks is going to waste, almost all Of it without shelter. At another camp l millions of feet of lumber are de. teriorating
 Perhaps we have taken the wrong view of this question from an eco homie standpoint, but we think the long-suffering public would be glad to argue the point and to know where the flaw is to be found.