Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-18
cT'HTS ATTACK
ON HIGH PRICES
Attorney Gen. Palmer Explains
Plan of Action and Asks Every
Man and Woman to Help in
the Campaign
MUST FIGHT PROFITEERS
Says Women should Set Their Faces
Against Expensive and Evcr-Chane-
Ing styles--Urgcs Everybody to Go
10 Work and Exercise Conserve ton


. chicago. Dec. 1G-Attorney. General Pal
ner to-dav nI.5rcd the full power of the
ssrar,,,pnt of Justice in the prosecution
nj boarde-s and profiteers in talk in
which he outlined to 400 city officials,
heads of civic organizations, and club
uopoar OF Illinois .he program of his de-
nsr,,nru; in combating the high cost of
living
A pleo for the assistance Of every man
and woman in the country in a national
fight against high prices was made by
AIR. Palmer at the meeting. which was
callca b. Gov, Frank O. Lowden
BNulalniug the plan of action. whereby
fair pri9. committees in every com
munity become agents Of the federal gov
eminent in enforcing it's DEGREES, Mr. Pal
mer laid down a program of five conser-
yatlorS which if carried out would do
much to deal n death blow in the high
cost of living. They are
denomination of fair price committees
IN every city and county, backed by
mayors and prosecuting attorneys with
ire committees supporting United states
district attorneys
2-urganization Of women 10 use &c
buy anything but actual Necessity until
prices come down.
3--Holdius of conservation and
economy meetings in every community
under the auspices of civic bodies
4-Infiuence of mayors and prosecutors
10 be brought to bear or the warning
element to prevent fractional disturbances
in Industry and particularly to bring
about an industrial peac. OF al least six
months duration
decentralization of the cour. minus
men to deliver work ana save" addresses
in theatres each night.
DESPITE all objections and obstacles
propose to go through with this cam
palgn," Mr. Palmer declared. If indus
trial conditions do not get too bad dur
ing the next few months, we can bring
real relief"
The wage carriers were in the class of
the rich in that their incomes as q rule
had kept pace with the rapidly mount
ing cost of living, Mr.. Palmer added
The salaried worker was the man who
had felt the full brunt Of higher costs
because he had been the last to obtain
relief.
The chief causes of the high cost of
living he pointed out, were decreased
production incident to the war, inflated
currency, due to government borrowings
and heavy taxes, which. he charged,
were passed on by business men to the
ultimate consumer.
"1n every line of trade there are selfish
and greedy men who have taken advan-
tage Of after-war conditions to add to
their prices and profits" Mr.. Palmer said.
"Such men are the profteers and 1 pur-
pose to devote all the power at my
command TO root them out and expose
them - public scorn. and, II necessary,
in public prisons. The profiteer is worse
than unpatriotic he is criminal. l ask
the States attorney general of Illinois
to go after those devils with all the
force you command.
Activities of the department OF justice,
he said, had uncovered 2l9 cases against
food hoarders which had resulted in the
libeling and distributing in Is 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.
The campaign was to continue. the at
torney- general declared with one pur-
pose prices must go down"
Il am not worried over hurting the re-
tail Dealers, he added. They have had
their harvest time and now the people
are to get q look in The finest weapon
in this campaign is knowledge Let the
people know the facts and they will take
care of the rest"
MIR. Palmer described the efforts being
made to get Congress to continue the
operation of the Lever control act for six
months after the declaration of peace.
and 10 mass a law recurring the price at
which an article left the producer to bs
stamned on the article.
"Tf we can get that law we will ston
nrohteering." he said. when YOU 90 to
the shoe store if you see plainly stamped
of "a 20 Won simply aren't going to nav
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