Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-12-19
Attorney General Tells Confer
enCe to Expose Him to
Public SGoTn.
GIVES 3 CAUSES FOR H. C. |.
Wars Taking Out OF the Ranks o. IN.
dustry millions Of Men, Increased
Credit Currency and Passing
on OF Government Taxation.


Chicago. Lee. is Attorney Gener-
a A. Mitchell Palmer arrived In Chi
cago heralding battle against the
high cost OF living and the protiteers
that are behind IL.
eTloot ont the profIteer--expose him
to public seorn, was the keynote of
his message, which he delivered be-
fore gathering Of mayors OF Illinois
towns and cities, club women. officials
Of retail deaIers associations, district
attorneys and state officials Cover
nor Lowden presided at the meeting.
palmer's nessage, given to report
ers. was
we viii enforce the existing food
laws 10 the strictest letter. In antiei-
pation Of the enactment q Legislation
that would enable the department to
deal more effectively with prohteer-
ing and other causes Of the high cost
of living, the fair price committee
idea has been put IN operation.
Through these and through gener-
al public cooperation we hope TO get
at the roof Of the problem and ] as
sure that every corrective measure
within the power Of the United States
attorneys office viii be exerted to
remedy present conditions"
lie asserted that prices had not ad-
vaIlced recently but had maintained
a nearly stable figure. This, he point
ed out, was an Indication that aetiy-
tiles directed against profteering al
ready were having effect.
II we can keep prices stationary
for time they are bound 70 so down,
he said III we can stop the move
ment OF this vicious ircle--inereased
wages, Increased prices and Increased
profits, chaslng each other around
like dog chasing its taii-and
hold the line steady prices will drop
.lust as sure as gun Is iron.
Mr. Palmer was hurried from the
depot 10 the waiting gathering, where
he was given an enthusiastic recep-
ton
IN his opening remarks he de-
nounced the proiiteer and laid the
| blame for high prices TO three causesT
the wars taking out Of the ranks
OF industry millions Of producers.
/ the increased credit currency Of the
world and the passing on Of govern
ment taxation.
Relief Is IN sight. however he
| said. ''Some relief has come even IN
the retail trade. Take food products.
Cattle and hogs IN the hands of the
/ original producer IN the West have
gone down so far that tie cattle and
hog men have been to Washington pro-
testing vigorously against this cam
paign, which fhey say IS going to rob
them Of their profits.
eThat has so far been reflected ID
| the wholesale price of meats, for you
can observe from the market quota-
lions from day 10 day that bacon and
other pork products, as well as meats.
az far as the wholesale prices are
concerned. have fallen off ia some in
| stances something like 20 or % per
cent. To some slight extent that has
/ siso been reflected in the re-
taii distribution. but not nearly so
much.
'But the stream flows down Hill,
not up. aud once II is started on a
steady flow the result will finally be
appreciated, because 1t can plainly be
seen upon the table of the American
people
aUnder the law. If retailer sells
at an unjust or unreasonable rate Of
profit be may be punished. but . jury
must say that he has done 50. our
theory Is that if we rut into the hands
Of jury Of II men Of the comnuS
nifty the same evidence that convinced
your fair price committee that eer-
tain price vas just and reasonable,
that jury will do just what your fair
price committee did. and the result Of
It will be that the profteer will find
himself d crimlnal, so that the fair
price committee, IN cooperation with
the prosecuting attorney. may thus be
the engine behind the enforcement Of
this law IN a way that win terrlfy, IN
my judgment, the prohteer IN every
community.
Il am a strong believer in the Grim
inaI law IN connection with these mat
ters. / have great confidence that the
fear Of punishment is the greatest de-
terrent In the mind Of any dealer who
starts out to gouge the people in any
.t1e."
Women took a prominent part In
the conference.
i