The Washington times., 1919-08-06


The profiteer always show the pitifu paucty OF
his dividends he would go into bankruptcy if prices were
reduced.
ANY untoWard action tending depress selling values
he will insist would ruin the entire industrial fabric
there anything wrong the public is at fault and must take
its medicine.
There comes to the writer's desk copy of the Federal
Trade Information Service, which says modesty on Its
first page that supplies important Government news
corporations banks attorneys commercial organizations and
their customers It's patrons include the greatest business
interests Here what this organ says Of the problem OF
the cost of existence:
curious faith exists the part of the people that
some artificial exterior influence step in and bring
down the prices of things they must buy while increasing
the prices of the things they sell.
If the American people being robbed they are rob-
bng themselves The whole of the high cost of living
is that the American people unwilling to make the IN
vidual wants eSe-the Government preferably
Almost any civ dweler beset by high living cost who
desires to take the trouble get fresh country produce
including eggs from 80 to so per cent under the market by
using the parcel post and cooperating with farmers But
the PoStoce Department has amazing figures which Show
first the parcel post system does effect tremendous savings
for those who patronize and second it is not paronzed
to any appreciate extent Relatively cheap foods abound
but because they require more care in procuring or in prep
araion, they go begging
Few Americans are educated to know qualities Their
only index of quality whether in food other goods is
price, often the poorest index For this they will
pass by the lowprced article and purchase the
pensive Take two identical objects of common uSe
and put price of IS cents and 400 the other
and more than half of the people will purchase the higher
priced article.
The question seems to down merely to this: the
American people are faced by no high cost OF living which
they directly responsible for popular objections to
cost of living amount to nothing than dissemination
to pay the piper
The editor of the Federal Trade Information Service
lives in Washington We ask him to furnish to The Times
places where relatively cheap foods abound 1t would
be interesting to the people of Washington be able to get
food from 80 to so per cent under the market
We call to the attention of this editor the fact that the
Washington postoce has been trying for several years to
stimulate parcel post buying of food He may be interested
to know why such amazingly small number buy goods
this way.
Farmer JONES' of Three Corners Va will not send eggs
Mrs. Brown of Washington until he has received the
money for his eggs.
Mrs Brown will not send Farmer Jones any money
until she has received the eggs and has determined that
they fresh and unbroken
So Farmer Jones sells to dealer this dealer sells to
another dealer and finally Mrs Brown gets the eggs after
three four mddlemen have each taken profit and added
to the price.
Any other method of distribution would "tear the in
dustrial fabric
The industrial fabric fine sounding term intended to
impress the public It consists of the system of production
and distribution whereby the greatest profits will be given
to the greatest number.
Producer and merely the hens of this fab
rc-OppOste hens Between them lies the warp and wool
Of the of profit takers.
Our organ of the greatest interests finds that the
popular objection to the high of living amounts to
nothing more than Discrimination to pay the piper
The food is the farm; the cotton the panta-
ton; the oil and coal in the ground-a you have
do is to go and get them.
you really want cheap eggs all you have to do is to
hop into your automobile and spend few dollars for
1e and oil and tires and and tear ride down into
outofthe-way place in Virginia and buy few dozen
eggs.
Of course you haven't any automobile you are just
of those persons dsncned to pay the piper and you
are hopeless.
You are probably of the silly persons who pass
right by fresh eggs selling at 55 cents and select those sell
ing at 20 cents.
So you see Mr.. Consumer, you are at fault for the
high cost of living. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?