Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-13
DEFENSE COUNCIL
INVESTIGATES THE
HIGH LIVING COST

The United States Council of Ma
,tional Defense, composed Of the sec
retaries OF war, navy, interior, agrt-
culture, co1nmerCe1 and labor, ha
made a careful Investigation of the
high-cost-of- living problem and flnds:>
That the nations productive powers
have not been fully utilized since the
armistice.
That too few goods. notably the ne
and that even some Of these goods
have been. withheld from the market,
and therefore from the people.
That the high cost Of living is due
in part to unavoidable war-waste and
increase of money and credit.
That, there has been and is consid.
cradle pro1teering, Intentional and
Lunintentional.
The council believes that the reme-
dies for the situation are!
To produce more eoods~ and to pro-
duce them in proportion to the needs
Of the people. ~
To stamp out profteering and stop
unnecessary boarding.
To enforce vigorously present laws
| and promptly to enact such further
punish profiteering and needless
boarding,
To bring about better cooperation
and method in distributing and mar
; keting goods.
To keep both producer and con-
sumer fully informed as to what
goods, are needed and as to what sup
ton may anticipate the country's de-
mands.
Goods and not money are the means
! Of life. Better standards of living are
impossible without producing more
goods. Man cannot consume what has
not been produced.
At the wars end our allies a des-
We have had to share u resources
with them, but this drain will grad
ually lessen. In so far as our short
age of goods@is due to this cause we
can we'll afford to be patient.
It is just as essential that we have
patience with the economic situation
here at home. The process of produc'
ton requires time. If production !:
rapidly increased, vastly improved
conditions will prevail in Americs
when the results of present and FIJI
ture labor begin to appear.
Team work is imperative. 1t is jus
as essential between reGiler, whole
saler and producer. Is it is between
employer and employee. One grouI
OF producers cSnnOC walt on aHOllel
group. The manufacturer. the farm
er, the distributor must each imme
diately assume his part of the burden
and enter upon his task. The natio1
cannot afford curtailment Of good
vital to the people.
On American business rests z, grav'
responsibility for efficient co-opera
ton in bringing about full and pro
portionate production. On American
labor rests an equally grave RESPONSE
bility to attain maximum Unit pro
duction and maintain uninterrupted
distribution of goods if labor itself j
not to suffer from further rises in tn
cost of living.
The entire neutrality-suspicious., dis
tributor and consumer alike-shoul'
return to the unity that won the wal
Group interest and undue persona
/ gain must give way to the good Of tn
whole nation if'the situation is to b
squarelyf met.
Our common duty now. fully a
much sas dnsSthe war, is to work an
TOT save. n-the words of the presiden
in his address to the country on Aus
rs. 1919. only "by increasing produc
ton, and by rigid economy and say
ing on@the-part of the people, can "
hope .for--large decreases I'M the bur
Sdensome. cost of living which no.
. weighs Us down."
! Work, save, cooperate, produce.
r (sfgned)s Newton d. Baker, secre