Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-03-03

lowing factories to close, and work
men to stay idle until consumption re-
sumes, is dangerous. To prevent I'M
certainty as far as possible, he is
organizing a board that will fix the
prices that the government will pay
for its own purchases. This price
does not bind private purchasers, or
industry, but it is expected that the
government scale will become basis
upon which others may agree in
carrying on their affairs.
Mr.. Redtield is very much heart
ened by the attitude which industrial
leaders have taken" He says that
capital should absorb the first shock
of readjustment, not only because it
is better able than labor to do So but
because capital has profited more
largely from war time business"
According to the secretary, capital is
carrying the most of the present bur-
den, and doing business without pro-
fit. He maintains that prices must
come down, and that readjustment
that will make everything cheaper
than it is now, must be arrived at.
The following from Mr.. Redfield
seems to rea oh the cruX of the situa4
ton: ''Who will complain, then, if
the government now lends hand to
business to enable it to go back to a
peace time footing: providing al
ways, of course, that the things which
business seeks to do and which the
government helps it to do are for the
good? In substance, finally,
we purpose to bring capital, labor and
the government into common counsel
together around one table and with
one purpose-to. do the best possible
for the country"
Return of The President.
When President Wilson went to
Europe there was an awful racket in
Washington loves pre-
cedents, and apparently Mr.. Wilson
never allows then to interfere with
his purposes. And so he went to Eu-
rope-a thing none of his predeces-
sors had ever done. A very unfriend-
~ lot of epithets were hurled at him
as he departed But the president
returns: and it is noticeable that the
Wilson smile" hasn't worn off. Hel
is acclaimed everywhere as "a leader
Who'll has done great things. He has
succeeded nothing succeeds ike
success, especially among politicians.
1t does not need Il partisan to ana1yZe
the situation: for though tons OF
words and speeches, may be spilled
upon the subject, the fact remains
that MI. Wilson has Il tighter grip on
and the official affairs OF the
country, than he ever had before.
And Mr.. Wilson returns with a def
nite and determined purpose to carry
his points at home. few are at
tempting to make politics" but most
Df Washington is obedient to the de-
mand of the nation, which undues-
is nnMag back Of the
president as vigorously today as at
any time since the beginning of the
war.
The league of nations stands in no|
LANCER Of getting tripped up in the
Monroe Doctrine. In fact it. is being
dearly pointed out that the two can
work together in entire harmony.
Candles For The Rich.
Thomas A. Ellison once predicted
hat the time would come when only
he rich could afford to burn candles.
In 1915 the average American family
spent So year for sperm oil and
candles, and they got 25 candle-power
lights for their money. Then came
kerosene, and this form of lighting
vas only two-thirds as expensive as
candles. Gas light in the average
ZONE, prior to 1855, cost about $34 a
,ear but of course the illumination
vas greatly increased as compared tol
hat furnished by candles and oil.
The average family is again back tol
he, so year basis for lighting, but
instead Of pickering candels, they
nave something like $4,000 candle
,ower-hours. When the Lord said.
Let there be light" it must have
,een in contemplation of the present
lines. But reckoned in the scale OF
he ..cost of living" electricity has
lone marvellous things.