Arizona republican., 1919-09-14

16OrSG x. klLI, FIucSO0s J. A. w diHt- sley, Globe; w ". Orr. Miami; c. W. Pratt, Douglas; John H. Ware, King man; Harry A. Diehl, Phoenix; G. ". Barrows, Phoenix; J. J. Miller, Ray; E. A. Ely, Wilcox; George F. Wilson, Globe; F. H. Ensign. Phoenix; E. F, KeIeser, Jr.. Superior; J. T. Lesueur, Mesa; c. Fred Bracket, Mesa; G. A. Patton, Phoenix; A. H. Marshall, Phoe- nix; J. K. Vinton, Ajo; E. Riley, Ajo; George A. Johnson, Mesa; A. s. Stapley, Mesa; w. c. Butler, Phoenix.
 John H. Langston, assistant United States attorney, represented the federal government: Louis B. Whitney. the at torney generals office, and George H. Smalley, the food commissioner of Ari- zona, T. A. Riordan.
 People Get First Chance
 Governor Campbell outlined the ob- ject of the meeting, gave a brief talk on the recent governors conference at Salt Lake City and of the committee conference at Washington with the at torney general and the president and reviewed the recommendations of the attorney general for a general and searching investigation into the high cost of living.
 The attorney general has stated declared the governor to the merchants, that we in this state, as well as the people of all other states, will be given an opportunity to go ahead with this investigation ourselves, to cooperate with the federal government in every way to this end. In the event that we do not, the government will send in vestigators of it's own.
 Tt has been suggested that fair price committees be appointed in every coun- | ty. We must get this information ? stated the governor, it is a big duty with us. We should get into the same spirit we were during the war; I have big confidence in you men that you will do your part in clearing this up.
 Government to Help
 John H. Langston, assistant United States attorney, stated that it had been no prosecutions in Arizona by the gov ernment for profiteering. The reason was, he said, because it is the an- nounced policy of the government to leave this matter to the state. If the state fails to carry out the recommen- dations and to enforce the laws, the federal government will then act.
 The government is giving the people this opportunity" declared Mir. Lang ston, "and it is hoped that they ap- preciate it. The thing to do is to make It very unpopular for man not to come forward and cooperate. We are ac- cumulating a large amount of informa- tion."
 Louis B. Whitney told the merchants | that the state law in regard to profit eering was almost as strong as the federal law. The most difficult thing, he said, was to get the evidence. How ever, he declared that if the merchants will cooperate with the state govern n1ent, that the latter would work with the federal government.
 Find Some Profiteering
 George H. Smalley, representing T. A. Riordan, state food commissioner stated that during the war Arizona had the finest food administration organi- zation in the union. Enforcement was left with the merchants which, saic Mr. Smalley, is the spirit the United States wishes displayed now. The food administration was almost entirely suspended at the signing oI the arrnistice," said Mir Smalley. "The bars were let down. It is the desire of the government to return to former conditions. Because we found 13 re- tail dealers and one wholesale store 1T | Tucson taking unreasonable profits, il
 
 about everything those dealers han. died. On the contrary" said MT. Srnal ley. Eft represented only a compara l lively few commodities.
 There is more squalor and poverty in Tucson among the lower class thai 1 ever before" MT. Smalley declared. H, told of some extreme cases. Dies of Starvation | Do you know that a man in Tucson working for the state, died of starva tion? He had four or five little chil dren and was working at the univer sity for only $60 a month It wa | found after his death that he had de nied himself for those children unti he actually came to his death by star vation, and this in the state of Ari zona. The state of Arizona is re II sponsible for such low wages. It ha not kept up with the high cost c | living.
 II Tn our investigation we paid partic ular attention to the stores patronize by the poorer people. In one which ha a meat market department, the pro | prietor told me that he knew of GUS toners of his who had not had mea for 30 days.
 II Tn looking over the business me assembled here, said Harry Diehl T hardly think they could | called profiteers. Conditions that con front the merchant today are seriou During the war we thought we had h the top in prices, but the end is nc yet. In the past three months" | stated. "shoes had increased in pric B pair. We are searching to lear what has brought this about and ho we merchants can assist in adjustin | this much mooted question"
 "Why Start at Top?"
 As merchants" declared Larry v Quinlan of Rabbit Brothers store we have nothing to conceal. We hay been accused of many things, but lit has been proven.
 T think that during the war II merchants of Arizona were 99 per eel American. We, as merchants, cam understand why this subject of reguls ton of prices is being attacked fro