New Britain herald., 1919-08-08
FOREIGN SHIPMENTS AND LOCAL
 PRICES.

1ue JHlleu states, III DedfllS lue burden for the rest of the world, is paying the fiddler in prices at home. Despite the fact that high prices are bound to prevail here after our wasteful and non- productive, as far as living essentials are concerned, two years of war, we are seeing them forced upwards still further by for eign demand. Recently our attention was turned to munitions, many of our men were lacking and the fields and agricultural establishments suffered. Reserve supplies helped a little, for time. but they were soon consumed and we were reduced to living upon what we could produce. Suddenly the war was over. Our demands for the yield of the fields were doubled we in our relief that the era of loss and self-denial was over, spent more than we could actually afford in purchas- ing things that were formally deemed luXuries and which the last year or two had proved we could get along without. There are few things which we use that are not derived from the earth in the primary stage and the fruits of the earth were called up- on for more yield than mankind could obtain. Thus, in the United States, we redoubled our demand, with the supply still lacking, and the men to garner the supply rot present Prices naturally went up. There could be no other result
 Then came Europe. Her resources were more depleted than ours, har- Vesters and matter to harvest were sadly thinned out by four years of struggle. But the munitions makers of Europe had money, far more than ever before, and the cheapest com modity in the world during war, next to human lives, was also begging for luXuries after the strain of years of self-denial. The money had to be spent and there was but one place to spend 1.-the United States, whose re- sources were greater than those of any other country. The result-high prices for our goods, for which our peoples were already heavily paying and for which the foreigner was bid ding thereby increasing prices. Man may*practice economy when he is forced to it. After he has been through the strain of the past few years he will not brook it, until the cost is more than he has, He owes if to himself to go upon an orgy of spending after a period of restraint The foreigner is the same as our cit lzen in this respect. Where cotton or even paper was good enough for clothes year or so ago he now has to blossom forth in the most exnensive regalia, for which he has the money. Where he did not grumble because there was no sugar in his tea or cof fee he must have it now, cost what it may. Where he was satisfied to walk he now demands a motor car. and he has the money, furnished bv a period of enforced thrift and high wages, to buy it.
 When the people demand luxuries and have the price of them they will cost more, and the cost of necessities is going up also. There are no luxur les which do not affect the cost of necessities. Leather is largely used in automobile construction for the up holstery. When we are buying it for this purpose it is taken away from the available market and the cost of shoes goes up.
 Our own demand for luxuries and the heavy foreign buying are two of the main essentials in the high price situation. They are also the eason for profiteers, the very essence Of the existence of the latter. Without the de- mand here could be no profiteering, though we do not thus excuse the ex- tortionists. Until such a time as the worlds reserves are again built I'D we may resign ourselves to an exceedingly high scale Higher wages or no, we are going to pay more, in fact higher wages makes.i it the more easy to supply our wish for luxuries, and therefore sets off the period when we are to have a surplus of supplies, as we will keep on buying while we have the price.
 We will not get lowered prices un- til we ease up on our demands. When each family here and abroad, is will ing to practice niggardly thrift our supplies will start gaining on the de-