The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-09-18

sible for the widespread demand that
the upward trend of living expenses
be stopped and is the reason Why
congress, the president and the cabi-
net have taken an initiative, in sharp
contrast to their policies of inaction
which prevailed until a couple OF days
ago. The people will not stand much
more increase in prices. Just how they
can accomplish an effective protest
they do not know. This lack of pos
sible remedy is the dangerous ele-
ment in the unrest. National discon-
tent directed against a specific thing
and capable Of being carried out by
a predetermined course is not danger
Gus. even if injurious. This Is the
fundamental principle Of strikes. But
when the disconnected have no COM
mon and recognized object to fight,
and no clearly defined manner in
which to reach that underlined object,
and when the elements which produce
the discomfort are increased, the con
dition becomes so filled with danger
Gus consequences that statesmen and
governments dare not ignore it.
Self interest ought to cause the
profiteers to stop their pillaging.
For, while it is impossible to lay the
finger of blame on any particular one,
there is little doubt in the minds of
the most conservative observers and
none in the mind of the general pub
IA. thot tho .nenr h;Nh nr;anc ara
~chargeable to them. When the proc
ess of throttling begins, it may not
stop at a fair level. The pendulum
may be forced so far in the opposite
direction that disaster will follow in
the wake of the change. No one wants
to see a panic or to realize a reign of
bankruptcy such as generally follow
reactions Of the kind indicated. Such
calamities would wreck prosperity
and hurl the nation into a condition
which, with the tax burdens and
other penalties of the war, would be
%ruinous. If the profteers are respon-
sible for the conditions, they would
suffer the heaviest losses. The re-
action would be against them.
Some Of the methods suggested in
congressional resolutions are fraught
with danger. Among these is the one
to reduce the volume of currency so
as to debate the value of the dollar.
Imitation may be the partial cause OF
high prices, but it does not require
an expert to understand that reduc-
ing the volume Of money in circula-
ton, making the dollar more difficult
to get, would increase instead Of re-
lieve the present difficulties. True,
debating the dollar might in time ac-
complish all that is desired. If the
buying volume of money is cut in
twain, in time prices must be cut In
twain also, because there would not
be enough money in circulation to
pay present mes This is an academic
statement of the proposition, but it
illustrates the point. Disaster must
follow deflation until prices are like
wise Debated. If these events took
place simultaneously, no injury would
result. But the defation OF prices
would not come until the effect of the
debated dollar worked It's way from
producer to retailer. Meanwhile the
individual with a Debated dollar
would be up against an inflated price.
Investigations may find the causes
of high prices, but they will extend
over months, while immediate and de-
cisive results are demanded. Such in
vestigations should have been made
months ago. The facts should be in
the possession of the government at
this time. The inquiries should be
ending instead of beginning. But if
no other course presents itself, the
and endure high prices until facts are
gathered which will enable the gov
eminent to alleviate the burden.
Foreign demands are assigned as
one of the reasons for high prices.
This probably is correct. America has
fed Europe through the starvation
periods of the war. 1t has done this
work whole heartedly and in a spirit
of humanity which has astonished
the world. But Europe has had a
chance to raise a crop in most of the
war starved regions. The radicalism
of food without work lies at the bot
tom of the starvation yet unrelieved.
, 1t would seem now that as Europe is
now able to supply most of her own
food if the people would work, some
consideration is due the American
) people. High prices of food in most of
Europe are possible because of Amer
, lean credit. This nation, in a way,
, is loaning Europe the cash to pay
} high prices for food, thus compelling
|, Americans to pay competing prices.
: When butter sells for 81 a pound, as
? it does in some European countries,
l someone is making a profit equiva-
lent to highway robbery. Sometimes
it looks as though an embargo on food
: products in general would be justi.
: fed until the excessive profits were
wrung out of prices both at home and
: abroad.
-.w S. So