Evening journal., 1919-12-17
PALMER URGES
FAIR Price LIST
Attorney General Says High
Prices Are Criminal in
Many Instances
JAIL FOR PROFITEERS
UNDER NEW LAW

CHICAGO, aDec. IA. Mitchell Pal
mer, attorney general. yesterday pledged
the fun power Of the Department of
Justice in the prosecution Of hoarders
and proflteers In a talk in which he
outlined to 400 city officials. heads Of
civic organizations and club women OF
Illinois the program Of his department
In combating the high cost Of living.
plea for the assistance Of every man
and woman in the country in a national
fight against high prices was made by
Mr.. Palmer at the meeting, which was
called by Governor LOwden.
Explaining the plan Of action. where
by fair-price committees in every COM
munity become agents Of the Federal
Government in enforcing its dccrees
Mr.. Palmer laid down a program Of five
conservatiOns, which, II carried out,
would do much TO deal death blow to
the high cost OF living.
Despite all objections and obstacles,
! propose 10 go through with this cam
paign" Mr.. Palmer said. IF indus
trial conditions do not get too bad dur
ing the next few months, we can bring
real relief"
OF the rich, in that their incomes, as
a rule, had kept pace with the rapidly
mounting cost OF living, Mr.. Palmer
added. The salaried worker was the
man who had felt the full brunt Of
higher costs, because he had been the
last to obtain relief.
The chief causes Of the high cost OF
living. he pointed out, We're decreased
fr.n - 10 In
flated currency, due 10 government bOr-
rOwings, and heavy taxes. which he
charged were passed on by business
men TO the ultimate consumer.
In every line Of trade there are sell
fish and greedy men who have taken
advantage Of after-war conditions 20
add to their prices and profits" Mr..
Palmer said such men are the prof.
teers, and / purpose TO devote all the
power at my command 10 root them out
and expose them TO public scorn. and
if necessary, in public prisons. The
pronteer Is worse than unpatrlotic. He
is criminal. ask the States attorney
general Of Illinois to go after those
devils with all the force you command"
Activities Of the Department Of JUS
tice, he said, had uncovered 2i9 cases
against food hOarders, which had re-
suited in the libeling and distribution
in eighteen States OF millions Of dollars
worth Of food.
Ninety-eight cases had been brought
against proilteers, many OF whom were
indicted, and some Of whom were SER
wing sentences.
Il am not worried over hurting the
retail dealers" he added. They have
had their harvest time and now the
people are TO get a look In. The finest
weapon in this campaign is knowledge.
Let the people know the facts and they
Will take care Of the rest"
Mr.. Palmer described the efforts being
made TO get Congress to continue the
operation OF the Lever control act for
six months after the declaration OF
peace, and TO pass law requiring the
price at which an article left the pro-
iucer to be stamped on the article.
If we can get that law we will stop
profiieering," he said when you go
TO the shoe store, if you see plainly
stamped on a pair Of shoes the whole
sale price of $3.50, you simply aren't
going to pay sis. ! know Of a great
department store In one OF our cities
where the sale price on goods has no |
relation to the cost. They advertise |
a special sale, and when the people |
come running, because they think they |
are going TO get something cheap, the |
price is marked up because the demand |
5 greater.
An organization Of women, organ
lied as they never were before, will /
do more to bring down prices than any /
single movement. When women make 1
up their minds they will not buy at !
present prices, then prices viii come 4
down.
Women should set their faces against
these expensive and everchanging
styles.
Merchants are shouting buy now.
Ny advice is, do not buy now Wait
for lower prices When demand Is les
sened the supply Is increased, and
prices must inevitably fall.
I'VE must urge the people TO eXer-