Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-08-14

the l.s OF our people upon tolerable
footing VIII be makeshift and provi-
sionaL There can be no settled condi-
ton here or elsewhere until the treaty
OF peace is out Of the way and the
work OF liquidating the war has be-
come the chief concern of our govern
ment and of the other governments of
the world. Until then business will
inevitably remain speculative and sway
now this way and again that. with
heavy losses or heavy gains. as II may
chance and the consumer must take
care of both the gains and the losses.
There can be no peace prices so long as
our whole financial and economic sys-
tenn is on a war basis.
Europe Must Know Situation.
Europe will not. cannot recoup her
capital or put her restless distracted
peoples to work until she knows exact
ly where she stands in respect to
peace; and what we will do Is for her
the chief question upon which her quiz
etude Of mind and confidence OF pur-
pose depends. While there is any pos
ability that the peace terms may be
changed Or may be held long In abey-
ance. or may not be enforced because
OF divisions of opinion among the pow
ers associated against Germany, 1t is
idle to look for permanent relief.
Points Out Present Duty.
But what we can do we should do
and should do at once. And there is
great deal that we can do. provision
al though 1t be. Wheat shipments and
credits to facilitate the purchase Of our
wheat can and will be limited and con-
trolled in such way as not to raise
but rather to lower the price Of -four
here. The government has the power
within certain limits. to regulate that
We cannot deny wheat to foreign peo-
pies who are in dire need of It. and we
do not wish to do SO; but, fortunately,
though the wheat crop Is not what
we hoped It would be. 1t is abundant
II handled with provident care. The
price of wheat is lower in the United
States than in Europe. and with proper
management can be kept so.
Immediate Relief Measures.
BY way Of immediate relief. surplus
stocks Of both food and clothing In the
hands of the government will be sold and
of course sold at prices at which there
is no profit. And by way OF a more per-
manent correction of prices surplus
stocks in private hands will be drawn out
of storage and put upon the market. For
tunately under the terms of the food-con-
troll act the boarding OF foodstuffs can
be checked and prevented, and they will
be. with the greatest energy. Foodstuffs
can be drawn out of storage and sold by
legal action which the department Of
justice will institute wherever necessary;
but as soon as the situation is systemati-
cally dealt with It is not likely that the
courts will often have to be resorted to.
Much of the accommodating of stocks has
no doubt been due to the sort of specu-
lation which always results from uncer-
fainfV Great wor
lated because 1t was impossible to foresee
what the market would disclose and deal
ers were determined to be ready for
whatever might happen, as well as eager
to reap the full advantage Of rising
prices. They will now see the disadvan-
tage. as well as the danger. of holding
OH from the new process Of digttbution,
Significant Facts Quoted.
Some very interesting and significant
facts with regard to stocks on hand and
the rise of prices in the face of abund-
ance have been disclosed by the inquiries
Of the department Of agriculture, the de-
partment Of labor and the federal trade
commission.
They seem to Justify the statement that
in the case of many necessary commodi
ties effective means have been found to
prevent the normal operation of the law
of supply and demand.
It would serve as useful example to
the other communities Of this country, as
we'll as greatly relieve local distress II the
congress were to regulate all such mat
ters very fully for the District OF Column
bia. where its legislative authority is
without limit.
Would Have Prices Plainly Marked.
would also recommend that It be
required that all goods destined for in
terstate commerce should In every case
where their form or package makes 1t
possible be plainly marked with the
the producer. Such a requirement
would bear close analogy to certain
provisions of the pure food act. by, which
1t Is required that certain detailed in-
formation be given on the labels of
packages of foods and drugs.
And 1t does not seem to me that we
could confine ourselves to detailed
measures Of this kind. If 1t Is indeed
our purpose to assume national control
of the processes of distribution. /
take 1t for granted that that is our
purpose and our duty. Nothing less
will suffice. We need not hesitate to
handle a national question in ma
tional way. We should go beyond the
measures have suggested. We should
| formulate a law requiring a federal
! license of all corporations engaged in
| interstate commerce and embodying in
| the license. or in the conditions under
| which 1t is to be issued. specific regu-
| lations designed to secure competitive
selling and prevent unconscionable
! profits In the method of marketing. :
Law Would DO Much.
| Such a law would afford a welcome op
portunity to effect other much-needed re
forms in the business of interstate ship
| ment and in the methods of corporation,
which are engaged in It; but for the mo
ment confine my recommendations to tn,
object Immediately in hand, which Is +,
7. lower the cost of living.
4 May not add that, there Is bill nov
pending before the congress which, |
4 passed, would do much to stop speculation
/ and to prevent the fraudulent methods o
promotion by which our people are an
i nually fleeced OF many millions Of hard
earned money. I refer to the measur
proposed by the capital issues committe
for the control of security issues. 1t Is
measure formulated by men who knoy
the actual conditions OF business. and It
adoption would serve . great and bene
fcent purpose.
) We are dealing. gentlemen Of the coz