The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-18
EXPORTS, HIGH
PRICES, CAUSE
WATSON
Tells CROWD
Indiana Senator Says Con-
gress is on Trail of Prof.
teer-Clears Farmer - In
sists Wages Must Come.
ATTACKS PROFITEER

That congress was on the trail Of
ne profiteer, and that something
would be done as quickly as possible
when he, or other Illegal causes of the
high cost Of living, were found, was
the declaration of Senator James E.
Watson, Of Indiana, at the opening
session of the chautauqua Sunday af-
ternoon.
"Profiteering is skinning," said the
senator, ''and when we find the fellow
who is doing the skinning, we are 60
ing to deal with him" He said that
cause Of the right of free barter by
individuals, but that illegal profiteer-
ing was the combination of a group of
men to restrain trade and raise prices.
Prices can never come down as
long as wages are as high as they
are" said Senator Watson. He enum-
Grated as causes for the cost OF living.
gigantic exports to Europe, which he
said would have to be partially
checked, individual extravaganza, high
wages to labor, profiteering, and the
increase in the amount of money.
1--WE wasted our raw material as it
had never been wasted before" said
Watson.
I'VE In the congress, realized that
wages must be increased, and when
Mr.. McAdoo came before us early in
the war and said that the government
should take over the railroads and
wages should be increased, we agreed.
80 Per Cent is Labor.
"The trouble was that the increases
were not equitably distributed. They
did not 60 to the men who did the
praafncf Il, q
OF railroad men added to the cost OF
transportation, Of course, and it is evi
dent that the increase in prices was
not due only to the capital which pro.
duced 1t but to the laborer who
shipped 1t. I tell you 80 per cent OF
the cost of many articles Is due to the
cost of labor You cannot reduce the
high cost of living while wages are
as high as they are.
II believe in good wages, but
want them equally distributed, bu,
you must remember that you cannot
have these wages and not pay more
for what you buy"
Exports Lessen Supply.
While the United States exports tc
foreign countries the amount of fooC
} stuffs she is exporting now, lessenins
the supply for the American people
with every shipment. and until the
people practice more frugality. conser
vation, and economy, the high cost O
living will never be lesSened," he said
1T was not that l didn't want tt
come, but that I thought l ought tt
stay in Washington said Watson il
explaining his cancellation. He ex
planned that it had been his intention
to talk on socialism-its hold upon thi!
country and the dangers arijng there
from but said while looking over the
bill of fare at the hotel he had decided
to talk about the high cost of living.
Peace Brings Problems.
1--WE are practically out of war; hos
tilities ceased long ago. although il
the world at large there are seventeen
wars going on at the present time ant
others are threatening, but as a ma
ton we are at peace with all the world
Yet in peace and in the midst of al
tranquility may prosper, grow ant
finally triumph the most insidiou
troubles.
81 urge you to keep your heads OF
your shoulders, and your feet on th
ground and without agitation dea
with these problems. Agitation an
anguish defeat the very ends the
seek to conquer; they make US in
capable to deal with our mighty ques
tions.
Republic Confronts Crisis
81 tell you men and women that tn
republic confronts a greater crisis nov
than at any time before or after tn
war | believe. however. that within
two years in the homes Of America
!. the great problems are to be Tough
\ out and prayed out by the America
people themselves
People are disturbed about hoy
much it costs to live. l am intereste
in the causes; who is to blame, an
the remedy The president came be
fore us and read his message in whic
he set forth certain conditions an
certain remedies I am on the con
mittee wrestling with the license sys
tenn. so it is a good deal like the cour
speaking to you. but nevertheless
am going to give you some Of m
views.
when forty million men quit wor
and began fighting they ceased pre-
ducing and began consuming thre
times as much as they did in civilia
life. This has made a gap in suppl
from the beginning of the war unit
now.
Farmer Not Profiteer.
"Profiteering is 'skinning,' and tn
question is. who is the chief Skin
ner? Is it the farmer? He is no
organized. He takes whatever marke
price is offered. The farmer can't
profiteer. 1t is out of the question.
This statement was received with al
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