The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-29

surplus Of most things. Therefore. Euro
peans continue to buy fr'm US and thus
prices increase.
We have gone into deba goth as a nation
and as individuals. when the dollar was
worth only fifty cents. Now, do We want
to depress prices and increase the value
of the dollar and be compelled to pay our
Men who are appointed food controllers
try to do the spectacular thing and make
people believe they are serving them. All
food controllers including Mr.. Hoover. in
the long run do infinitely more harm than
good. They pay little attention to eco
nomic laws. They may for a time keep
down prices of some things. but prices of
those same things after time go higher
than ever. The more governments meddle
with prices. the more harm they do. The
cost of enforcing food control acts thru
the army of people employed amounts to
great deal more than any possible result
Ing reduction in the cost of living. :
The only possible excuse for government
interference is when there is a limited
takes control to distribute 1t fairly for the
time being II such action tends to dis,
instead OF helpful.
From time to time during the past four
thousand years, governments have tried
failed and has hurt the people instead of
helping them. The same result will fol-
Most public officials who talk freely
abont reducing prices are talking simply
for effect: They. do not offer suggestions
wise people to stop buying SO freely.
Shallow thinkers seem to see in a sur
plus one cause for high prices. They con-
denim people who have stored butter, eggs,
meats and other food products. In fact,
prices would be far higher If it were not
for the practice of storing surplus food
stuffs in the harvesting season against
time of scarcity during the winter and
spring season.
Lower wages. stagnant business, the dis
continuance of building. Observation-Disclosures,
men thrown out OF work-these will bring
down prices. Do you want to pay this
Everybody wants high prices for the
things they produce and low prices for the
things they buy.
The people in the cIties-workmen, mer-
chants, bankers, and practically. everybody
in trade-are working shorter hours, get
ting more dollars, spending more money,
than ever before in history. Then they
complain because the farmer does not sell
wheat for a dollar and hogs at cents.
Any man, or woman, who wants to, can
feed himself today in practically any town
or city in the United States at a cost of 40
to Go cents per day, depending upon the
nature Of his work, and maintain his
health, increase his efficiency, and feel
better than he does today.
Notwithstanding the complaint against
high prices for food, people stick to the
cities instead of moving to the country
where they can produce for themselves
That means that with all the outcry the
city is still more attractive than the coun-
try. If we should try to maintain this
situation by artificial means, our entire
civilization will break down. City people
must get over the notion that it is the duty
of the farmer to feed them cheaply.
President Wilson seems surprised that
there is more food in storage than year
ago, and apparently he thinks that is re-
prehensible. Were we not asked to pro-
duce mose? Were we not assured that
there would be profitable market for all