Arizona republican., 1919-09-05
How to Bring Down Prices

The find out about the causes of the high cost of living the we find that the people themselves primarily to blame. We calling 7 upon the government for relief We forget that the people themselves are the government That is true in this case in extraordinary sense. Ordinarily when the people exercise functions they the election of officers under instructions adopt certain policies do certain things. But here people not their governmental capacity, in order the relief they praying for in their private individual capacities do certain things They curb the extravaganza of which they have been and guilty. The situation of which the people complaining cannot be greatly remeded until the people themselves 'Iearn some sense"
 There are some legitimate, unavoidable causes Of high prices They cannot be immediately removed by legislation or in any other way. will changing conditions to remove them. One of these having it's origin in the necessary sackening of production; another the necessary addition of much money the volume already in circulation All this was unavoidable but it is re- sponsible for but a small part of the present high prices.
 The profiteers and the food hoarders saw an op- portunity and quick embrace it, but the op- portunity did lie chiefly in the condition brought by the legitimate of high prices we have mentioned. The people furnished the oppor tunity and are continuing to furnish it by their travagance. Against this the government can do but little It may hunt down and punish the profiteers in and the hoarders of necessities. but if it should find and punish all of them, prices would not be greatly reduced. One effect that is widely con sdered. of popular extravaganza. is the putting and money into circulation, something alone that tends to keep up prices. That is some thing the government cannot combat
 When we speak of the increased volume of money a factor in the building up of high prices the money in circulation. We do not refer money in large volume in investment or ready for invest ment. We do not mean the money in savings banks. That is beyond the reach of the profteer is the fluid money, that which slips through the careless fingers of the people. that he catches It is the money of the capitalist of the who wants to get along in the world
 It is the "beggar horseback" who is making all the confusion and trouble. All this land, in every nook and of it, there people who think they have into wealth They had lived a hand to mouth existence and had not lived very well. With hitherto undreamed of high wages they are still living hand to mouth. They buying the best paying prices which the really wealthy or we'll to-do used handling money and with proper appreciation of it's value and will buy but who are continuing, as a matter of principle, the policy of retrenchment forced upon them in the war period.
 There is a popular reaction from the thrift which the war encouraged. The sale of Liberty bonds especially of the smaller denominations for which people saved and scraped is said to be enormous If one stands about the banking windows anywhere in the country where people yet making payment on the Victory bonds he will see men waiting take the unpaid for bonds off their hands. Thus more at a profit to themselves to flow through the channels of the late bond owners swelling the tide which is setting toward the profiteers The savings of two years are thus being disspated to the worst the most disastrous that could possibly be made of them
 This is the real situation with which the gov ernment has to deal and we may make an appraisal of what it is likely accomplish may reduce very slightly the prices pay for butter, for bread and for meat and other necessares of life It cannot very well and will not should not waste it's time and energy and the public money in attempting trol the prices of luxuries semi -uxuries
 It will be far better from an economic point Of view to leave the profiteers in luxuries and very their profits. The money they so accumulate will take it's place husbanded capital It will find it's way into investment It will be better for the coun- try that it should be in the hands of men who will save it. than that it circulating through the channels of trade. We have too much money in cir cuIstion Money cheap now.
 William Tanners Sacrifice