Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-12-26
PALMER SPE AXIS At
H. c. CONF FERENCE
Root Out the Profiteer, the Attor-
ney General Says.
PUBLIC SCORN GREAT WEAPON
Addresses Delegates From All Parts
of Illinois at Chicago Meeting
Urges Punishment of Men Re-
sponsibIe for Conditions.

CnlcaS0, dec. Il.-AtIOrHey 0eneT-
al A. Mitchell Palmer arrived in Chi
cage heraiding battle against the
high cost of living and the profiteers
| that are hehind it.
Root out the profiteer-expose him
| to public scorn,' was the keynote of
his message, which he delivered be-
| fore a gathering of mayors of Illinois
| towns and cities, club women, officials
of retail dealers associations. district
attorneys and state officials. Cover
| nor Lowden presided at the meeting
| Palmer's message. given to report
| ers, was:
| "We will enforce the existing foou
laws to the strictest letter. In antlci-
patton of the enactment of legislation
| that would enable the department to
deal more effectively with profiteer-
| ing end other causes of the high cost
of living, the fair price committee
| idea has been put in operation.
Through these and through gener-
al public cooperation we hope TO get
at the root of the problem and | as
sure that every corrective measure
| within the power of the United States
attorneys office will be exerted to
| remedy present conditions
Prices Bound to Go Down.
He asserted that prices had not adj
vanced recently. but had maintained
| nearly stable figure. This, he point
ed out was on indication that activ-
81; rct n
ready were having effect.
"If we can keep prices stationary
for time they are bound to go down,
he said. IF we can stop the move
ment of this vicious circle-increased
wages, increased prices and increased
production, chasing each other
around like dog chooses its taii-and
hold the line steady, prices will drop
Just as sure as a gun is iron.
Mr.. Palmer was hurled from the
depot to the waiting gathering, where
he was given an enthusiastic recep-
ton.
In his opening remarks he de-
nounced the profteer and laid the
blame for high prices to three causes
the wars taking out of the ranks
of industry millions of producers,
the increased credit currency of the
world and the passing on of govern
ment taxation.
Relief is ia sight, however" he
said. "SOme relief has come even in
the retail trade. Take food products
Cattle and hogs in the hands OF the
original producer in the West have
gone down so far that the cattle and
hog men have been to Washington pro-
testing vigorously against this cam
paign, which they say is going to rob
them of their profits.
"That has so far been refiecte! IN
the wholesale price of meats. for you
can observe from the market quota
lions from day to day that bacon ana
other pork products, as we'll as meafs.
as far as the wholesale prices ale
concerned have fallen off in some in
stances something like 20 or 20 per
cent. To some slight extent that has
also been reflected in the retail dis
tribution, but not nearly so much.
"But the stream flows down hill,
not IN. and once it is started on
steady flow the result will finally be
appreciated, because 1T can plainly be
seen upon the table of the American
people.
All Left to a Jury.
Under the law, if retailer sells
at an unjust or unreasonable rate of
profit he may be punished, but jury
must say that he has done so. Our.
theory is that if we put into the hands
of q Jury of II men of the commun-
itv the same evidence that convinced
YOUR fair price committee that GER
tain price was just and reasonable,
that Jury will do just what your fair
nrice committee did, and the result of
if will be that the profiteer will find
himself a criminal, so that the fair
price committee. in cooperation with
the prosecuting attorney. may thus be
the engine behind the enforcement of
this law in a way that will terrify, in
nv Judgment, the profteer in every
community.
at am a strong believer in the GRIM
inal law in connection with these mat
ters. l have great confidence that the
fear of punishment is the greatest de-
terrent in the mind of any dealer who
starts out to gouge the people in any
line"
Women took a prominent part In
the conference.
TWENTY PERISH In CYCLONE