New-York tribune., 1919-08-18


dent of Cornell University and former Min
ister to Germany and Russia, vvdly por
trays lamentable failure Of "The Law of
the Maximum to France in 1893, notwjth
standing the guillotine was freely used to
compel compliance with tho edct. Mr.. White
says: "There are limitations to the powers
of government and Of peoples that 'nhere in
the constitution Of things, and that neither
despotisms nor demccracies can overcome"
He doubtless referred specifically to rcgua-
tons of prices, etc.
Permit US to brief conditions since the
war began, to the end that the true causes
for the high cost of living may be fairly
understood.
War-7'0rn Europe
let US call pre-war prices normal in the
United States in 1914 Sirce then the pro-
ductive energies Of 1000, 900 to $4,000 900
Of men, also vast manufacturing plants,
have been turned into destructive instead
of constructive employmeDts. AS some TO-
100000 strong men and 100000 tons Of
shipping have been ruthlcssly destroyed;
as the remaining ships at command have
been largely used in Transporting armies,
munitions, etc, across the seas; as war-torn
Europe, that could not produce much be-
fore to sustain life has produced less food
and other necessaries than prevailed before
1915 as the Russian supplies, which for
merly helped feed Europe, under Lenine and
Irotzky were confscated, and that great
source OF supply practically cut off: as
shortage Of shipping has greatly curtailed
the neutral world from helping supply the
war zone; as starving Europe erie. aloud
FOR food, ETC., from the United States; as,
since the armistice was signed, the de-
mcbilzing and change back to normal has
tested the worlds energies, therefore I'D to
the present time little progress has actually
been made to attain reproduction approx
mating former conditions
If so, is it not clear that abnormal de-
mands for an underproduction Of world food
and other necessaries has forced prices
above normal tho world over?
II farmers are forced to an eipht-bon,
day, we fear the city man will be COM
PEELED 20 hoe his own corn or starve.
The Only Panacea
We must be patient. To aggravate the
situation, the walking delegate and the SEN
tlmentailst have demanded higher pay for
labor, winch would not be so bad if il were
not coupled with an insane demand for
shorter hours Of work, thus decreasing pro-
ductlon, when increased production is the
only panacea worth fig to cure the worlds
famine. This simple but effective remedy
be understood Nv ,,,orv oool
men. Popular clamor gloats over the camou-
haged cnarge that the trusts, the middle
men, ETC., are the real culprits. We cannot
deny the charge, in small way compare
lively, to the vast ramifications of com
merce. but the government takes the great
profitecrs by the nape of the neck and makes
them disgorge 80 per cent on income taxes.
N9.- honest man objects to just prosecution
OF clearly defined wrongs
1t seems a crime to continue further 10
dope the patient with such fallaces. as
they VIII soon bring universal distress. and
labor viii be the chief sufferer All history
says so. No sane man can afford to be un
just 10 labor Capital and labor are both
necessary 20 human progress. and inst in
proportion as one suffers the other suffers
also.
BE IT enacted theories never made two
olaoeS OF grass grow where grew be-
lore But labor does. Longer and not
shorter hours starving world must have
Increased production is the only true rem
edy for the high cost of living, and also the
only true principle for added comforts in
the world of progress.