The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-08-09

the world Is ON the operating Gple,
and II has not been possible TO adj
minister any anaesthetio. II II con.
scious, IL even watches the capital
operation upon which IL knows that
It's hope OF healthul life depends.
IL cannot think its business out or
make plans or give intelligent and
proyidcnt application to its affairs
while in such case. Where there
is no peace OF mind there can be no
energy In endeavor. There can be
no confidence In industry, no caieul.
able basis for credits. no confident
buying or systematic selling. no Ger.
tain prospect Of employment, no
normal restoration Of business. no
hopeful attempt at reconstruction or |
the proper reassembling OF the dis
located elements OF enterprise until
peace has been established and so
FAR as may be. guaranteed.
our national life has no doubt been
less radically disturbed and dismem.
bcred than the national life OF other
peoples whom the war more directly |
affected. with all its terrible ravaging |
n N q destructive force. but II has
been. nevertheless. profoundly affect. |
ed and dlsarranged and our indus |
tries. our credits. our productive ca.
pacity. our economic processes are |
inextricahly interviewer with those OF /
those nations and pcoples-most Init.
mately Of all with the nations and |
peoples upon whom the chief burden 1
and confusion Of the war fell and |
who are now most dependent upon /
the co operative action OF the world.
We are Just now shipping more
markets than we ever shipped be.
fore-not foodstufrs merely. butt
stuffs and materials OF every sort.
but this Is no index OF what our
foreign sales viii continue TO be or
OF the effect the volume OF our cx.
ports viii have on supplies and
prices.
II Is impossible yet TO predict how
far or how long foreign purchasers
viii be able TO find the money or the /
credit to pay for or sustain such pur
chases on such scale. how soon or |
to what extent foreign manufac-
turers can resume their former pro |
ductlon. foreign farmers set their ac-
customed crops from their own fields. |
foreign mines resume their former |
output: foreign merchants to set mp |
again their old machinery Of trade /
with tho ends Of the earth.
All these things must remain un.
certain until peace Is established and /
[ h c nations Of the world have con. /
ccrted the methods b. which normal /
life and industry are 20 be restored |
All what We shall DO. In the mean-
time. 10 restrain proftecring aud put /
thf life of our people upon a toler-
able footing viii be makeshift and
provisional.
There can be no settled condition
here or elsewhere until the treaty OF
peace II out Of the way and the work /
OF liquidation Of the war has become
the chief concern OF our government |
and OF the other goyernmcutn OF the |
world. Until then. there win inev-
ltably remain speculative and sway !
now this way and again that. with |
heavy losses or heavy gains a. II may |
chance, and the consumer must take |
care OF both the gains and the
losses. There can be no peace prices |
40 long as our whole financial and |
economic system Is on a war basis.
Europe Needs Help
Europe will not. can not. recoup |
her capital or put her restless. dis |
tracted peoples to work until she |
knows exactly where she stands In |
respect OF peace: and what We viii |
do for her Is the chief question upon |
which her auietude Of mind and con
fidencc and purpose stand
While there is any possibility that |
the peace terms may be changed or |
may be held long In allegiance. or
may not be enforced because OF divi |
stons OF opinion among the powers |
associated against Germany. II is idle |
to look for permanent relief.
But what we can do We should do. |
and should do at once. And there IL |
a great deal that we can do. provi. |
sional tho II may be. Wheat ship |
mcnts and credits TO facilitate the |
purchase OF our wheat can and will |
be limited and controlled In such a |
way as not to raise. but rather low.
CT the price Of flour here. Tho gov.
eminent has the power. within GER
tain limits. to regulate that. We can |
not deny wheat to foreign peoples |
who are in dire need OF II. and we |
do not wish TO do so. but. unfortun. |
ately. tho the wheat crop IL not |
what we hoped IL Aould be, ~ In |
abundant. II handled with provident |
care. The price of wheat Is lower In |
the United States than In Europe. |
and can. with proper management, |
be kept SO.
Sell Food and Clothing Il
BY way OF immediate relief. sur.
plus stocks Of both food and cloth. |
Ing in the hands Of the government
will be sold. and, Of course. sold at
prices at which there Is no profit.
And by way OF more permanent
correction Of prices. surplus stocks
In private hands will be drawn out
OF storage and put upon the market
Fortunately. under the terms OF the
food control act. the boarding OF
foodstuffs can he checked and pre-
vented. and they will be, with the
greatest energy. Foodstuffs can be
drawn out OF storage and sold By le-
gal action. which the department OF
justice will institute wherever neces.
sary; but 80 soon az the situation IL
systematically dealt with, II Is not
likely that the courts will often have
TO be resorted TO. Much Of the accu.
mulating Of stocks has no doubt
been due TO the sort OF speculation
which always results from uncertain.
~. Great SURPRISES were accumu.
lated because II was impossible to
foresee what the market would dis
close, and dealers were determined
to be ready for whatever might hap.
pen, as well as eager to reap the full