Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-11
Monday, August II, 1919.
No More Anaesthstie, Please


increasing means Of profit grabbing.
But the President does know and
he recommends action in correcting
vicious practices" We had assum-
ed that he would recommend rem
edies for the ills that every citizen
has diagnosed as his own malady.
He could not do otherwise once he
had admitted that he was aware Of
the prevalence.
But the utterance against which
we have put zero is the Presidents
appeal to merchants and others to
deal fairly with the people. Just why
he should expect these men to cease
their exaction Of exorbitant profits
for his sake when they have delib-
erately taken from neighbors and
friends their consciences daily hard
ening and their demands daily more
confident ana extortionate.
The Presidents use Of statistical
facts proves that he Is aware of
this development Of greed. for he
says:
IT need not recite the particulars
Of this critical matter: the prices
demanded ere paid at the sources
Of supply, at the factories, in the
food markets. at the shops, in the
restaurants and hotels, alike in the
city and In the village. They are
familiar to you. They are the talk
Of every domestic circle and Of every
group OF casual acquaintance even.
It Is q matter of familiar knowledge,
also that a process has set in1
which Is likely, unless something is
done, to push prices and rents and
the whole cost Of living higher and
yet higher, In a vicious cycle to |
which there is no logical or natural
end"
And later
The facts seem to justify the
statement that in the case Of many
necessary commodities effective
means have been found to prevent |
the normal operation Of the law of
supply and demand. Disregarding
the surplus stocks in the hands Of
the government, there was a greater
supply of foodstuffs in this country
in June this year than at the same
time last years. In the combined
total Of number Of the most i'm
portant foods in dry and cold stor-
age the excess is quite 10 per cent.
And yet prices have risen. In a few
foodstuffs the prices have declined
but in nothing like the proportion in
which the supply had increased. For |
example. the stock Of canned toma- |
toes had increased 102 per cent and |
yet the price had declined only Isl
cents per dozen cans. In some cases
there had been the usual result of
an increase in price following a de-
crease Of supply. But In almost ev-
cry instance the increase Of price
had been disproportionate to de-
crease in stock
At one place, the President said
But what we can do we should
do, and should do at once. And there
Is great deal that we can do. pro-
visional though 1t may be. Wheat
shipments 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
lower the price Of -four here. The
government has the power. within
certain limits. to regulate that. we
cannot refuse to send wheat to for
eign people who are In dire need Of
II, ana we do not wish to do SO; but.
fortunately. though the wheat $
not what we hoped 1t would be. It
il abundant, II handled with provi-
dent care" N
The President recommends the
punishment of those who are profit
eertng, with the switch we have in
hand. He says the government will
nut on the market. as a measure Of
relief all the clothing and foodstuffs
ia its hands. He demands that stocks
of foodstuffs held in storage for gain
be withdrawn and sold to the public
a fair prices: also that a limit be
provided on the holding of food in
storage. He urges that marking of
Goods with the actual cost Of produc-
ttcn 20 that consumers may know
where and by whom they are being
robbed. He asks that q federal IL
csnse be required for all corpora
lions doing an interstate business.
sAd provisions for control Of issues
of sstock securities to prevent the
further spread Of the stock water
ins swindle.
And. finally. the President urges
speedy ratification Of the peace treaty
az . means Of aiding business, quiet
ins public anxiety and unrest. ana
sstahlishins . better and more Oh.
timistic morale throughout the ma
tion. -.
With these expressed desires Of
the President We agree. It 10 use-
less 10 reAsct that these thoughts and
facts should have bs4n presented In
the President's address q ths con.
venins Of the sxtrsordinary session
nnt - csn indulge ins the hope thai
tho f0uswing out oe these rscem.