Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-23

Andrew D. White. former president
of Cornell University, former minister
to Germany and Russia. wildly por-
trays a lamentable failure of The
Law OF the Maximum in France in
1898, notwithstanding the guillotine
with the edict Mr.. White says:
There are limitations to the powers
of government and of peoples that in
here in the constitution of things. and
that neither -despetisns nor democra-
cies can overcome. He doubtless re-
ferred specially to regulation of
prices, etc.
Permit us to add this testimony of
T. r. Nautilus from his Essay on
Population as 1t Affects the Future
Improvement of Society (17ss): NAL
thus declares: The absolute impos-
sibility from the fixed laws of our
nature. that the pressure of want can
ever completely be removed from the
lower classes of society AS space
forbids. in proof of our contentious.
will quote the substance of Malthus'
philosophical conclusions. Listen:
suppose, that by a subscription of
the rich the Is pence a day men earn
now was made shillings, 1t might
be imagined that they would then be
piece OF meat every day. But this
would be a very false conclusion. The
transfer of shillings and s pence a
day to every laborer would not in
crease the quantity of meat in the
country. There is not at present
enough for all to have a decent share.
What would then be the consequence?
The competition among the buyers in
the market of meat would rapidly
shillings a pound
Including abnormal demands for
export abroad that condition clearly
has resulted here and now with the
Again, supposing that the same
quantity of work is done as before, it
may at first appear strange, but I be-
lieve it is true. that l cannot by
means of money enable a poor man
to live much better than he did be-
fore. II turn up a piece of agricul-
tural land and give him the produce 1
then benefit him. and all the members
of society, etc.
Increased Production, Remedy.
DO not these simple illustrations
prove that increased production is
the only sane remedy?
Permit us to brief conditions since
the war began, to the end that the
true causes for the high cost Of ltv-
ing may be fairly understood.
Let us call pre-war prices normal
In the United States i'll 1914. Since
then, the productive. energies of 3d.
100000 to 50,00O,O00 of men; also
vast manufacturing plants have been
turned into destructive instead of con-
structive employments. AS some TO-
100000 strong men and 1900, 900 tons
of shipping have been ruthlessly de-
stroyed; 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 before to
sustain life. has produced less food
and other necessaries than prevailed
before 1914; as the Russian supplies,
which formerly helped feed Europe,
under Lenin and Trutsky were con-
hscated and that great source of sup
ply practically cut on; as shortage OF
shipping has greatly curtailed the
war Zone; as starving Europe cries
aloud for food. ETC., from the United
States;s as since the armistice was
signed, the demobilizing and change
back to normal have tested the worlds
energies. therefore up to the present
made to attain reproduction approx
imating former conditions.
IF 30. Is 1t not clear that abnormal
demands for an interpretation of
world food and other necessaries has
forced prices above normal the world
over?
"If farmers are forced to an eight
hour day, We fear the city man will
be compelled to hoe his own corn or
starve.
BE it enacted" theories never made
two blades OF grass grow where one
grew before. But labor does. Longer
and not shorter hours a starving
tion is the only true remedy for the
high cost Of living, and also the only
true principle for added comforts in
the world of progress"