The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-13
u. S. MAY FACE
SHORTAGE OF
NECESSITIES
Reckless Export Will Inevita-
bly, Result in F anime Here at
Home, Says Sanborn.
BY WILLIAM r. SANBORN.
Second CHAPTER.

oeCOuu Cnapler.
Taking the pre-war average at 100,
we find the present cost of food in
this country is 209. or possibly little
higher. This is bad enough. but the
average in war torn France is now
30S. due to substantially the same
causes as have resulted in price
aviation in the United States and in
Canada.
There is large excess demand over
supply in France and throughout all
of Europe, and this fact is reflected
in our exports of food and other nee
essities, the heaviest Of record.
So far as our own wants are con-
cerned we have an abundant supply
OF all the staples and many of the
luxuries. We can spare a goodly per-
centage to our friends overseas and
have been and are being more than
charitable in this respect But even
so, there is limit beyond which we
can not safely pass. We must protect
our own and feed them first OF all;
not lavishly or wastefully, but at least
sufficiently
Sells to Highest Bidder.
The highest bidder now lives in
Europe" Great exporting, producing
and manufacturing organizations In
this country, men who hold every
ounce Of our surplus food in the hol-
low Of their hands, are seeking the
highest bidder on which to unload, re-
CARELESS of who he is or where he
lives, providing he has the price or
can arrange satisfactory credits on
this side Of the ocean.
Should the American public be
forced to become the highest bidder"
for the necessaries of life, both as to
food and raiment, one can hardly i'm
agine to what heights prices might
climb. We are not anticipating that
condition., but it is a possibility. Sup
pose we clean out our food reserves
and have great crop losses next year.
What then? Who knows how far our
stock of foods, manufactured textiles,
leather, wool or cotton will go II all
were retained at home? No living
soul can tell.
Nor can any soul forsee to what ex-
tent the present abnormal foreign de-
mand will grow in a twelve month.
Could Europe spare the money, or ar
range satisfactory long time credits,
how long would it take to clean this
country out, providing we would su-
pinely allow such export? And then
how high would prices, wages and the
entire cost of living climb, while we
scrambled for the remnants?
We are not anticipating such con-
dition. l would not be allowed to &C.
cur to the bitter end But it is pos
sible that we may go little too far,
in that direction, before calling halt.
Much depends on the rates of ex'
change. The French, Italian and some
10 foreign buyers right now. but so
badly does Europe need our goods
that the shipment and continued sales
of necessities goes on at an acceler-
ated pace, from week to week.
Take Stock, Then Embargo
When should Uncle Sam take ac-
count Of stocks? When should an
embargo on certain articles and pro-
ducts go into effect? Well, the stock
taking day seems about due; after
that we can better decide on when
and on what embargoes should be-
come effective. or arise.
What did England do with reference
to American shoes? Took all she had
to have until she secured the bulk
70 our manufactured kid and calf
skins, and all other kinds of leather
she found available in our markets
that money would buy, and American
greed sacrifice for an extra profit, and
Immediately embargoed American
shoes, being in condition to manufac'
ture her own footwear. Some Ameri'
can tanners will be working for En-
glish shoemakers for months to come.
Billions In Exports
The value of American goods sent
abroad in June totaled $91S,212.671,
greaking the American export record
These are government figures, issued
weeks after the goods had escaped