The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-10-24
COST OF LIVING MEETING.

II Is announced that In response to
the request Of the attorney general
OF the United States Cor. Roberts
has called a "cost Of living confer.
enee7 10 be held at the capitol in
Nashville next Saturday. This is al
interesting subject, one that concerns
most everybody. But judging from
the results 30 far obtained the efforts
made By the governmental agencies
during the past ten weeks have not
justified the money and the effort ex.
pended. This was predicted by this
paper when the campaign cOmmenc-
ed.
The whole question has been ap.
preached from the wrong angle PEG
pie have labored under the obsessi0n
that conditions that are not merely
local or national but are worldwide.
can be corrected through legislation
or by governmental regulation. The
world Is suffering from under pro
dncti0n and the one fundamental rem
edy ia an increase OF production. This
cannot come through legislation or
investigation. 1t must come az the
result Of increased toll and effort
There are too many idle people in the
world today. too many are trying to
avoid their duty TO society and To
solve our problems By spending their
time In leisure while In some mystic
riDus manner the governmental agen-
cies provide for the wants Of the
public.
II Ia to be hoped that at the con-
ference Saturday some one will have
the courage and the common sense TO
boldly face the issue. Too many pco-
pie are laboring under the delusion
that governmental agencies must be
constantly appealed to for a solution
OF every problem Of economies; that
in some way the age old laws o. sup
ply and demand may be changed by
legislative fiat. II every able bodied
man In the United States would 90
to work and work as their fathers
did for the next twelve months, saw
ing as much as possible, stop specu-
lating and trying to get rich without
effort, the whole cost Of living ques-
ton would solve itself.
1t is true that there has been very
decided and almost calamitOus reduc-
ton in the prices Of farm products
since the government commenced its
campaign But there has been no re-
ductlon In the cost OF things that en-
ter into the making Of these products.
This has produced situation that "
more serious than the superficial and
unthinking imagine. Instead Of en-
couraging production, It distinctly dis
courages production. The farmers
cannot be expected to produce cheap
food for all the other classes who are
receiving larger incomes and working
less than ever before in history. As
long as the present returns are enjoy
ed By labor and capital 1t is idle TO
expect any corresponding reduction
in the things that enter into the cost
OF farm crops. II IL too much to ex-
pect the farmer to produce food at
pre.war prices while paying ante-war
prices for the labor, the machinery,
the tools and the materials that ne
must buy in order TO grow crops. And
yet that is exactly what the moving
spirits In the campaign now in pro
gress In the nation seem to expect.
Anyone familiar with conditions in
this country knows that next year
there is going to be reduction and
a decided one. too, in the crops grown
in this county. This cause is not diff
ficuIt to find. Farmers simply cannot
obtain labor in competition with the
prices fixed by the government and
which are paid in other lines Of indus
try. They cannot compete in the mum
Der OF hours worked. Their products
are going down yet the cost Of all that
they buy promises to be no cheaper
Therefore the easiest way out is to
cut down the acreage.
These are facts that should be
brought to the attention Of the confer
ence Saturday. That meeting should
90 on record against strikes, disorders
or any movement that curtails pro,
duction. II should insist upon the
.-..1 .aIu4inr and rat a falso anlntinn