The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-09
Capitol Square Solution of
High Cost of Living Problem
as Told to 1.-The Loiterer."

The world is in a state of unrest"
sclemniy observed the elderly gentle
man on our right. The remark was
delivered with an air of utter tinality
over the edge OF a much perused
newspaper. The speakers manner
II dicated that the sheet did not in
spire his decision; rather was il the
result of long and diligent research
into the knotty problems of the day.
He was gray and of scholarly ap-
pearance; with mild gray eyes which
Relied his emphatic dictum. spot
less collar which belied his frayed
cuffs, He was pointing to a headline
trum peting public mans advocacy
Of the stake or firing squad for prof.
teers.
But this is unwise". he continued
more placidly. "the profteer must he
caught before he is eloctrocuted. In
the meantime. such remarks only
serve TO infiame the minds of the
ignorant"
He will hereafter he referred to as
No. l.
The portly, middle-aged gentleman
two benches to the left scented. dis
cussion and fastened to the scene
He had weatherbeaten, honest
countenance: kindly. bright blue eyes,
with network of wrinkles at each
corner. and an air of great wisdom
His rainent was complete, but its
mission was obviously to lover and
not adorn. He will be known as No.
10
The trouble amt very hard to
locate he ventured gently pointing
East with an eloquent forennger. LAS
! long as they let them packers store
up millions o pounds of beef until the
public is willing to pay any price for
n mouthful we are going to have I'M
rest. Why, I was a boy when cold
lstorages were first thought Of and
then the government said t'would be
II great help to the farmer It has
been his ruination." He warmed to
his subject.
THE remedy is a very simple one"
be went on. "let the government
operate the cold storages and deal
direct with the farmer Then tell
the packers, in a Christian way. You
| have stolen. 60 and steal no more
/ three or four per cent build homes
| for the working man and get six or
eight
But" We queried mildly. SIS II not
necessary to have these big packing
/ industries, where nothing is wasted
hut the death-cries of the animals"
ooh. well. you can have en-" con-
coded No. with a generous sweep
Of his hand. have EN- under gov
eminent supervision government
ownership. But let the farmer sit in
the halls Of the house and senate and
keep an eye on EN- In George
Washington's day we had men from
the farms to run our country and
that's what we need today
No, smiled toierantly. Education"
he said, lis the only real solution, of
the problem. When you admit that
incompetent or dishonest represen-
tatives cause bad conditions. you ad-
nit in the same breath that the people
who place these representatives in
ONCE are fools and incapable of self
government.
You admit that you have the
simple solution for all the country's
difficulties. Would II not then be
advisable to make you ruler OF all the
land, TO vest you with absolute power
tc say what shall or shall not be
done?"
Il wouldn't do IL" said No. 2 in a
butt tone democracy Is the only
government for me, for the people,
c1 the people. by the people. Ger
many made a mess of the other plan.
Il agree with you though" he said,
II people We're educated, all these
wrongs would .he righted But it's
the capitalists" he whispered. the
packers. that use their money to keep
the people ignorant. Their money
he qualified. with balefui glance in
our direction, behind the newspapers.
and"
Almost lunch
hungry :" We mumbied nerv-
'cusly and left Nos. and to
salvage tho wrecked world unaided.