River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-08-14

business and its adoption would serve
a great and benefcent purpose
No Ground for Dire Prediction.
There is no ground for some OF the
fearful forecasts / hear uttered about
me, but the condition of the world is
unquestionably very grave and we
should face it comprehendingly
Supply Above Year Ago.
Some very interesting and signifi-
cant facts with regard to stocks on
hand and the rise of prices in the face
of abundance have been disclosed by
the inquiries of the department OF
agriculture, the department of labor
and the federal trade commission.
They seem to justify the statement
that in the case of many necessary
commodities, effective means have
been found to prevent the normal op-
Grafton of the law Of supply and de-
mand.
Disregarding the surplus stocks in
the hands Of the government, there
was a greater supply Of foodstuffs in
this country on June 1 of this year
than at the same date last year. In
the combined total of number of the
most important goods in dry and cold
storage, the excess is not quite 10 per
cent. And yet prices have risen. The
supply Of fresh eggs on hand in June
Of this year for example was greater
by nearly 80 per cent than the supply
on hand at the same time last year
and yet the wholesale price was 40
cents a dozen as against 80 cents a
year ago. The stock of frozen fowls
had increased more than 298 per cent
and yet the price had risen also from
"a cents per pound to 371a cents. The
supply of creamery butter had in
creased 1923 per cent and the price
from Al to 50 cents per pound.
Few Products Lower.
In a few foodstuffs the prices had
declined, but in nothing like the pro-
portion in which the supply had in
creased. For example the stock Of
canned tomatoes has increased 125
per cent and yet the price has declined
only % cents per dozen cans. In some
cases there has been the usual result
of an increase of price following de-
crease of supply but in almost every
instance the increase Of price has been
disproportionate to the decrease in
stock.
Court Action Promised.
The attorney general has been MAX
ing a careful study of the situation as
a whole and of the laws that can be
prepared to better it, and is convinced
that under the stimulation and tempta-
ton of exceptional circumstances.
combination of producers and combina-
ton of trades have been formed for
the control of supplies and of prices
which are clearly in restraint of trade.
and against these prosecutions will be
promptly instituted and actively
pushed, which will in all likelihood
have prompt corrective effect.
There is reason to believe that the
prices of leather, of coal, of lumber
and Of textiles have been materially
affected by forms of concert and CO.
operation among the producers and
marketers Of these and other univers-
ally necessary commodities which it
will be possible to redress.
No watchful or energetic effort will
be spared to accomplish this necessary
result. I trust there will not be many
cases in which prosecution will be nec-
essary. Public action will, no doubt,
cause many who have perhaps unwit-
tlngly adopted illegal methods to aban-
don them promptly and of their own
motion.
And publicity can accomplish a
great deal. The purchaser can often
take care of himself il he knows the
facts and influences he is dealing with
and purchasers are not disinclined to
do anything, either singly or collective.
ly, that may be necessary for their
self protection.
Retailers Are Blamed.
There can be little doubt that re-
tailers are in part-sometimes in q
larger part-responsible for exorbi-
tant prices; and it is quite practicable
for the government through the agen-
cies I have mentioned, to supply the
public with full information as to the
prices at which retailers buy and as
to the costs OF transportation they
paid, in order that it may be known
just what margin of profit they are
demanding. Opinion and concerted &C
ton on the part of the purchasers can
probably do the rest.
Americas Final Test.
The calmness and capacity with
which America deals with and masters
the problems of peace will be the final
test and proof of her place among the
peoples of the world.
And, If only in our own interest, we
must help the people overseas. Eu-
rope is our biggest customer. We
must keep her going or thousands of
our shops and scores of our mines
must close. There is no such thing
as letting her go to ruin without our
selves sharing in the disaster.
In such circumstances, face to face
with such tests, passion must be dis
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