Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-14
Mise Words on a Big Problem
ism march shoulder to shoulder in

ism march shoulder to shoulder in
the recently published report of the
National Council of Defense on the problem
of the high cost of living. This Council, it
should be observed, is of a highly distin-
guished personnel and has had extraordinary
opportunities for wide and thorough investi-
cation. 1t is composed of Secretary Baker
of the War Department, Secretary Daniels
of the Navy, Secretary Lane of the Depart
ment Of the Interior, Secretary Houston of the
Department of Agriculture, Secretaries Red
field and Wilson of the Departments of Com
merce and Labor, respectively, and Mr..
Grosvenor B. Clarkson, Director of the Coun-
Gil. Having access to all manner of Govern
ment information and having authority to
institute any needful inquiry, these officials
were rarely well equipped and rarely well
positioned to get at the truth of the problem.
Hence their findings and suggestions merit
earnest consideration. Briefly summarized,
they are: THAT the Nations productive pow
ers have not been fully utilized since the
armistice; that too few goods, notably the
necessities of life, have been produced; that
the high cost Of living is due in part to I'M
avoidable war waste and increase of money
and credit; that there has been and is con-
siderable profteering, Intentional and unin-
territorial" There is nothing novel or star
Ting in these conclusions, but there is the
weight and force Of demonstrated truth in
them
Likewise the Councils recommendations
offer no sudden or sweeping solution, but they
do present base and rallying point for the
country's common sense and loyal impulse.
Produce more goods, and produce them in
proportion to the peoples needs. Stop I'M
necessary boarding and stamp out profiteer-
ing; improve the methods of distributing and
marketing goods, and increase cooperation
therein;-these, in sum, the only rene
dies proposed; and they are the only ones
which a fair and understanding mind can
propose. Goods, not money are the means
of life" says the Council. Better standards
of living are impossible without the produc-
ton of more goods. Man cannot consume
what has not been produced" And then
comes this sound and patriotic admoniton to
citizens, and all:
On American business rests a grave
responsibility for efficient cooperation in
bringing about full and proportionate
production. On American labor rests an
equally grave responsibility to attain
maximum unit production and maintain
uninterrupted distribution of goods If
labor itself is not to suffer from further
rises in the cost of living. The entire
nation-producer, distributor and con-
sumner alike-should return to the unity
that won the war. Group interest and
undue personal gain must give way to
the good of the whole nation if the sit
uation is squarely to be met
Such are the findings and recommenda
tons of the most stinguished, the most
competent, the most authoritative body that
has investigated the sources of the high cost
or living. The sooner this counsel is put gen.
orally into practice, the speedier and surer
will be the country's return to normal condi-
tons. Whatever runs counter to this good
practice-whether profteering, or loafng,
or industrial Stacking, or refusal to co-operate
tor the common goods deplorably unwise
and unpatriotic. For now of all times is it
true that no class, no vocation, no field of
special interest can live unto itself alone
It is imperative that we cease to think in
terms less liberal than those of our great com
mon interests Leave classism to the Boil
sheviki Americanism and humanity are the
guides for citizens Of thoughtful democracy.
Not alone what man himself is due, but also
: what he is due his neighbor; not his rights
only, but his duties we'll; not merely what
he can get, but what he can contribute to the
common well-being-these are the aims
worthy Of true Americans at this trying juno
ture. And these the only aims that will
lead US securely and Alright.