Norwich bulletin., 1919-08-08

-s ; < S, ..- r5s E til prohteering became so. noticeable everywhere. and until the commodities that working people are compelled. to pay for were permitted to be sin- creased;t doubled. and trebled. without any question and often seemingly with the approval of the government. F We are nearer war in this world today. I believe, than when the kaiser threw down the gauntlet. Our law makers are to blame in my opinion, because the masses of the people would be behind them if they would attempt to correct It. anda surely there is power to correct it. but. ipstead they are playing politics as some of these tics. and it is the same all down the line"
 T Perhaps you've read this before Even if you have, read it again And then stop reading and set your think machinery, at work.
 Is NIT. Lee right as he puts it? Is he mainly right. with some reserva- tions? Is he right only in spots? Or is he all wrong
 Tn quoting him don't want to be understood as indorsing all he says nor as denying anything he says. simply want to stir you. if possible into some serious thought upon a mighty serious situation.
 Naturally, Mr. Lee throws the chief blame on the "profiteers.' Some Of the bigger i.newspapers-those which de- light to call themselves metropolitan are already countering with asser tons that it is the farmers, more especially, who have. brought on the storm by their greed. Sti1l others intimate that it. is the labor unions with their endless strikes and demands for more pay.
 On a certain historic occasion, when the eating of. forbidden apple was under investigation, the man blamed ii on the woman. and the woman blamed it on the serpent. and the serpent blamed it on the devil. As the devil more could be done except to lay, on the whole world to itsslast generation the burdens of sweat and travail:
 It's always the recourse of guilt to shift its responsibility if it can. No man Ger felt the halter draw without blaming either the hangman or the judge or the jury or the witnesses or the sheriff Or anybody but himself '"sHe made me do it,'' wi1impers the schoolboy who sees the switch brought out .'He tempted me, or lied to me. '' charges the. man arraigneds for trial. It's. always some outsid .he''s that is at fault-neyer T .s.es ..sss
 Thus the wage -earner who finds his wares insufficient to buy the. supplies he wants planes it on the storekeeper, wholesaler. And the wholesaler planes it on the producer. And the producer planes it on <t1e wage-earuer, whose demands for more pay compel him to charge higher prices.
 There you have the vicious circle. As each man feels the club fall on his shoulders he whaclzs the next man with his own shillaleh. till the pound ing has gone the entire round. Where upon. some one in the circle gets ma d and threa tens to draw his snickershee and cut out the Iivers of the whole bunch if they don't stop pounding him. Meanwhile he is to be allowed to keep his own club going according to his own pleasure.
 As farmer myself I am naturally somewhat incersed over, the attempt of the fellow. farther down the line to pass back the blame to me. He says food Is internationally high and, since farmers produce the food, it must be they who are responsible.
 We'll milk Is a. food The farmer who sends it to New York city gets about six cents quart for it. And the peddler who totes it round the