Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-18
H. c. L.PROBE IN
OMAHA Gets OFF
TO POOR START
Don't Want to Attack Prices
Here Until After the Holt
days, Banker Says-Might
lnjure Xmas Trade.

Working in connection with the
Omaha Chamber of Commerce TO
solve the high cost of living prob
lem, the Nebraska Thrift commits
sion for weeks has been formulat-
ing a program looking to launching
campaign the first week in Janu-
airy along the lines outlined by Al
torney General A. Mitchell Palmer
Tuesday in Chicago befort a gath
ering of city officials and represent
atives of civic organizations and
women's clubs.
w. A. Ellis, assistant commits
sioner for the Chamber of Com
merce, declared that Paul w.
Kuhns, chairman of the industrial
committee, had been delegated by
the chamber to cooperate with the
state thrift commission, of which
Walter w. Head, vice president of
the Omaha National bank, is chair
man..
Working Out Details.
Mr.. Head asserted his commission
had been working out the details of
the campaign, which would not be
announced until after Christmas.
"We have deemed it the best
policy not to attack prices or at
tempt to reduce the high cost of
living until after the holidays" Mr..
Head declared. This view Of the
subject is taken, he said, in. the belief
that to launch the campaign now
would serve to injure the Christmas
trade.
One of the features already decid-
ed on by the committee, it was said,
is to remobitize the -four minute
men" to deliver addresses In the
theaters. ..
ohicials to Cooperate.
Il also was declared that the COM
mission contemplates soliciting the
cooperation of the United States
district attorneys, the state attorney
general, county attorneys and city
officials.
The idea also i. to appeal to
women's organizations to adopt
systematic method of purchasing
necessities, it was said, and it is the
plan to hold conservation meetings
urder various auspices.
Mayor Smith expressed his doubts
as whether a fair price committee,
as outlined by General Palmer,
would meet with success here. He
declared, however, he favored the
scheme Of holding conservation
meetings and otherwise combating
the high cost of living.
What Mayor Proposes.
my idea is that if every man in
Omaha would resolve not to buy
pair of shoes in 1920 costing more
than $l0," the mayor declared, "such
action would tend to bring down the
price Of shoes. On the other hand,
il every woman would resolve not
to buy hose which cost more than
$50 Z pair we would see the price
Of hosiery 60 down"
Mayor Smith believes in holding
conservation meetings in school
houses. 1.-THE people should refuse
to buy these excessively high-priced
things" he said.
Il am willing to go into this if the
mayor and council will enter into
il with the right spirit" said Com
missioner Butler. However, we
must 60 into the matter in whole
hearted way, decidedly more SO than
we did the recent rent probe. l de-
sire first to give the matter more
Thoughts and then I may have some
suggestions to offer"
Commissioner Zinaman's Idea.
City Commissioner Zimman fav-
ors representative of the city being
appointed to cooperate with the
federal authorities. 1--WE should
start with the producer and manu-
facturer The average retailer is not
making excess profits and it is fool
ish to jump on him first"
"When l read recently that $4,000
snillionaires in the twinkling of an
sye had stepped into the spotlight
in America | was convinced that
greed and prohteering were at the
bottom of conditions which should
not prevail in this country" said
Mrs. c. L. Hempel. president of the
Omaha Woman's club. Prices are
sky high and out of all reason. If.
the women believed a boycott would
accomplish anything in the way OF
relief l think the women's clubs
would be willing to endorse such
a proposition"
Will Take Two Months.
'We will have no business meet
ing of the club until January s."
said Mrs. r. L. Frantz, leader of the
home economics department of the
Omaha Woman's club at is likely
the subject of boycotting then will
be taken up. Already we have dis
eussed the matter, but no definite
action yet has been decided on 1t
THOUSANDS HAVE KIDNEY