Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-09

peoples TO work until she knows exact
liz where she stands in respect oil
peace; and what we will do Is FOR her
the chief question upon which her
quletude OF mind and confidence OF
purpose depend, While there Is any
possibility that the peace terms may DO
changed or may not be enforced be-
cause of divisions OF opinion among
the powers associated against Ger
many It is idle to look for permanent
relief
But what we can do we should do
and should do Mt once. And there Is
a great deal that we can do, provision
al tho It be,
Wheat shipments and credits to ia
cilitate the purchase Of our wheat can
and will be limited and controlled in
such a way as not to raise but rather
TO lower the price of flour here. The
government has the power, within GER
tain limits. 10 regulate that,
I'VE can not deny wheat to foreign
peoples who are in dire need of 1t, ana
we do not wish to do SO; but fortu-
nately, tho the wheat crop Is not what
we hoped it would be, 1t is abundant IL
handled with provident care. The
price Of wheat is lower in the United
States than in Europe, and can with
proper management be kept so.
Will Sell Surplus Stocks.
by way OF immediate relief surplus
stocks of both food and clothing in the
hands of the government will be sold
and of course sold at prices ut which
there is no profit. And by way of
more permanent correction of prices
surplus stocks in private hands will be
drawn out of storage and put upon the
market Fortunately under the. terms
of the food control act the boarding of
foodstuffs can be checked and pre-
vented and they will be, with the
greatest energy.
"Foodstuffs can be drawn out of
storage and sold by legal action which
the department of justice will instl-
tute wherever necessary: but so soon
as the situation is systematically dealt
with it is not likely that the courts
will often have to be resorted to. Much
of the accommodating of stocks has no
doubt been due to speculation which
y
Great SURPRISES were accumulated
because it was possible to forsee what
the market would disclose and dealers
were determined to be ready for what
ever might happen, as well as eager "a
reap the full advantage of risinS
prices. They will now see the dlsad-
vantage, as we'll as the danger of hold
ing off from the new process Of distrl-
button.
Significant Facts on Hand.
Some very interesting and signifi-
cant facts with regard to stocks on
hand and the rises 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 operation
of the law of supply and demand.
"Disregarding the surplus stocks IN
the hands of the government, there
was a greater supply of foodstuffs IL
this country on June l of this yeai
than at the same date last year. In the
combined total of number of the
most important foods in dry and colo
storage the excess is quite 10 per cent
And yet prices have risen.
The supplies of fresh eggs on hanc
in June of this year, food ample, was
greater by nearly 10 per cent than th3
supply on hand at the same time last
year and yet the wholesale price was
40 cents dozen as against 80 cents a
year ago.
THE stock of frozen fowls had in
creased more than 29S per cent and
yet the price had risen also from 34E
cents per pound to 3712.
The supply Of creamery butter nae
Increased 129 per cent and the price
from II cents to SO cents per pound.
The supply of salt beef had beer
augmented per cent and the price haC
gone up from $34 Il barrel to $36 q
barrel.
Canned corn had increased II
stock nearly go per cent and had re-
manned substantially the same il
price. In a few foodstuffs the prices
had declined. but in nothing like pro
portion in which the supply had in.
creased.
Gives Concrete Example.
For example, the stock of canned
tomatoes had increased 102 per cen
and yet the price had declined only y
cents per dozen cans. In some cases
there had been the usual result of al
increase of price following q decrease
OF supply but in almost every 1nstanc'
the increase Of price had been dispro
portionate to the decrease in stock.
The attorney general has been max
ing a careful study of the situation al
a whole and of the laws that can b.
applied to better it and is convinced
that, under the stimulation and temp
tation of exceptional circumstances
combinations of producers. and com
binations of traders have been formed
for the control of supplies and of price
: which are clearly in restraint of trade
and against these prosecutions will b.
! promptly instituted and actively push
ed which will in all likelihood have
prompt corrective. effect.
There Is reason to believe that tn
! prices of leather, of coal of lumbe
/ and Of textiles have been MATERIAL.
affected by forms Of concert and CO
! operation among the producers ant
marketers of these and other univers
| ally necessary commodities which !
will be possible to redress.
mo watchful or energetic effort vii
| be spared to accomplish this necessar,
result l trust that there will not b
many cases in which prosecution will
! be necessary. Public action will n
doubt cause many who have perhap
unwittingly adopted illegal methods t
! abandon them promptly and of thei
| own motion.
Publicity Can Help.