Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-22
Time to Get Busy at Home.


has discovered that Herbert Hoover's
purchasing agents bought in this
country eighteen million pounds of
beef at higher price and of higher
quality than that fed to American
soldiers. when there might have been
bought surplus War department
stocks of beef The better beef was
used in relief work abroad. This
proves not only that we are really
the servants. not to say. the goats, Of
mankind. but that there are reasons
for the continually increasing prices
in the United States.-National Re-
publican.
An Augusta business man on Mon
day said to the writer:
Isn't it about time, now that the
President has settled everybody's
troubles in Europe and the Orient,
to get down to Americas affairs and
interest himself in the troubles of
ITO millions Of Americans?
Manufacturers give notice that
clothing is to be 100 percent. higher
why? The Department of Agri-
culture warns that unless the people
resume buying meats at prevailing
high prices. and higher If somebody
in the business happens to think he
wants the money, the stock raising
industry will be ruined. Why?
Does the President know of these
things that are uppermost in the
minds Of 80 per cent Of Americans ?
If not. he should certainly know
enough about it to cause him to wish
to know more of the facts. If he
does know as much of conditions as
the average business man knows,
what do he and his political family
and the departments and bureaus of
administration propose to do about
it,"
1t Is a pretty serious state of af-
fairs when the great mass Of citi-
Gems have reason to believe that
their government, or some branches
of it are deliberately playing into the
hands Of certain rich and powerful
interests to fatten the pockets Of that
few at the expense Of the buying
public.
The illustration given by our ex-
change above quoted, and called to
the attention of Kennebec Journal
readers several days ago. is a strik-
ing one. The sudden solicitude of a
federal department for the fate Of the
live stock industry is interesting.
But why this anxiety: Does the
federal department of agriculture
know what percent Of the live stock
raising industry is in the hands of
the big packers to the discourage
ment Of small raisers Of stock for
market?
Because Of the ramidcations of
beef trust influence in all sorts Of
business: because of the secret con-
troll Of this grasping and blood
sucking octopus in a thousand ave-
nues OF the very life Of the nation. a
bill has been introduced in Congress
providing for a licensing system Of
businesses in interstate and foreign
commerce. The author Of the meas
ure, We believe, was Senator Kenyon,
Republican. Of Iowa. 1t provides, in
substance. that every person engag-
ing or continuing in any of the fol-
lowing named businesses in inter-
state or foreign commerce must be
licensed by the Secretary of Agricul-
ture:
1.-Slaughtefing live stock.
2.-Preparing live stock products
for sale.
s.-Marketing live stock products.
4.-conducting or operating
stock yard.
5.-Live stock commission.
6.-Collecting or distributing live
stock marketing quotations or market
news.
7.-Buying. selling or shipping
dairy products. poultry or poultry
products in excess Of 100000 a wear.
AS we understand it. the bill gives
the secretary of agriculture the
power to limit licenses to certain
lines tof industry and to prohibit
them from carrying on or investing
capital in other lines, and authorizes
revocation Of licenses or a receiver
ship when any company is found
guilty Of unfair trading or violating
the conditions Of its license.
OF course the object is to end,
promptly and effectually. the secret
operations Of these great concerns,
working together-and so rich from
their picldngs Of the people that they
do not know what to do with their
money now rapidly embracing
every branch Of food.producins in
dustsy and product from farm to
table, from i've stock to footwear,
from sheep ranch to clothing. The
infant Of the bill - to prevent,
through sovsrnmsnt watchfulnsss
and authority. the I'VE muitimiilion.