The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-07
Governor Allen Makes First
Move Against PrOfiteers.
Committee Is Appointed To
Look Into Conditions.
USE PUBLICITY AS WEAPON
Hopkins Finds State Has No
+ Other Power To Act.
Only Antitrust Law ViOIatOrS
Can Be Punished.

Governor Allen today made his first
move to clip the bristles OF Kansas
profit hogs. The state also met its
first setback in the campaign. Gov
ernor Allen arranged for state and To-
cal organizations to. investigate prof
its. At the same time r. J. Hopkins,
attorney general. discovered that no
prosecutions could come except where
combinations or agreements are prov
en-. Relief will be sought in individ-
ual cases by turning on the searchlight
of publicity.
Immediate action is to be taken by
the state to gather evidence as to SELL
ing profits either by corporations, or
ganiZations or individuals who sell d.
rect to the consumer. Manufacturers,
crop raisers. and middlemen are also
to be investigated. Where evidence is
gathered regarding abnormal profits
without evidence of an organized move
in violation of discrimination and anti
trust laws, names and facts are to be
supplied to the press.
Names a Committee.
Action was taken by the governor
today when he returned from a trip to
Cherokee county. He appointed James
A. Kimball, state manager; Clyde M.
Reed, private secretary to the gov
ernor, and John H. Crawford, state Ia
Dor commissioner, as a committee to
investigate profit grabbing. They will
coordinate branches of the state gov
eminent and thru various depart
ments. institutions and agencies will
investigate profits of producers, mid
dlemen and retailers. Witnesses may
be called by the attorney generals Of
flee in an investigation under the anti
trust law
Wartime Organizations in the state
may be recalled to service Immediate
ly by the governor in his probe OF
prices. Local food and fuel commit
tees, council of defense members and
campaign committees will be asked to
aid the state in the move to make
Kansas climate uncomfortable fol-
profiteers.
Under the state laws prosecutions
may be launched where agreements
and combinations can be shown in the
boosting of prices. But Governor AL
len is firm in the belief that the
profiteering game in this state is q
disease rather than an organization
He has declared that the contagion
has infected every man and woman
with something to SELL AS a result
the state has become a hotbed for
profiteers.
Investigate the Retailer.
Scores of retailers in every section
of the state are to be investigated by
attorneys may be called upon by the
attorney generals office to aid in the
taking of testimony in the food and
living cost probe. Where law viola
tons are shown, prosecutions Will be
launched. Where individual profit
grabbing is shown, names of profit
hogs and the story of their operations
will be given to the newspapers. The
consuming public will be the court
and jury which will sit in these cases
to meet justice to the profit pig.
Every commodity which is on the
necessity list will be investigated
| Governor Allen asserted today. Farm
ers as we'll as manufacturers will b.
| called. Farmers will be asked abou
dollar watermelons. gold nugget Gu
cumbers and priceless eggs and poul
try sold direct to the consumer. On
the other hand the man who sell
shoes, canned goods, corn beef anC
cured or uncured ham will be asked
to bring his invoices and Justify hi
profits. The commission merchan
will be asked to justify 81 peache
which cost a dollar in Texas. and al
lowing a healthy freight rate to Kan
sas points.
There is nothing the state can d.