The daily morning oasis., 1919-10-14
SUPPLY AMERICA FIRST.

II bear down upon the need of increased produc-
ton to reduce the high cost of living. An
other class takes the ground that that there should
be an embargo upon exports for a definite PERIOD
and that the productive forces of the United States
should supply wants and needs of the American
people before sending abroad commodities to supply
wants and needs of European Nations.
AS to this class first mentioned in the foregoing
the common sense of the people revolts; for it has
been known all along that there has been produced
an immense amount of foodstuffs of all kinds that
have been permitted to go to waste in the field,
where thousands of tons of prOduce--fruit vegeta-
bles, etc., have been permitted to rot ungather
ed; route by neglect OF commission men and ship
pers; and in storage by holding large quantities in
hand putting upon the market only what it would
absorb at the highest prices the people would stand
1t is an old story of how there have been thrown
into the waters of the Bay Of San Francisco, New
York harbor, and other places, many tons ea"h day
of melons, vegetables and other kinds of pers able
produce rather than let them 60 upon the market
and beat down prices. 1t is an older story ho7 in
the same markets large part of the catch OF fish
each day is turned back into the waters for the
same ends Time and again there have been pub
lished accounts of crops purchased IN the fields and
orchards yet never picked to limit the supply going
forward to markets. Again and again have the
public been told of millions of dozen of eggs held
in cold storage until spoiled and thrown away, in
order to keep prices up for those thatwere sold
And newspaper offices aare flooded with spec
ial articles trying to account for continued high
prices but none of them make mention OF facts such
as those recounted in the foregoing paragraphs.
The special articles come in all sorts of forms.
They are even sent in stereotype plates all ready
to slip into some place in a newspaper page where
ga filler is needed on short notice They cost Meth
ing to the newspaper; are sent gratultously: but
somebody pays for them. Concerns which make
such plates and pay postage upon them do not send
out their wares without pay But the newspapers
print them for nothingas "fillers" if for no other
reason.
Yet farmer after farmer in vicinity of metro
politan cities tell and do tell of shipments made
to commission men in those cities from which the
ouly return received is statement that the prod
9 uce was Spoiled when received and had to be
thrown away or it was kept unsod so long that it
spoiled anyhow, and was lost with an expense back
to the producer for freight charges and transfer.
And others can tell of finding floating in the
waters of the harbOr good melons that had been
crushed to let in salt water and spoil them. u
In the face of mass of such testimony the pro-
ducer is apt to scout the talk and published paaver
/. about the need Of "Producing more" He says
that he produces sufficient now to feed all the people
at moderate prices of middemen will only let it all
+ get to consumers.
Then those who ask an embargo on shipments
abroad have some show of reason in their demand.
Of course those who profiting by conditions
now existing against them and they point to the
want and need that Europe faces Their answer
is that "Amerca is not bound TO supply Europe to
the detriment of her own people" Not only is
that true in foodstuffs but in Il matt r OF wearing
apparel. There is no reason Why shoes, clothing,
hats, caps undercothing, etc.. should be maintain
ed at prices in the United 81 ateS because Europe
wants the goods. In fact there is doubt that
Europe pays so much for them does the United
States If it does let the surplus GO to Europe after
the people of the United States have been supplied
Right upon that very point a well known cit