Evening journal., 1919-08-09

here or elsewhere untl the treaty OF
peace is out OF The way and the work
Of liquldating ihe war has become the
chief concern Of our government and
of the other governments or The world
Until then business will inevitably re-
main speculative and sway now this
way and again that. win heayy losses
or heavy gains as 70 may chance, and
the consumer must take care Of both
the gains and the losses. There can be
no peace prices so long as our whole
financial and economic system is on a
war basis
Europe Looks On.
Europe viii not, cannot, recoup her
capital or put her restless, distracted
peoples TO work until she knows eX-
actly where she stands IN respect OF
peace: and what we viii do IS for her
The chief question upon which her
quietude OF mind and confidence OF
purpose depend. While there is any
possibility that the peace terms may be
changed or may be held long in obey
ance or may not be enforced because
OF The divisions OF opinion among the
Powers associated against Germany 10
is Idle TO look for permanent relief.
"But what we can do we should do.
and should do al once And there is a
great deal that we can do provisional
though n be. Wheat shipments and
credits to facilitate the purchase OF our
wheat can be controlled in such a way
as not Co raise but rather 10 lower the
price Of wheat Is lower in the United
has The power. with certain limits, to
regulate that.
I'VE cannot deny wheat to foreign
peoples who are in dire need Of 10. and
we do not wish 10 dos: but fortunate
ly. though the wheat crop Is not what
we hoped il would be. it is abundant.
II handled with proyident care. The
price OF wheat Is lower in The nited
states than in Europe and can with
proper management be kept so.
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 at which
there IS no profit.
"And by way OF a more permanent
correction OF prices surplus stocks In
private hands VIII be drawn out OF
storage and put upon the market. For
tunately. under the terms OF the food
control act The boarding OF foodstuifs
can be checked and prevented: and
they will be. with the greatest energy.
HOarding Can BE Ended.
'FOodstuffs can be drawn out OF stor~,
age and sold by legal action which the
Department OF Justice viii institute
wherever necessary; but so soon as
the situation Is Systematically dealt
with 10 is not likely that the courts
viii often have TO be resOrted 20. Much
OF the accumulating Of stocks has no
doubt been due 90 fhe sort OF specula-
ton which always results from uncer-
tainty. Great surpluses were accumu-
lated because it was impossible 10 fore
see what the market would disclose /
and dealers were determined 10 be
ready for whatever might happen. as
well as eager TO reap the full advantage I
of rising prices. They will now see /
The disadvantage, as well as the danger. /
Of holding OF from the new process OF
some very interesting and significant |
facts with regard 20 stocks on hand and I
The rise OF prices I'm the face OF abun- |
dance have been disclosed by the in
qulries Of the Department OF Agricul- !
lure, the Department OF Labor and the
Federal Trade Commission. They seem
10 justify the statement that in the case /
lf many necessary commodities ef-
'ective means have been found TO pre-
vent the normal operation Of the law
IF supply and demand
'Disregarding the surplus stocks In
he hands OF the Government, there was
J greater supply Of foodsluffs I'm this
country on June I OF this year than at
he same date yast year. I'm the com
,ined total OF a number Of the most
Important foods n dry and cold stor-
lge the excess is quite 10 per cent And
ret prices have risen
"The supply Of fresh eggs on hama
n June Of this year. for example. was
greater by nearly 10 per cent. than the
upply on hand at the same time last
ear, and yet the wholesale price was
% ceuts a dozen as against 30 cents a
'ear ago.
lore and Higher Fowls.
THE stock Of frozen fowls had IN
reased more than 29s per cent, and
'ct the price had risen also from 3i1s I
ents per pound 10 37ik cents. Tho
upply Of creamery butter had increas-
d i29 per cent, and The price from AZ
O 80 cents per poU2d.
"The supply Of salt beef had been
augmented per cent, and the price
lad gone up from s3i a barrel 10 $50 a
'arrel. Canned corn Increased in stock
early % per cent. and had remained
ubstantially the same in price. In a
sw foodstuffs the prices had declined,
mt in nothing like the proportion in
which the supply had increased.
"FOr example. the stock Of canned TO-
latOes had increased i02 per cent and y