The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-08-13
Several Methods Of Giving Re
lief to People Suggested
to Congress
HIGH PRICES CAUSED
BY VICIOUS PRACTICES
He Discussed Strike Situation
and Expressed Opinion That
Idle Men Make Matters Worse

Idle Men Make Matters worse
Washington, Aug. S-.President
Wilson laid several specific proposals
before congress today for checking
the high cost of living, but at the
same time declared permanent results
could not be expected until peace tlme
bases were fully restored by ratahca-
ton Of the peace treaty
| High prices. the President told con-
gcess. were not justified by shortage
| of supply, either present or prospect
| i've, but were created in many cases
"artifcially and deliberately by-va-
rious practices" Retailers, he said,
were responsible in large part for ex-
tortionate prices.
Strikes, the President warned the
labor world, would only make matters
worse and those who sought to en-
"preparing their own destruction.
Leaders of organized labor. the Presi-
dent said, he was sure would present
ly yield to second sober thought.
illegal and criminal We're the
words the President used in charac-
terizing the methods by which some
present day prices have been brought
about
Present laws, he said, would be en-
ergetically employed to the limit to
force out food boards and meet the
situation so far as possible but to
supplement the existing statutes he
specifically urged the following:
Licensing of all corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce, with
specific regulations designed to, secure
competitive selling and prevent "un-
considerable profits" in the method of
marketing.
Extension Of the food control act to
peace times and the applications of its
provisions against boarding to fuel,
clothing and other necessities Of life
as we'll as food.
A penalty in the food control act
for proItepring.
A law regulating cold storage, lin
iting the time during which goods
may be held prescribing method of
djsposing Of them if held beyond the
permitted period and requiring that
when released, goods bear the date of
storage.
Laws requiring that goods released
from storage for interstate commerce
bear the selling prices at which they
went into storage and requiring that
all goods destined for interstate COM
merce bear the prices at which they
left the hands of the producer.
Enactment Of the pending bill for
the control of security issues.
Additional appropriations for gov
ernment agencies which can supply
the public with full information as to
prices which retailers buy.
Early ratification of the peace treaty
SO that the free process Of supply and
demand can operate.
Immediate steps by executive agen-
cies of the government promised by
the President included:
The limiting and controlling of
wheat shipments and credits to facili~
tate the purchase of wheat in such a
way as not to raise. but rather to
lower the price of flour at home.
'>tile VI SUI plus SlOCk VI SOOQS anu
clothing in the hands OF the govern
ment The forced withdrawal from
storage and sale Of surplus stocks in
pNivate hands.
General recommended tions include:
Increase Of production.
Careful buying by housewives.
Fair dealing with the people on the
part of producers, middlemen and
merchants
That there be no threats and un-
due insistence upon the interest Of
single classes.
Correction of "rnany things" in the
relation between capital and labor in
respect to wages and conditions of
labor
In concluding the President made a
plea for deliberate. intelligent action
reminding congress that an unbal
anced world was looking to the Unit
ed States.
I'VE and we almost alone" he said.
now hold the world steady. Upon
our steadfastness and self possession
depend the affairs Of nations every
where 1t is in this supreme crisis
this crisis for all mankind that
America must prove her metal
Wv.