Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-25
The Prohteerina Wolf.

The riots in Florence were remarkable
IN that the rioters weiO ~ nearly or.
Derby and law-LhI.ihiY M rtou.rS could
be. EiotinS is always dotiHnce % Law.
but the Florcnttne mohs did their work
systematically, without hloodshcd. and
without damage to anyone other than
the food profiteers against whom their
attacks were directed Moreover, there
WIS no indiscriminate looung even IN
the provision stores. The asta blish
ments were fuui!essly cleaned. but the
provisions thus rcHuisitioned were dis.
trfhV:ed carefully by the leaders OF the
riots. Clothiers and other dealers n
necessities were not molested.
The manifestations of popular indig-
nstion in Florence snd other Italian
rao ,hss peep 5ssq BIT
high. and the Italian municipal author
ties have been unable 10 achieve any
mitigation of intolerable conditions.
Since the outbreaks these same authori-
hands. possibly without sound legal
warrant, and have compelled sweeping
price reductions. When rioters hold
themselves SO we'll in hand that they
'.appropriate' for distribution in the in
terests of the community they almost
assume the dignity Of revolutionists.-
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The meat problem is giving anxiety
to everybody. The consumer is troubled
by the high retail price. The stock
sell his cattle. Ordinarily he could at
ford to hold his live stock for a while.
feeding and fattening it; but grain
prices are now SO Unfortunately high that
will. so to speak. eat him up. The De
partment Of Agriculture is troubled be-
cause it knows that if there isn't a
profit for the stock raiser in his cattle
he not only will sell them off on any
terms to stop his heavy feed bills but
will quit raising any cattle at ALL Then
the country will be without beef.
1t is indeed an extraordinary situa-
there is an abundance Of beef on the
hoof and in the packing houses-an
actual oversupply-but such high retail
prices that the burdened public will not
The cattle raisers. the packers and the
Department of Agriculture want to
stimulate the consumption of beef Thew
want to teach the American people that
with so large a supply in the country
they no longer need to save beef either
for our soldiers or for the hungry peo-
pies of Europe. But the trouble is
American people aren't cutting down
their consumption of meat because they
think it is needed abroad. They aren't
cutting it down because they think
where else. They are cutting down
their consumption because they are not
willing to eat it at the prices demand
ed for it.-New York Sun.
Rioting, in any guise of orderli-
ness or responsibility. is rioting and
cannot be condoned. But sometimes
in history developments have proven
that determined contravention by the
populaee has sharpened the wits of
officialdom to the possibilities of
legal tools in promoting justice. 1t
doesn't matter now whether the
Italian government has proceeded
strictly within the bounds Of its laid
down laws. II 1t has been joggled
into supprcssing the high handed
robbery accomplished under protec-
ton Of law.
We hope no such measures, either
by people or government, will be
necessary in this country but GER
tain it is that unrest is increased by
brazen grabbing of profits by those
favored with opportunity. The
Federal Department of Agriculture
has Investigated and made public its
findings. In substance. it declares
that people must eat more meat to
savc the industry: and that the
wholesale prices of dressed beef and
live stock have dropped Is per cent
since Mar. /. but that retail prices
have been largely maintained and in
many cases increased as high as 20
percent.
The Department Of Agriculture
docs not. however. put its finger on
tho sore spot that is in plain view Of
Gil who open their eyes-the fact
that the public is carrying the bur-
den Of three retailers where it ought
to carry but one. and that trade
agreements" maintain prices where
all can live" Every hole in the
wall that opens up to grab its pound
.of flesh becomes a member instead of
q competitor. and the public supports
ut.
!. These are some Of the things that
Inre exaspcrating the public and
tlnatdpg the radical element Of com.
nnnitiss desperate. It y the dan.
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