The Washington times., 1919-08-31

keep the people quiet. Dealers admit
frankly that II will not reduce the
cost OF living. To regulate. success
fully Il would be necessary to con-
troll and even manage the various
businesses to prevent forcing certain
merchants into bankruptcy and the
allowance OF exorbitant profits to
others. Regulation Is a combination
OF procrastination and strangulation
with only the possibility Of the lat
ter put into the compound.
Commercial interests Control
What is true OF regulation is true
OF all governmental efforts. The
pressure on officials to prevent, stifle
and divert any and all means to limit
profits and reduce the difference be-
tween labor values and sale values
is continuous and irresistible. No
matter now earnest an official may
be in his desire to relieve the great
mass OF the citizenry, he knows fun
well that to take effective measures
in their behalf means his retirement.
The sale OF army and other Gov
eTnmental supplies cannot affect ap-
preciably present prices. In the first
place the quantity IS too small Il
has been announced that the amount
OF army stores to be sold would total
about S12O, ,OOO, 900. That means q lit
tie more than 81 per capita. Even IL
the War Department opens stores in
a large number OF large cities for the
continued sale OF commodities, Il
must be borne in mind that it cannot
at this time affect adversely the COM
houses for the reason stated
in the preceding paragraph. 1t is
to expect otherwise.
Baskets Out Of Date.
The effort to revive the basket
Of earlier days Is on a
par with an attempt to resurrect the
stage coach. As proof OF our demo-
cratic ways, il Is related that a for
mer President during his term OF Of
flee often took his basket upon his
arm and sailed forth in quest OF his
table supplies. Can we imagine
President Wilson meandering through
Center Market hunting beans. pota-
toes, and cabbages, while the League
Of Nations. the unions OF laborers,
the combinations OF capital, the horde
Of officeseekers and the million 9TH
er distractions wait in his ante-room?
And the busy housewife Is not far
behind the President. With her house
work complicated by the absence Of
servants. her children to care for,
and her innumerable other duties, she
may have time and strength to travel
rom one TO three miles on a street
,ar to market and lug home a bas-
let Of meats and vegetables, but il Is
nadvisable to suggest il. True there
nay be 200 or 800 out Of probably
$4,000 or 100000 avail themselves Of
he privilege, but will It reduce for
he masses the difference between
he labor value and the sale value OF
or equal practicability Is market
ng by parcel post. The Postoffice De-
,artment was established primarily to
facilitate the interchange of intelli-
renee among the people. Later the
,ending of parcels was permitted to
the citizen who was not
,quipped with a shipping department
Two Methods Practical.
Two methods of operation by the
,eopIe are practicable. Governmental
,peration should be more efficient
md stable. but. as set forth before,
he influence of the commercial fra
ernity removes its possibility and
would impair it's efficiency were IL es-
abIished. There remains operation
~ cooperative action on the part OF
| portion or the people. The loyal. /
lctive support Of all the citizens can
rot at this time be obtained. but II ist
rot essential. Almost any number
an form a cooperative organization.