The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-05-11

ttCOuie lOSSio w lnt tluiiSaSioHs wv
the dealer. selling in the
open market. can scarcely control the
price of cloth. even If he desires 10,
without the assistance Of his new
partner, the government. AS con-
sequence, the public, clamoring Tor
cloth, forces up the price TO its own
Ana 1t is just here that
the overall Clubs have put their fin
gers, almost unconsciously, on the
weakness in the market, and have
the power, if they will persist in
their efforts, TO bring down the price
with run. For the moment the
demand stops, that moment the price
must fall. AS matter Of fact the
Old Clothes Clubs of the northern
states would settle the matter even
more expeditiousy than the Overall
Clubs of the South, for the possibil-
ity OF profiteering in overalls them
selves would receive a sudden set
back
Now this question Of clothing is but
an example of the whole economic
question. What is sending up the
price CT sugar is quite as much the
selfish boarding of the public as the
selfish profiteering of the dealer. The
moment that it is whispered in the
papers that the price of sugar is 10
go up, the public, in its insane sell
fishness, rushes out to buy every
ounce of sugar in the market, obli'
yious Of the fact that. in this way,
it becomes itself the prime factor in
profiteering, inasrnuch as its own
the selfishness of the dealer whom
it proceeds 10 blame. If the public
would resist the temptation to buy
if the public would be content to re
duce its demand for sugar, at q
very slight inconvenience to its own
appetite, if it would altogether re
frain from the candy store, the sugar
question would be settled in an af
tcrnoon. AS it is, It is perfectly
childish Of it 10 blame the dealers
for raising their price in accordance
with the demand of its appetites, OF
to demand that the government
should reduce the sale Of sugar TO the
makers Of candy when the public
is not compelled in any way TO pur
chase candy. so the whole ques
icus circle, for clothing ana sugar
are but two items in an innumerablt
host OF commodities, enormous mum
bers Of which are, subject TO the
same so-called law of supply ant
demand.
Now if there is one thing that the
war has taught the world it is thai
the law of supply and demand is
bogie. The law Of supply and de
mand has been proved week aftel
week and month after month, during
the years cf the war, not to be {
law at ALL but TO be a convenient
formula for excusing high prices
| low wages, and every form of selfish
ness and appetite known to the hu
man race. Great philosophic think
ers, who have not been mesmerizeC
by the glamour Of political economy
have persistently exposed, in the past
the lawlessness and absence of logi,
in what one of the greatest of then
has branded as the dismal science.
But the reformer is always met witt
the contempt and ridicule of the con
ventional thinker and Of the protec,
ors of vested interests AS a resul
the game Of loading on to the publ
whatever the public will stand, goe
serenely on until at last wronl
calculation is made, and there is load
ed on to the public something whic
the public cannot pay.
This, or something very like this
is the position today. The game
entirely in the hands Of the public
and the philosopher wilr watch cur
ously TO see whether the public wi
play its trump cards and take up il
own tricks, or whether Il will sacr
flee them 10 its own sefishness.-
Christian Science Monitor.