The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-07-19
CONGRESSMAN
SMITH TALKS
ON POLITICS
Has Much Confidence in
Senator Harding as
Our Nations
Leader
HIGH PRICE CURE
HIGH PRICE CURE
Advises Keeping Pro-
duction Above Con-
sumption


Addison T. Smith, south Idaho
representative in congress, conferred
Thursday in Boise with state Off
cials and others assisting in prep
arations for Boise's welcome of the
house appropriations committee
which is touring reclamation prof.
ects of the west and will arrive on
the Boise project this week.
Thursdays visit to Boise was the
congressman first since his return
from Washington. His presence in
Idaho at this time, he explained, is
due to the tour of the committee.
Smith was one Of several representa-
tives instrumental in prevailing up
OF the committee to make the tour.
The representative was willing to
speak upon the national political sit
uation and furnished The States
man with the following prepared
statement:
II have attended six national con-
ventions, but in no instance were
the bosses less in evidence in deter
mining the nomination than at the
recent Chicago convention.
"The nomination of Senator Hard
ing was most fortunate. He has the
confidence, respect and admiration
even of those who were his oppo-
nents in the convention, and who
have now assured him of their sup
port in the approaching campaign.
1t is gratifying to observe that most
of the former national leaders in
the Progressive party have called on
Senator Harding and have expressed
themselves as being satisfied that he
will be most eager to serve all the
people and will not favor any par
ticular class which in the past has
appeared to be unmindful of the
interests of the masses.
Senator Harding's business and
official career is beyond criticism
and his official utterances and the
legislation he has advocated indicate
that he is a man of broad sympa
thy for the worker as well as a man
with due regards for the rights of
the employer and business man. He
will be a safe and conservative man
in the White House and will not, in
f,,I nt t0 n of a
congress as has the present execu-
tive. Senator Harding has well said,
this is not one-man' government.
'In my judgment the third party
movement will have but little, if
any, effect on the general result of
the election and | doubt if the third
ticket will receive more than one or
two million votes. The platform is
so offensive to many of the leaders
in the movement that they are al
ready repudiating their connection
with the new party. | find in Ida
ho the usual complaint which exists
in the east, that the cost of living is
beyond all reason. The nationwide
campaign against increasing prices
will prove utterly futile unless the
workmen of the country come to the
realization that production is the
vital link in the chain of ever-in-
creasing prices.
"Profiteering contributes to the
condition, but the crux of
the situation is production. The men
who hamper or lessen production at
this juncture Of the nations affairs
in an effort to wiring wage increases
from their employers are simply ag-
gravating the matter. Fewer work
ing hours despite the wages being
paid, boosts costs of production and
lessons the purchasing price Of our
dollar. Reduced supplies and great
demand means high prices, and high
prices to few short-sighted business
men means good business, to the
of the country with
a little vision of the artificial price
levels mean bad business and ulti-
mate disaster IL 1t is permitted to
continue. Manufacturers generally
would rather trade with prices at a
lower level, for they know that the
initiation Of the currency has inflat-
ed the prices throughout all industry.
"As long as the mills produce less
than they have capacity for with
money more plentiful and people
spending as never before, 1t is in
evitable that prices will remain high.
1t is hoped that early conferences
may be held between the representa-
tives of capital and labor all over
the country with the hope Of bring
ing about an understanding that pro-
duction is the really essential thing
in the high cost Of living fight. -
Idaho Statesman.