Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1920-05-27

A Washington dispatch recently
credited the Department of Justice
with saying that six hundred million |
dollars will be taken from the people |
this year in sugar speculation alone. |
Does it jar you? 1t shouldn't.
Six hundred million dollars is pal
| try sum, too Insignificant to cause
even mild surprise.
Of course, if some one should steal
| chicken, or slab of bacon, or some
thing else worth while, we Americans
| would Immediately demand punish
ment adequate to the enormity of the
crime.
But six hundred million dollars in
sugar speculation
| Too trifling for .consideration-only
chicken feed for day.
But if sugar becomes prohibitive in
price there is yet good that will result
from seeming evil. We will eat less
and feel better.
We Americans are not so robust
physically as were our fore-fathers be-
fore us. They ate little sugar and
we eat much.
And besides, if we men are denied
the luxury of sugar it will only ce-
ment our fondness for that which is
even sweeter-our wives and our
daughters and Our babies.
Housewives who have been in the
habit of canning their own fruit each
year are not in happy state Of mind.
With sugar at its present price they
can not afford to do much canning, and
if they can not do their own canning
they must do without fruit or pay pro-
hibitive prices for the commercial ar
ticle.
But our dear ladies should be Of
good cheer, for to every cloud there is
a silver lining.
They should be thankful that it is
not worse, for not all of the crooks in
the country have been able to take a
grab at illicit profits in sugar.
And besides, is it not more blessed
to give than to receive?
, Many people have been disturbed
recently over the practical break
down of the transportation system of
the country.
Conditions became so deplorable
that the railroad executives petitioned
to Interstate Commerce Commission
to assume charge and regulate the
traffic Of the country, as was done dur
ing the war by the federal government
The shortage of cars and the con-
gestion in rail transportation is said
to be one of the prime causes Of the
high cost of everything.
Of course, if the railroads are un-
able to properly distribute the food
of the country many people will not
be able to eat. They may even die.
But why should those people worry
over the possibility of little thing
like death?
We are taught that there is another
world where sorrow and hunger, and
poor transportation facilities are un-
known, and it doesn't require rail-
road ticket to get there.
Should anyone grieve at q changs
of residence that is all to the good,
even if that change should be FASTENED
by inadequate rail transportation?
And can you imagine the good Lord
being to inconsiderate as to send a
person to hell on an empty stomach?
Many people bitterly envy those who
have accumulated great wealth But
they shouldn't
A tick fastens itself upon dog OF
cow and sucks the blood Of that ami
NAL until it becomes full to the point
of bursting, and then drops off.
The man of great wealth absorhs
the money of his victims until he be-
comes gorged to repletion, and then
he, too, drops off. Death does the
dropping and his wealth is spent by
others.