Evening journal., 1920-02-03
WHILE THE H. G. /. MOUNTS HIGHER AND HIGHER.

n ELAWAliEANS VIII recall that 10 last August
- that the demands Of the railway broherhoods for
more pay to meet the increased Of living stirred
the President and his department heads to tremendous
activity In campaign 10 reduce the price OF COM
modtles
The brotherhoods were besought by Mr.. Wilson to
postpone their demands until the government had had
chance to get the pronteers and bring the cost Of
food and clothing down from the high price levels
which they had reached
with great acclaim Tie President appeared before
Joint session OF the Senate and House and apprsed the
people OF the country OF his determination to put every
resource OF the Administration at the work Of bringing
down prices
"They constitute burden upon us" declared Ir
Wilson, (which is the more unbearable because we
know that It is wfully imposed by those who have
the power and that It by vigorous public action be
greatly llghtened and made to square with the actual
conditions OF supply and demand"
Vigorous public action" was promptly instituted by
Attorney-General Palmer, who hustled about issuing
orders TO his subordInates all over the country pur-
sue pronteers ptlessy and leave stone unturned 10
accomplish the objects OF the drive against prices.
The Department OF Agriculture got busy under the
Wilson spur, and Issued much literature telling the
public what prices ought to be, and holding the mis-
cradle pronteers up TO popular execralion.
The War Department opened the doors Of It's store
houses and distributed to the people at costs its
plus supplies.
true ~ tranSplreu later tnat some OF the renovated
blankets worthless and some Of the hams were
mouldy but the wide publicity that given to Mr..
Bakers philanthropy aided greatly the general impress
sion that the President wished to create
Daniels. OF the Navy. Loyalty to the front with
sugar which not needed the ships
In short every puppet OF the Administration responded
with aacry to the nod OF his chief and did his bit
adding to the general furore
Congress, determined that blame should attach
to It for keeping prices up. followed Mr.. Wilson's recon-
mendations that he be clothed with more legislative
power with which to carry on his campaign.
The Lever Food Control Act extended and ample
ned putting added authority the hands OF the Ator-
ney General and other bills introduced in accord
ance with the Presidents wishes
Now what has been the practical benefit to the con-
OF all this ado the part Of the President and
his satellites? olcla figures have just been published
showing that instead Of prices coming down, they have
steadily mounted
comparison Of prices in New York City August |
IS last and today indicate that wholesale prices have
risen from 10 to 100 per cent during that period White
potatoes have up 10 cent? cabbages over 100
per cent: onions, from s325 per hundred pounds to
$780, and apples from $3.50 per barrel to from So TO $3.50
In the case of the advance has been very marked
On August IS beef selling at from si2 to SIG per
hundred pounds. Now II is quoted at from SIC to Si7
lamb has increased a dollar per hundred pounds for
,hoIce cuts 81 a hundred for medium and 81 per hun
lrcd for common cuts
The great noise with which the price campaign
naugurated by the President and his AttorneyGenera
Is accenuated by the profound silence on the subject
hat prevails in those quarters.
Where Is the pronteer who is behind the bars as a
'esut Of anything alr. Palmer has done9
II is true that certain proceedings undertaken
against the big packers but peacefully compro-
missed with apparent benefit to The harassed con-
umer.
Nobody has heard of any other pending in the
ourts contemplated
or all the froth that has been emitted by this Ad-
designed to sound popular appeal and
atth the thoushtless voter the price campaign
he worst