The Tomahawk., 1921-03-31

S~A>>~~~~
might be called economic chaos be-
cause of our great surplus food supply
while across the seas, in both direc'
tions, almost half of the world Is SUI.
fering for want of food.
"This talk Of bringing prices,
whether farm prices or other prices.
back to the pre-war normal is morally
wrong and economically impossible
We incurred heavy national debt on
the inflated prices. If we could force
all prices back to the pre-war normal
which we cannot - it would be
equivalent to just about doubling that
debt" .@,5E.,.
WILLIAMS LAST SHOTS.
According to John Shelton Williams,
who has just retired as controller OF
the currency, the banks of the country
have been among the worst profiteers.
He says he found in one state l3l ma
tional banks charging from Is to "a
per cent interest, 81 whose maximum
rates were between Is and 60 per cent,
% that charged between 60 and 100
per C6UL, dnu ~ "AOoO AnSSo WA wv
per cent or more. ..
Williams stirred up hornets nest
by one Of his last official acts. He
called on all national banks to make
public reports as to the salaries OF
their executive officers, the number OF
such officers. and the aggregate OF the
salaries. OF course, the order will not
be complied with, for Williams Is out.
He has always been a thorn in tho
flesh of the bankers. .@:
WILLIAMS recently wrote letter to
Judge Gary of the steel trust, in which
he said: = r.. ID u =
mo insidious sneaking propaganda
of high-brow or low-brow apostles OF
ruin could put in the popular mind SO
much poison as refusal by such cor.
poration as yours to do its part toward
solving a great and difficult problem,
reviving industry and business activt-
ties, and promoting prosperity and tho
peace and happiness Of humanity"
Williams was referring to the way
in which the high prices fixed for steel
have thrown a wet blanket on building
projects and manufacturing In gen.
eral.
WHEAT SURPLUS Low. : .
The wheat surplus for export and
carry-over of the United States and
Canada is 165,OOO,OO0 bushels, accord.
ing to estimates Of the bureau Of mar.
kets. based on official and commercial
reports, it was said at the department
of agriculture. The combined crop OF
the two countries and the carry-Overs
from the 1919 crop was placed at l.
163, 900, 900 bushels. The surplus esti-
mate, it was explained, took into ac-
count bread and seed requirements
and export clearanccs from seaports to
February 21st. ..-.4 e.. -.
According to- some French esti.
mates. department officials said, the
exporting countries now have 293,000,.
900 bushels of surplus wheat, while
the import requirements of countries
that can buy wheat are 26O,O00,000
bushels, leaving a net surplus OF 49,
100000 bushels. = ST., .esA:z.s Z
VANDERBILT GOES TO RUSSIA
Washington Vanderlip, the capital
list who became prominent over night
by his concessions obtained from the
Russian government, has again re-
turned to Russia. g ~.
No reasons for the visit have been
given to the public. One guess is that
because of the expulsion of the Rus
sian ambassador there is no one here
to talk: Russian business. Another is
that Vanderlip may be taking with
him informal government proposals
and suggestions for American busi-
ness as to how they would like tos car
ry on trade in a roundabout way.
+s. - - - -: 90 80
EscH IN-LAME-DUCk CLASS.
Congressman John j. Esch of Wis
consin, notorious or celebrated, &C.
cording to point of view, for his part
in the Esch-C ummins railroad act, has
been named for berth on the inter.
state commerce commission by Presi-
dent Harding. Strong efforts to have
his appointment confirmed by the
senate before adjournment were block
ed by Senator La Toilette.
Esch was defeated for reelection by
the farmers and workers Of his dis
trict, but he had served the interests
well and hence had to be taken care of.
= n 4 - - &~.ssss&& 81
THE ASSISTANT" GOVERNMENT.
John Barrett. chairman of the Ma
tional Board Of Farm Organizations.
has compiled list of Who's Who in
Lobbydom, or as he calls it, the :..as-
sistant" government. Barrett esti-
mates that for every man in both
branches Of congress there are at
least two patriots in Washington
ready and eager to instruct him in his
duties. as{ {. n ~ II:
These are not dollar-a-year men but
clever agents hired at good salaries by
the super-trusts to see that their gov
eminent plays the game according to
prediction understandings. s5ss