The Mena weekly star., 1921-11-03
SPEND MORE IS SUCCESS
 TON OF JUDGE E. II. c

ul BIpQhIto anu dtoU " AANAADNte ~@ different trades. I am not inclined to deal in personalities. It is necessary only to refer to two or three subjects and to make some illustrations. The public is aware of the facts. Eyes have been opened. Different products have been purchased from the farm CT, manufacturer or others at low cost and then passed on in one way or another and finally sold to the con- sumer at outrageous prices. Retail prices. especially, for many commodi- ties are much too high. Without justification workmen have been clas- sified and reclassified so as to desig- nate them as skilled men. We have heard of persons whose daily wage was advanced from $3 to S10 or SIP at one time under this practice. You know of hundreds of cases illustrat- ing what has been said and it would be useless to further specify
 Workers Are Fair.
 The vast majority of business men and workmen are sincere and fair, but there is and perhaps always will be a minority that ignore the principles of common honesty. They are sufficient in number to seriously affect the whole situation. Until these are aroused to the necessity of getting 1n line with sound and decent standards of conduct, the full return to satls- factory business conditions will be more or less impeded
 All that I have said during or since the war concerning a return to great prosperity in this country has been predicated on business being managed in accordance with the principles of reason, fairness and honesty.
 However, in considering the ques- tions of prices it is to be remembered that many criticisms, favorable or un. favorable, are made which are not justified. The reader or listener should be sure of the truth before reaching q conclusion. The fair. minded man, if he has any facts, will disclose them upon request. Occa- sionally writer, thru inexperience oi lack of knowledge or otherwise, will misrepresent or misinterpret. Every one of us has been subjected to a con. vincing argument against the validity or soundness of attributed statements which We never made. It is quite | common to build straw-man in order to give evidence of strength in de- stroying him. But this should never disturb our equanimity. We must admit We are sometimes wrong when we think we are right.
 Now what, if anything, can be done to improve the general situation? answer the first thing for insistence turnout the world, is the observance and enforcement of law
 Right Is Right.
 There is no standard for safe anc certain progress in economic effori except an established rule of law which fixes and protects the rights o1 every one without discrimination There are degrees of virtue and of fense; but right is right, and wrone is wrong. Wrong cannot properly bs compromised or fostered; and st long as a law is in existence it must furnish the rule for conduct
 Recently we have read of cOnvic tions for violations of the crimina law by certain business men. They haC in acordance with the principles oi controlled selling prices and limited production to the injury of consum. CTS. I am not familiar with the facts and do not know whether or not nor, al turpitude was charged The mer pleaded guilty, and, of course, de served punishment.
 And nearly every day for months we have read of strikers violently at. tacking men who had taken or were offering to fill the places made va. cant. Indeed, it seems to be common to attempt by force to prevent oper- ation of producing plants or trans. portation lines. The freedom of mer to work, when and where they pleased has been interfered with Many have been seriously injured and some killed.
 If laws shall be enforced and peace maintained, the other questions relat ing to economic progress and achieve ment will he solved. The ilsw eff SUD ply and demand will steadily, if grad ually, bring about necessary adjust. ments which are equitable and rela. tive, and restore levels which arc natural and reasonable. Business will be more or less hesitating until it is generally believed the period of read. justments is over
 If it should be deemed necessary anc wise to have governmental supervi. sion over organized industry in order to protect the public interest, I per. sonally would not object, provided tho laws and rules shall apply alike to or. ganlzed capital and organized labor Many years ago, at the request of q senatorial committee, I submitted the draft of a bill for consideration that seemed to me then to cover the ease but there was lack of time or disposi. ton to give 1t immediate attention.
 One of the most hopeful signs of the times is the apparent disposition of the resent administration at Wash. ington to aid rather than obstruct the natural and legitimate progress oI nusIness- anyone who Intentionally fails to appreciate this desire or neg. lects to cooperate to the limit of his ability IS his own worst enemy.
 Purchase Delayed.
 What can be done by the steel in. custry? :? Experience has more thar once demonstrated that the mere re. duction of selling prices does no, bring large and satisfactory business Would-be customers are delaviro purchases, except for immediate ana imperative uses, until satisfied that } sound and stable baeie af n,;o.s, l, U