The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-10

:ciable reduction until the neces-
stiles OF life are reduced proper.
ftionately, and this should BY ali
means come first.
Because Of the insistent clarno1
that the cost OF living was unrea,
sonablys high in this city and ex.
,ceeded that OF our neighboring
cities, q commission was appoint.
ed at the last term OF this Court,
composed Of representative citi.
zens, to conduct an inquiry into
this subject and make report OF
Its findings to this grand Jury,
That report I understand will be
laid before you by the Prosecut.
ing Attorney, and I urge upon you
gentlemen, that you give to this
report that patient and careful
consideration which the import.
ance Of the subject demands, and
that your Investigation into It's
subject matter be complete and
thorough. Let us deal with the
.upmost frankness in the premises;
let US not nurse secret grievances
and be distrustful of each other;
IL we have a complaint to make,
let us speak openly and frankly
so that the true facts may be
known, and II any are unjustlS
charged let them be- fully exoner-
'ated; II on the other hand you
find from competent evidence that
any individual or organization
persists in violating any law OF the
land, regardless Of his social, poll.
teal or financial standing, let him
be presented at the bar of public
Justice.
Personally I have very little
knowledge OF comparative values
and prices, and IL l had, II Is not
my province to discuss details or
facts, but only to indirectly sug-
gest the general nature Of the pro
bable problems that will confront
you and the provisions OF law, Il
any, bearing upon them.
II, is claimed by very irresponsible
citizens that in making purchases
of an ordinary winter outfit for
the children, a man can take his
wife and 20 to Pittsburgh for a
few days shopping, and save
enough under the prices he would
have to pay at home to pay the
expense OF his outing, including
hotel bills and theater tickets.
There would seem to be little ex-
.cuse for this II true; II: might be
said our rents are high, they Ger.
.tainly cannot be higher than rents
on Fifth Avenue and Smithleld
Street, IL 50, you should very care.
fully scrutinize the. matter OF
rents in this community. 1t has
also been suggested that men SO
to church on Sunday and pray
Thy Kingdom come and for the
other six days Of the week, prey
upon each other.
We are q very cosmopolitan
people and delight to deal in big
things; we read and study and talk
about great missionary projects
and the solution Of world prob
lens; we imagine that II We could
raise up some giant mind who with
q miraculous stroke could solve
the great problems Of the world,
the little ones would eliminate
themselves. But I IN convinced
that the reverse is true, and that
II each community would set Itself
to work with determination and
sincerity OF purpose 10 solve its
own local problems, there would
be few big ones. Therefore, our
only concern ought to be the clear
ing up of our own community and
its disturbing elements; this can
only be done through the sincere
and earnect cooperation Of all our
citizens and Of the various factors
in industry and civic and CONNER
cial organizations; but such CO.
.ordinated effort must have for its
basis a plane Of mutual under
standing, and the purpose Of every
individual to deal justly with his
neigabor. It cannot be done by
camoutiage or diyertIng public at
tention from the main issues; FIX
pansion Week may attract unusual
numbers Of visitors for a few days,
but without the concurrence Of
these more substantial elements
the effect cannot be lasting. II
may be- absolutely true, as adver-
tised. that Fairmont Is the best
and cheapest place to buy, but let
1t appear In deeds rather than
words; let It appear in the price
and quality Of goods offered for
sale rather than the display In the
show window. I utterly fail to see
how a spectacular exhibition Of a
marriage ceremony in the public
square can afford any possible
proof OF the superior quality OF the
commodities Of our market or the
reasonableness Of their price.
oh, what a great public service
might be rendered, what conf
dence could be- inspired, how the
trade and commerce Of the com
munity could be genuinely ex-
banded, even in the building trades
and other industries now almost
dormant how the unemployed could
be employed and crime could be
checked, how a spirit OF content
ment and substantial prosperity
could be made to permeate the
whole atmosphere about us. II the
business men OF the community, its
chamber OF commerce and other
commercial and civic Organizations
could appoint representatives to
sit down at a council table to de-
wise ways and means to truly solve
these problems, and if as a result
of that conference.-the Traction
Company should promulgate an
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