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The Commoner
7YOL. 21, HO. 5
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harmonious individual action. In
fact, documents show that the more
important of theso associations liavo
sought doilnitoly to restrict the sup
ply, and at tho samo timo to enlarge
tho domaud, thon using such arti
floial conditions of supply and de
mand as tho basis on which they con
certodly act as to prices. There are
about ton of theso different groups
or associations covering all tho im
portant lumber producing regions of
tho country. Theso regional bodies
aro federated togethor in the Nation
al Lumber Manufacturers' associa
tion, which correlates and coordinates
tho activities of the whole industry
on matters of national import, such
as legislation, public and government
al rotations.
Some of those rogional bodies, such
as tho West Coast Lumbermen's as
sociation, of Seattlo, Washington, the
Wostorn Pino Manufacturers' asso
ciation, of Portland, Oregon, The
Northern Homlock and Hardwood
Manufacturers' association, of Osh
kosh, and tho Michigan Hardwood
Manufacturers' association, of Cadil
lac, Michigan, are indicated by trie
documents hitherto sent you, to bo
agencies for open price-fixing. Still
others aro ongaged In the same kind
of operations, but judged by tho
documonts secured by tho commis
sion, not so openly. Some of these
organized groups have been carry
ing on their price-fixing and curtail
ment activities for more than twenty
years, as evidenced in a report by
the Bureau of Corporations in 1914,
containing a complete history of their
concerted price-fixing and curtailment
of production operations. The com
mission's previous documentary pre
sentation evidenced that such prac
tices wore not discontinued after tho
publication of the Bureau of Corpora
tions' report. The price activities of
tho association first mentioned were
afterward so open that a certain
lumber trade journal in 1915 charac
terized them as "a modern declara
tion of independence."
Rupture Kills
7,000 Annually
Bovon thousand persons each year are laid
away tho buriul cortiflcato being marked
"Rupturo." Wby? Because tho uufortunato
ones had negleotcd ihomoolvcs or had been
merely talcing care or tho sign (swelling) or tho
affliction and paying no attention to the cause,
what aro you doing? Aro you neglecting
yourself by wearing a truss, appliance, or
whatever namo you choose to call it? At best,
the truss is only a makeshift -a false prop
against a collapsing wall and cannot bo ex
pected to net as more than a mero mechanical
support. The binding pressure retards blood
circulation, thus robbing the wcakenod
nusoloa or that which they need most
mourishmout.
But science has found a way, and every truss
sufferer in tho land is invited to make a FREE
IS? SlP'lU.V110 Privacy of their own home.
tfhe'PLAPAO method, is unquestionably tho
moat scientific, loelcal and Buccossful Bclf
rtraent for rupturo tho world has ever
known.
The PLAPAO-PAD when adhering closely
to tho body cannot possibly Blifc or shift out
or place, thorofore, cannot chafo or pinch.
Hot t as velveteasy to apply inexpensive. To
bo used whilst you work and whilst you sleep.
No straps, buokles or Bprings attached.
Learn how to close tho hernial open
J?Rt5 UaturQ intended so tho rupture
CAN'T como down. Send your namo to
2ay. to PLAPAO CO., Block 4040, St.
Loulo. Mo., for FRBB trial, Plapao and
tho information necessary.
Ry- Hy Windshield Clearer
A liquid compound which will keen tho
fclas clear, regardless of Rain. For- or
Mist. Easily applied. Will not free? J
or stain, Send 40o for largo bottle
StY-MV MFG. CO. Stamford, Coun.
PATENTS. Write for free Guide Book
Evidence of Conception Blank. Send
model or sketch of Invention for i
opinion of its patentable nature. Hle-h
eat roferoncos, Reasonable Terms Vin
tor 3 Evans & Co., 722 9th, Washing!
HEAVEN AND HELL.
People's Reconstruc
tion League
A Non-Part'san Union of farmer
and labor organizations and1 other
progressive forces to carry out a pro
gram of economic justice which will
save the pooplo on farms, in factor
ies, mines, offices, trade and trans
portation six billion dollar's a year.
The League's Plan of Work for the
People's Program In Congress
The special privilege and monop
oly interests pf America are massing
their wealth and forces to. extend and
further entrench privilege and mo
nopoly. It is clearly not safe to con
fine the efforts of the progressive
forces of America merely to fighting
the enactment of vicious, undemo
cratic and class legislation by con
gress. The only safe policy is for the
forward-looking forces in farmer and
labor organizations and thruout the
country to unite on a progressive pro
gram of economic democracy. This
program must be pushed with vigor
thru publicity, pamphlets, conven
tions and organization.
Program of the People's Reconstruc
tion League
Tho program of the People's Re
construction League will save the
American people who work with hand
or brain six billion dollars a year
for many years to come, an average
of $57 per capita, or $285 for a
family of five.
1. Prompt Restoration of the Rail
roads to Unified Government
Operation
This will save the American people
at least $15,000,000 a yeana
The prompt restoration of the rail
roads to unified government opera
tion is essential in order that freight
rates may be reduced so as to en
courage agriculture, manufacturing
and commerce, and to secure to the
American people the advantages
which they might receive from the
reduction in the prices farmers re
ceive for their products, and in the
material reduction in the retail prices
of many staple commodities. Freight
and passenger rates should be re
duced to those in force when the
roads were returned, and a deficit, if
any should result, should be paid
out of the public treasurv.
The Cummins-Esch law returning
the railroads compels the American
people to pay the railroads nearly
seven billion dollars each year for
two years at least for carrying their
freight and themselves. It directly
increases the cost of livine- sir o.
year for every , man, woman and child,'
uu luuirecuy increases it much
more.
2. Legislation to Control the Meat
Packing Industry
This will save the American people
at least $200,000,000 a year.
The packers must be brought un
der government control and the rail
roads required to acquire the prin
cipal stockyards and all refrigerator
and special equipment cars for trans
portation of meat and meat products
and perishable foodstuffs,
nff?lenFedeural Trad0 Commission,
after its exhaustive investigation of
the meat packing industry reported
that in 1918 the "Big Five" packers'
combined sales were over $3,000
000,000, and stated: u
J thei present rate of expansion
within a few years, the big packers
would control the wholesale T distribu
tion of the nation's food supply,"
3. Taxation of Irivilcgo Instead of
Poverty
This will save the American people
at least $3,000,000,000 a year.
A high and rapidly progressive tax
upon incomes, estates . and excess
profits should be retained until the
full money cost of the war has been
paid. In addition a federal tax should
be levied upon the value of all land
and other natural resources specula
tively held, so as to lighten the burd
en of those already paying move
than their share of taxation the
proceeds, to be applied to reducing
the war debt. The privileged inter
ests are determined to place most of
the cost of the war upon the workers
by a retail sales tax and other con
sumption taxes and by refunding the
national debt for forty to sixty years.
Twenty-two thousand, six hundred
and ninety-six millionaires are poss
essors of fortunes estimated to be
worth approximately $136,000,000,
000, while our total national wealth
is estimated at $500,000,000,000,
These 23,000 millionaires own, there
fore, over 27 per cent of the national
wealth, while America's thirty-three
richest people own nearly 2 per cent
of the national wealth.
4. Making Our Banking and Credit
System Serve the People
This will save the American people
at least $500,000,000 a year.
The bankers and particularly the
big investment bankers are today, us
ing the people's money for the peo
ple's undoing and for the bankers'
enrichment. Co-operative banks will
help to change this situation, but the
Federal Reserve Bank Act'must be
amended so the people's deposits can
be used only for legitimate and neces
sary production purposes, and not for
speculation. A short-time -rural
credit system for farmers must be
worked out which will greatly reduce
costs of agricultural production to
the advantage of both producer and
consumer of farm products.
5. Contol of Natural Resources
This will save the American people
at least $750,000,000 a year.
The natural resources of the coun
try still in public ownership, worth
scores of billions of dollars, should
be retained in public ownership. The
development of all natural resources,
whether publicly or privately owned
--coal, iron, copper, phosphates,
nitrates, gas, water-power, timber
lands, etc. must be controlled by
the federal government, and the pub
lic protected from monopolists who
today are profiteering through their
ownership and development of these
resources.
C. Universal Compulsory Military
Training rWc irt tA-.j. j
-This will save the American people
scores of millions of dollars a year in
taxes.
It will increase production by
scores of millions of dollars addition-
nriJS? SPMlal privileS interests
are fighting this program.
How tho League is-Mnanccd
The People's Reconstruction
nnnSfwf supj)orted 7 voluntary
contributions from individuals, and
S,iSme and labor organizations
which endorse the program. A mini
mum budget of $25,000 a year is
needed to do the work effectively!
The leacue mnnf fl,f n i ;?
S2K2J ?!easo aeht w"i your
your check now for $100,?$50, $26,
$10, $5, or $1, payable to tho order
of Jackson H. Ralston, Treasurer to
Room 37, Bliss Building, 36 B Street
Northwest, Washington, D. c ,
DEGRADING USE OF ETHER
It is reported that, as the, result
? invlisation by the school author-
i?f .yf lew, Massachuset s, by
which it was learned that younl
children are given sugar Cm!
soaked In ether, to reduce the rip!
Shi!68; SplrInteudent Chester D
Stiles took the matter up with state
educational and health autUorftSs
Stv'hf y .ffBed to any auan:
n&?y a chUd irL y drug store
Children, Nwhen . questioned; were
frank in saying that they wwo
given the ether by their parents to
lower the cost of ltving and also to
quiet those who 'got too boisterous
The Presbyterian.
BOOKS RECEIVED
The Party of The Third Part. The
Story of the" Kansas Industrial Rela.
tions Court. By Henry J. Allen
Governor of the State of Kansas'
Harper & Brothers, Publishers. New
York and London. Price $2.50 net.
Getting What We Want. How
to Apply Psychoanalysis to Your Own
Problems. By DaVid Orr Edson, M. D,
Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New
York and London. Price $2.25 net.
James Stokes, Pioneer of Young
Men's Christian Associations. Asso
ciation Press, 347 Madison Ave.,
New York. v
Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning.
By T. Troward, author of. 'The Edin
burgh Lectures on Mental Science,"
etc. Robert McBride &. Co., New
York.
Democracy in America. By Jerome
Dowd, M A., Professor Sociology
University of Oklahoma. The Harlow
Publishing Co., Oklahoma City, Okla.
Japan and the California Problem.
By T. Iyenaga, Ph. D., Professorial
Lecturer in the Department of Po
litical Science, 'University of Chica
go, and Kenoske Sato, Formerly Fel
low in the University of Chicago.
What Henry Ford Is Doing. By
Frank Bonville. Bureau of Informa
tionr Postoffice Box 432, Seattle,
Wash. Price $1.00 paper bound.
Twenty-five .Best Sermons. By
Arthur Talmage Abernethy. Tho
Standard Publishing Company, Cin
cinnati, O.
Alaska' Man's Luck, A Romance of
Fact. By Hjalmar Rutzebeck. Boni
and Liveright, Publishers, .New York.
The Sword or The Cross. By Kirby
Page, The Christian Century Press,
Chicago. Price $1.20.
The Jars of LUe, By Alfred
Fritchey, Decorations 13 y Carl
Fritchey. Poems. Published by A,
J. Fritchey, 270 McAllister St., San
Francisco, Cal.
LADY ASTOR ATTACKS LIQUOR
SALE BILL
A London cablegram, dated April
22, says: Lady Astor provided the
House of Commons with an amusing
half hour today when sne criticised
the licensing bill, introduced by
Colonel Gretton, -which would havo
the effect of increasing the hours oi
sale for alcoholic liquors.
It was noticed that as . soon as
Lady Astor rose to speak Colonel
Gretton left the chamber, whereupon
she. expressed regret that he should
think fit to run away from her.
She said that tbe political influ
ence of the brewers in the country
was not so great as it used to be.
It reminded her, she declared, of the
soldier "who said, "The poor old
Kaiser ain't what he used to be."
She declared the proposed bill
threatened tho home of every woman
iii the country, and when there was
some interruption, she, "said;
"Do listen, I am not long'-windecL
I may be rude, but' I am' not long-winded,'
THE CHARGE INDIRECT
W, J. Bryan's father once missed
several, large hams that had been
hanging in his barn loft. He sus
pected that the theif did not live
many miles away, but he made no di
rect charge against anyone, in fact,
ho refraimed from mentioning his
Joss to a single soul. A few days
later his , neighbor called. '
"Say, judge," said the -man, "I t
heard you had some hams stole the
other night"
J'Y??C ePlied the. judge very con
fidentially, Vbut don't . tell- apyono.
You and J are the ronIy4 ones who
know it."Boston Transcript.
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