Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1917 — SUCKING THE POOR MAN’S BLOOD [ARTICLE]

SUCKING THE POOR MAN’S BLOOD

Food speculators .and price boosters are literally, sucking the life blood of the poor people of this country, and are paring to the bone the resources of those in more moderate circumstances. And this in the face of war, and misery, and death! We see much in the press about government regulation of the food question; but we see no definite action taken by congress to authorize such regulation. We read of law officers summoning speculators and going before grand juries, but we look in vain for convictions and jail sentences. And in the meantime prices of

the very n«S&£S|<ies. 1 -of life right on mounting skyward, . People who live on the noise ■ tiey make Tush print and tellj ’is that it is simply a question of| supply and demand, and that prices will automa icaliy adjust them-, selves when the- new ro’ S are on the market. It is NOT a question of supply and den a<j pric-s will NOT ■adjust-ihc ..until the government ’ steps in with an iron hand and sb.m? every thieving'--speoulat-! er behind the bars and keeps hijM there. I: allowed ‘o run at large -they, will buy up *“§. “ e ’ Ts s ’° , '”k' s 'Qf j prOvlsioiis they hhTfe bought up' the old one',' and. prices - 'Will■.-.be ; Just what they choose to make them. No one expects these reptiles to do anything for the w-Ifare of their cour. ry, but they should no longer \e allowed to. drag'.it down to ruin. We can, not afford internal trou:hles': with.-' a. .'foreign - ..war- .on our' hands, and as a loyal American we ask congress Aurd the government io act, and act quickly. The 1100-l o' the ; *or man is disappearing, ahd in -- ' its - wake -. will come- rioting and ..anarchy- ■ - -..Thi-S-; TE-ust- .not be. and ohly es-, fi.-ia!■ .action can.'prevent it.