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Editorial
September 26, 1919
The Kemmerer Republican
Kemmerer, Lincoln County, Wyoming
What is this article about?
Editorial sarcastically critiques the U.S. government's failed attempt to lower high living costs by selling surplus military canned goods and dehydrated turnips through post offices; orders placed six weeks ago in Kemmerer remain undelivered.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
After Six Weeks Government Grub Has Failed to Arrive
About six weeks ago a certain subject was brought prominently to the attention of the "peepul" by the news that it had been discovered at Washington that the prices of the necessities of life were all out of proportion to the average income. This would be corrected at once. Special message to Congress. Special investigating committees appointed. Appropriations for said committees. Impassioned speeches and dire threats.
It was thus that it came about that in order to shoot the H. C. L. full of holes the government would at once place on sale the surplus canned "willie" and dehydrated turnips which had been bought and stored for our first-class fighting men. It was announced and all of the postmasters were instructed to accept orders, accompanied by bankable mazuma, for food for the masses, direct from government stores, via parcels post.
Everything booked like a sweet cookie. Those profiteers would soon be hanging onto the ropes and making signs of distress to the referee; so many dollars passed through the window at the Kemmerer postoffice in payment, in advance, of a well selected order for grub for the family.
The man who starved to death with a ham on one shoulder and a sack of flour on the other watching a poker game had nothing on the eager buyers of army provender, for not an ounce of anything that will sustain life has arrived here yet, after six weeks.
About six weeks ago a certain subject was brought prominently to the attention of the "peepul" by the news that it had been discovered at Washington that the prices of the necessities of life were all out of proportion to the average income. This would be corrected at once. Special message to Congress. Special investigating committees appointed. Appropriations for said committees. Impassioned speeches and dire threats.
It was thus that it came about that in order to shoot the H. C. L. full of holes the government would at once place on sale the surplus canned "willie" and dehydrated turnips which had been bought and stored for our first-class fighting men. It was announced and all of the postmasters were instructed to accept orders, accompanied by bankable mazuma, for food for the masses, direct from government stores, via parcels post.
Everything booked like a sweet cookie. Those profiteers would soon be hanging onto the ropes and making signs of distress to the referee; so many dollars passed through the window at the Kemmerer postoffice in payment, in advance, of a well selected order for grub for the family.
The man who starved to death with a ham on one shoulder and a sack of flour on the other watching a poker game had nothing on the eager buyers of army provender, for not an ounce of anything that will sustain life has arrived here yet, after six weeks.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
High Cost Of Living
Government Surplus Food
Delivery Failure
Post Office Orders
Profiteers
Army Provender
What entities or persons were involved?
Government
Congress
Postmasters
Washington
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Failure Of Government Surplus Food Distribution To Combat High Cost Of Living
Stance / Tone
Sarcastic Criticism Of Government Inefficiency
Key Figures
Government
Congress
Postmasters
Washington
Key Arguments
Government Announced Sale Of Surplus Canned Goods And Dehydrated Turnips To Lower High Prices Of Necessities
Special Message To Congress And Investigating Committees Were Appointed With Appropriations
Postmasters Instructed To Accept Prepaid Orders For Food Via Parcels Post
High Expectations That Profiteers Would Be Defeated, But No Food Has Arrived After Six Weeks
Eager Buyers In Kemmerer Paid In Advance But Received Nothing