25 



ceptional, the country is remarkably pros- 

 perous, and the producer certainly has a 

 right to participate in the prosperity of the 

 nation. In any effort to regulate prices, 

 there must be no disturbing or setting aside, 

 more than is absolutely necessary, of the 

 natural economic conditions created by the 

 increase and urgency of the current de- 

 mand, and the ability of the people to pay. 

 At the same time, abnormal influences such 

 as any cornering of supplies, extraordinary 

 increase of transportation rates, combina- 

 tions or conspiracies "in restraint of trade" 

 to raise and maintain prices of common 

 commodities, and so on, should be dealt with 

 summarily under existing laws, and the in- 

 terests of the people safeguarded without 

 delay. The study I have given to the pro- 

 posal to fix prices has convinced me that 

 this should be in the direction of establish- 

 ing minimum rather than maximum rates. 

 Lack of space precludes my giving all the 

 reasons for this conclusion, but I feel that 

 it has been shown abroad that a minimum 

 price can be fixed with greater fairness, 

 more definite facts for guidance, and readier 

 acceptance and approval on the part of those 

 affected. 



In regard to rationing the people I shall 

 also say very little, for I do not believe this 

 will be required in this country, unless some 



