OCR Text |
Show patriotism. I know it exists, and I know it has done much in the present contest. But I will venture to assert, that a great and lasting war can never be supported on this principle alone. It must be aided by a prospect of interest, or some reward. For a time it may, of itself, push men to action, to bear much, to encounter difficulties; but it will not endure unassisted by interest. Valley Forge taught George Washington and the Pennsylvania advocates of price control a very costly lesson. They had hoped for plenty at low prices. Instead they got scarcity and indescribable misery. Anne Bezansons valuable book, Prices and Inflation during the American Revolution, tells us, By June 1, 1778, the act of regulating the several articles on the price lists was wholly suspended. Price control had failed. From Price Control to Valley Forge Continued From Page vantage of the enemy,1 that has not been either totally obstructed, or greatly impeded, on this account. we have no less than two thousand eight hundred and 1 ... The situation became so bad in Pennsylvania that the people and legislature of this state decided to try a period of price control, limited to domestic commodities essential for the use of the army. It was thought that this would reduce the cost of feeding and supplying our Continental Army. It was expected to reduce the burden of war. The prices of uncontrolled, imported goods then went sky high, and it was almost impossible to buy any of the domestic commodities needed for the Army. The controls were quite arbitrary. Many farmers refused to sell their goods at the prescribed prices. Few would take the paper Continentals. Some, with large families to feed and clothe, sold their farm products stealthily to the British in unlit for duty, because they are barefoot and otherwise naked. . . . I am now convinced beyond a doubt, that, unless some great and capital change suddenly takes place, this army must inevitably be reduced to one or other of these three things: starve, dissolve, or disperse in order to obtain subsistence in the best manner they can. less on Learned The severity of the situation increased. Our ragged regimentals were dispersing. In February, 1778, the Pennsylvania Assembly passed 'a law appointing commissioners in every city of the state with full power to purchase or to seize, at stated prices, all provisions necessary for the army. But, appeals to patriotism, accompanied by force and threats of more force, failed to bring out the necessary provisions. The farmers just would not trade the fruit of their hard labors for paper money which bought less and less as the weeks passed by. On April 21, 1778, George Washington wrote a delegate in Congress, Men may speculate as they will; they may talk of patriotism; they may draw a few examples from ancient history, of great achievements performed by its influence; but whoever builds upon them, as a sufficient basis for conducting a long and bloody war, will find themselves deceived In the end. We must take the passions of men as nature has given them, and those principles as a guide, which are generally the rule of action. I do not mean to exclude altogether the idea of return for gold. For it was only with gold that they could buy the necessities of life which they could not produce for themselves. On December 5, 1777, the Armys Quartermaster-Genera- l, refusing to pay more than the men now in camp ninety-eig- ht gove- rnment-set prices, issued a statement from his Reading, Pennsylvania headquarters saying, If the farmers do not like the prices allowed them for this produce let them choose men of more learning and understanding the next election. This was the winter of Valley Forge, the very nadir of American history. On December 23, 1777, George Washington wrote to the President of the Congress, that, notwithstanding it is a standing order, and often repeated, that the troops shall always have two days' provisions by them, that they might be ready at any sudden call; yet an opportunity has scarcely ever offered, of taking an ad- - Army Better Fed This same book informs us after this date the commissary agents were instructed, to give let it be what the current price ... it may, rather than the army should suffer which you have to supply and the intended expedition be retarded for want of it. As a result the Army was better provided for in the fall of 1778, than had previously been the case. In the words of Miss Bezanson, the flexibility in offering prices and successful purchasing in the country in 1778 procured needed winter supplies wanting in the Organic Cleaners 50 lbs., $15.50 (also in smaller quantities) Laundry Bath -- $2.65 Kitchen gal., $2.65 In January, 1780, Pelatiah Webster wrote, As experiment is the surest proof of the natural effects of all speculations of this kind . . . it is strange, it is marvelous to me, that any person of common discernment, who has been acquainted with all the trials and effects, should entertain any idea of the expediency of trying any such methods again. . . . Trade, if let alone, will ever make above-mention- ed ... the best books, that is QUALITY. Our goal is to supply a discriminating clientele with books of high quality. Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 5 CHOCOLATES free-lanc- Phone 295-238- 1 What We Really Sell Is Service Since 1932 426 W. 500 So. Bountiful, Utah 84010 fine candies 1959 So. 1 100 E. 12981 S. 1700 W. Riverton, Utah 254-363- 1 AVAILABLE DAILY AT WHOLESALE PRICES Closed Sundays BROCHURE 487-103- 1 CLOSED SUNDAY WOODS CROSS REALTY & INSURANCE 364-96- 89 Eggs BEAUTIFUL WEDDING CANDIES CREATED ESPECIALLY FOR YOU. FABULOUS BUTTER ROASTED NUTS. PARTY CANDIES SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED C Kav Cummings e Professor Greaves is now a economist and lecturer. This article first appeared in Chriitian Economics, May 20, 1952. See Lawrence Snow White Fertile also available. Frozen for restaurants 539 West 3900 South Salt Lake City (801) 262-545- 4 and bakeries. Open 7 e.m.-BUY BY THE CASE AND SAVE 4 p.m. $ economic slavery. BEAU BELLE HEALTH FOODS Friendly Honest Service 266-625- 2 . 9A.M. TO 6:30 P.M. DAI LY N 1675 W. 3500 S. Granger, Utah West 3rd South the ultimate in fine... ol Two Convenient Locations Bookstore Quality 71 363-773- The power of allocating the necessities of life is the power of life and death. Under price control that power is given to the political powers that be. Consumers are entirely at their mercy. Price con-tris, therefore, the very antithesis of freedom. Price control is COMPLETE REPAIRS NEW 8t USED PARTS OPEN SATURDAYS 441 So. West Temple (2V4 Ik. So. of SaH Palace) 2 seek AUTO-RECO- AUTO-RECO- N 10 discount with this ad. Distributors wanted. When you Price control is an attempt to alter Gods law of supply and demand. Those who endorse it frequently believe that the supply of goods and human satisfactions can be maintained at prices which are legally set below the free market price. They are ever doomed to disappointment. When a price is set below the free market price, marginal producers will always cease to produce. The available supply is thus reduced. On the other hand, prices held below the free market rates always attract more prospective buyers than the higher market prices. The result will ever be, other things being equal, a decreased supply and an increased demand. Free prices allocate scarce goods to the highest bidder. In consumers goods, the highest bidder is the person who has best served society. In producers goods, the highest bidder is usually the person who can make the best use of the scarce labor and materials available. He can pay the highest price because he expects society to pay him more for his final product than it will pay for the product of any lower bidder. When the state, or some bureaucratic agent of the state, sets prices, he must also decide who shall have and who shall have not. At prices you can afford 467-071- , nel. 12 Mo. or 12,000 Mi. Warranty Power K gal., $2.65 See Marva Bennett, 2729 Alden, S.L.C., Ut. 84106 0 Phone (801) Also dealer for "Pedigree" game for ages 10 and up. , its own way best, and like an irresistible river, will ever run safest, do least mischief and most obgood, suffered to run without struction in its own natural chan- previous year. Utah Manufactured No Residua No Pollution Bio-degrada- that Page 7 The UTAH INDEPENDENT May 12, 1972 I I I I I I I I I 295-909- 5 Brut's Service Five Poiets 1545 So. Main St. Bountiful, Utah State Inspection Tune - Ups Brakes Tires and Batteries New Phillips Radials with 40,000 Mile Guarantee '7:30A.M. to 10:00 P.M. dosed Sundays |