Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-07-05
Replies to
MI. Wold's Structures

edition of The Saturday News to al
statement by Theodore Void, COVER
nor of the ninth district reserve bank,
to the effect that the farmers Of the
Nonpartisan League are disloyal to
their government.
Since the edition was mailed, A. q.
Townley, president Of the league, has
delivered an address at jamestown,
IN. D., in the course Of which he in
directly replies to the charge.
Recounting the rise of prices, which.
have been sensational along some
lines, Mi. Townley states that much
of the rise is due to the fact that
many Of the big manufacturers have
taken advantage Of the war TO enforce
an arbitrary advance without due
cause. He calls attention to the im-
mense profits OF some Of the big con-
Germs as compared with their fairly
prosperous business preceding the
war.
Some Big Profits.
Swift & Company made a profit of
S9.000,000 in 1913, but its report
shows a profit of $20,00o.000 in 1916.
Armour s. Co.'S profits $6,800,-
900, but were $30,100,O0O in 1916.
The Cuban-American Sugar Co.
reaped only 100000 in profits in 1918
but in 1916 1T stands at S8,235,000.
The Dupont Powder Cos profits In
1913 were $4,500,000, but in 1916 were
$82. 0O0, 900.
The great Steel trust showed a
net profit of $~81,00O,0O0 in 1913, but
for 1915 the net profits showed up as
$271,500,0O0.
The Reasonable Part.
Mr.. Townley having suggested that
all food gamblers and spectators
must be eliminated ii the government
is to reduce waste to the minimum
and to conserve the interests of the
people, says.
1T is absolute insanity for us to
lead ourselves or anybody else to be-
lieYe that this nation can succeed ms
war when hundreds Of thousands OF
parasites, the gamblers in the neces-
stiles Of life, use the war only for the
purpose Of extracting ~exorbitant
profits. We are looking, not to beat
the enemy, but to make more multi
m~illionaires. That is what we are
working for!
Now here is the seditious and trea-
sonable and unpatriotic part or my
discussion. We respectfully suggest,
and then we demand, that this ma
ton, instead Of serving the interests
| OF the gentlemen it must be serving
now, or it would not permit those gi-
gantic corporationssto rob you OF SO
many millions a year-I am afraid
this government must be serving
them, because | can't figure III from
these reports how they are serving
us-and SO, we respectfully suggest
and we demand that as a war meas
ure, this United States government:
shall do the one thing first OF all that
Iis necessary and take over before they
send one single boy to Europe, take
over the railroads and the distribution
of food into their hands-(prolongedi
hand-clapping and cheers)-take over
the railroads and the distribution Of
foods and kick the gamblers into the
sea or send them to- war-Qaughter
land applause)-s that when you gem
Iflemen, you tillers of the soil, shall
IpToduce an immense crop, YOU will be
sure that crop will arrive at the camp
where your boy is fighting for his
country without your having to pay
flor IT ait that end four times what
you received for 1t at this end. (Ap-
plause.o
Do Away With Gamblers.
Fol unless you do away with the
gamblers in food and the necessities
LOT life You will produce your wheat
and get 81 a bushel Tor It and then
lyon Will bond the nation and pay
across the water S. or $6 a busnet
flor yoNr own wheat for your own
boy
s:TGatSSis the lineup nov. 1t Is
wrong. 1t lis national suicide. 1t ID
national suicide in times o peace; 1T
is multaeiied national suicide in times
pf war, and we are not s % crazy as to-
believe we can succeed unless this
tgoyernment shall do what every Euro-
CkE