South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-02
The Crime of PROTECTING
BY Harnlin Garland

To my mind. one Of the noblest
phases of this war is the Outburst
of generous giving on the part of
the great merchants and manu-
facturers of America. 1t would be
an injustice not to admit this.
The impulse which leads a man
to forego a salary of seventy-fve
thousand dollars per annum or 10
neglect an enormous business for a
position on the government roll at
one dollar per year is magnificent.
I for one am not disposed to cavil
or criticize by saying: 1T is easy
TO give up a salary OF that size be
cause il argues a wealth which is
sufficient without it." l am willing
TO grant the fine spirit which leads
men like Baruch, Rosenwald, Crane
and House to give of their time and
money and genius to the cause for
which we are fighting My only
care is 10 see that ! give in the
same proportion and in the same
mood.
Without doubt there is less of con-
scienceless profiteering in this war
than in either the civil war or the
Spanish war, but having granted
this. we are still confronted with
the fact that there are in America
today a great many men seeking
ways 10 levy tribute on those who
are unable 10 elude their demands.
The shopkeeper no less than the
manufactures, the pork packer as
well as the cotton grower. are in this
attack on the pockets Of the con-
sumner. The process in the case of
manufactured articles is simple
Take, for convenient example, shoes
II is true that hides are somewhat
higher. that labor is costlier. but as
matter Of fact a few cents will
pay for the difference in the cost
/ Of the shoes on which the retailer
now asks a profit Of four dollars.
I He has doubled the price. not be-
cause he must but because he can.
This is crime and should be
punished as such.
No one will object TO fair profit
on the part of the manufactures
and the dealer. but 10 this re-
morseless profiteering the govern
ment must put a stop. 1t - taking
an unfair advantage of purchasers
who are helpless TO protest-or
whose individual protests carry no
weight
The profteering principle extends
/ 20 the smallest articles lead pen
/ Gil for another instance Pencils
save gone from five TO ten cents
not because the extra lead costs q
! fraction of a cent more. but be-
cause 10 raise the price from five
cents TO a dime is the dealers no
ton of a proper war profit
There is some excuse for a sal
aried man or a wage Garner who de
mands an increase in pay. for the
/ lea ping cost of living is forcing such
| demands. but there is no valid eX-
cuse for the man who merely seeks
toincrease his profits. II is a crime
against the helpless when dealers
I and manufacturers deliberately con
spire against the families of the
soldiers who have gone away to
! fight against military despotism.
| Their families must be protected
against the profteer at home.
Much can be done by the govern
ment by laws rigidly enforced. but
still more can be dom by a system
| OF ostracism. OF social condemna-
ton We can add 10 the rising
spirit of generous forbearance by
| recognizing il wherever we find It.
/ and we can make prOhteering OdiOus
as well as against the law by open
I " condemning those who practice
\ it.
To me there is something pc
culiarly re, ulsive in the greedy
| spirit OF the profteer. I can excuse
the German spy for il is conceivable
that he is working under orders like
a soldier. I can forgive the enemy
alien for after all his heart is Ger
man or Austrian. but for the man
who takes advantage OF his fellow
citizens in time OF war I have a deep
hatred. He is 10 me a traitor 20 all
/ that is fine and generous in Ameri-
can manhood. an enemy citizen do
ing the work OF the kaiser quite as
| effectively as though he carried a
gun. His action is a crime and
should be SO treated by society and
/ by the department Of Justice
! These are times when bravery