The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1919-09-03


war securities far beyond their pres
ent means, frequently pledging their
future resources, and made every
possible sacrifice in the interest of
their country and its flag. They
willingly, ungrudingly, yea, un-
grumblingly, underwent these bitter
hardships that civilization, demo-
cracy, and our sacred American in
situations might triumph. But now
that the war has ended and there is
no further cause or excuse for ex-
travagant prices they want to return
TO normal conditions again.
Profiteer is a Misnomer.
AS suggested by the distinguished
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Ruck-
err from the great European war
Just ended has evolved a new order;
new conditions have resulted, and
along with them new-fangled phrases
and designations have been invented.
Our forefathers, true to a rugged
honesty that brooked no fear, spake
the truth, "the whole truth, and
nothing but the. TRUTH" without cant,
varnish, or persiflage. Instead of
referring to a spade as San oblong
instrument of manual husbandry,"
they called it spade. Unfortunate
ly, in my opinion, it has been the
tendency of their descendants to
practice policy, which often amounts
to hypocrisy, at the expense of real
ity and truth.
Our forefathers, true to their An
glo-Saxon instincts and vernacular,
called a liar liar, but few years
ago such creature was referred to
as a juggler of the kings English
or prevaricator, but more recently
he has been spoken of as a camou-
flager. Our forefathers denounced
man or set of men, either large
manufacturers or crossroads mer-
chants, who imposed exorbitant
prices on the public as robbers, pure
and simple, now they are politely and
euphoniously referred to as profit
teers. We are entirely too prone to
get away from the tenets, habits,
and landmarks of our fathers. Of
course, we have witnessed great
strides in science and invention in
the last few years; in fact, we have
been utterly astounded by the
achievements of the recent past. v e
have seen the forked stick vanish be-
fore the now ordinary turning pillow
and tractor. We have seen the slow,
rafting stagecoach supplanted by the
high powered auto, the fast-flying
aeroplane, and the rapid transit ex-
press train which outspeed the very
wind itself. We have witnessed the
coming Of the telegraph, the tele-
phone, the moving picture wonder,
the talking achine, and all those other
marvels of human genius and ingenu-
ity. But, Mr.. Speaker and gentle
men of the House, has it ever oc-
Cured to you that during all this pro-
cess of development which has stag
gered mans mental comprehension
there has been little or no change in
| human character and habit. Human
nature, like the eternal hills, remains
the same, unchanged and unchange-
able! "Can the leopard change it's
spots or the Ethiopian his skin" has
reechoed down the corridors of time
and stands forth to-day, as when
originally propounded 40 centuries
ago, perpetual reminder of mans
| impotence and Gods infnity. AS for
me | prefer the manners and customs
of our fathers. l believe a liar
should be called liar and a thief a
thief, and ought to be so branded in
the interest of public morals ana
good society. The man or set of
men, the individual or organization
that will set price on an article of
food or wearing apparel out of pro-
portion to its cost of production is
not profiteer but common, ordi-
nary robber, and deserves to be
branded and punished as such. When
unfortunate men, women, and little
children are actually suffering in this
great Government-this boosted
'land of the free and home of the
brave"-on account of the lack of
the necessaries of life which they can
not obtain on account of unreason-
able price it is no time to cavil or
indulge in sugar-coated phaseology.
Something must be done, and quickly
done, to relieve a situation which
threatens the very foundation of our
industrial, commercial, and economic
superstructure.
Many Remedies Advanced,
Mr.. Speaker, the disease of "high
prices" has been diagnosed by various
authorities, and a multiplicity of
remedies have been suggested and
recommended. Some alleged experts
charge the cause to lack of produd-