Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1919-12-26
-APPER WARNS UNITED STATES
SKATE
Profteers a Worse Menace Than Boil
sheviks or !. w. w.

Washington - Urging the Govern
ment to limit profits, as has been done
in Canada, Senator Arthur Capper,
former Governor of Kansas, stirred
the Senate by a denunciation of
profteers. whom he Hkened to Boil
shevists in their damaging effects
upon the nation and industry.
"The profteers Of big business
and this includes a lot of coal Oper-
ators," said Senator Capper, "are as
great or a greater menace to us and
our institutions than the BolshevlA,
the |. w. WIS and the radicals VINO
are preaching the overthrow OF gov
ernment, and let me say Will go
the limit in supporting every meas
ure which will stamp out BolsheVlsm
and anarchy.
"Unless we speedily check price
gouging the high cost of profits IS
soon to be translated into the eX-
cessive cost of existence. We are
beginning to hear about $18 shoes,
hand-me-downs and $15 hats for
next Spring, notwithstanding the peo-
ple have bought and paid for all the
cotton and woolen mills in single
wear as during the war they bought
and paid for All the shoe factories,
all the big flour mills, all the saw
mills. the packing houses, the big
steel mills. the tanneries, the coal
mines, and who knows what else, and
vet do not own them and are at their
mercy.
81 do not concede that as yet labor
troubles and slack production are re-
sponsible, except in part, Tor the
more and more excessive toll eXacted
of the consumer.
"While the people made sacrifices
and fought during the war, and are
still fighting and sacrificing, these
industries have paid no part IN the
cost of the national defense, nor have
thev contributed anything to help the
country except at war prices and for
tremendous profits. And now they
are collecting their war taxes from
the people and eXacting excessive
toll besides by soaking them for all
they can get for their products. .,
"If sugar is released from Federal
control Dec. 81, we may certainly
expect to see that necessity soar.
ENine months ago a dollar would
buy five pounds Of coffee. Today 1t
will buy only two pounds.
"a nickel sack of tobacco now
costs ten cents. In it the smoker
finds a little card which reads: 'Spe-
cial notice. This package should be
sold for five cents. Your dealer
makes a fair margin of profit at this
price .o.oo
Lumber sells at from $40 to $102
per thousand feet. ! have it from a
iumberman who has spent his life IN
the business that this is at least 30
per cent beyond all reasonable profit.
"And so it goes. And will continue
to 20 until we beggar the people,
lower consumation, and kill demand,
unless we find and apply the means
to check the game Of grab which IS
at the bottom of most of our persent
troubles. Men working for wages
may be expected to keep asking for
more money. They must if family
of five is to be shod with S18 shoes
all around and supplied with other
wearables and with eatables at con-
stantly increasing prices.
81 am inclined to think that as an
emergency measure it might be well
to give the Federal Government power
to limit gross profits, as Canada has
been doing so successfully, requiring
every dealer or manufacturer, from
the time the raw material leaves the
hands of the producer until the pro
duct reaches the consumer, to mark
the cost price to him on all goods;
also his own selling price, and be pre-
pared to show invoices. This will
make it possible quickly to spot the
man who is doing the profiteering. "
One special duty we owe ourselves