Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-06
TWO KINDS OF PRoFITEERs

Inc pronteer Is the one who takes adj
vantage Of an unusual situation to make
you pay more than you feel you should
must have.
1t follows that the profiteer 10 always
some other fellow. He may bs the man
from whom you rent your house. He
may be the man from whom you buy
your flour. your coal or your clothing
He may be- the man who builds your
home, or who paints 1t or equips It.
But you say that is different. The man
who sells you flour or coal Is a mer-
chant, whereas the man who paints
your house, or does your carpenter work,
or what not represents labor True but
IL 1t not precisely the same principle in
both cases? The meat men combine and
make you pay double the prices you for
merly paid for meat products The arti-
sans combine and make you pay double
what you formerly paid for your house.
So far az you are concerned the effect, II
not the principle involved Is the same
in both cases. If you do not pay it d.
rectly. you pay It In In Increased rent.
People are now beginning to realize
the application of this truth as never
before. The returning American soldier
is seeing this especially and in some
cases he Is giving material form and ex-
preston to his thoughts. Alfred I. Har-
rington. commander Of Mcvey Post. No.
16, Of the American Legion Of Mansfield,
Ohio. writes forceful article In the
current American Legion weekly In
which he says:
THE flood of ammunition orders has
bred new crop of millionaires. Many
OF them have spent their money lavish.
~, Haunting their new found wealth.
Those with sense and conscience land
there are quite few Of this kind also)
have restrained their big expenditures
But this class, like the Big Five" at
fords an easy target, no brains required
- see 1t. no danger incurred in shooting
It It, and besides-it's popular! Trust the
cold-footed politician to find the popular
target!
There is another crowd that profited i'm
mensely by the, war. We would not say
anything about that now II 1t were not for
the fact that they are still dissatisfied.
They breathe revolution IL they are not
permitted to impose their will upon the
country. few courageous spirits have
spoken out against them. but the vast ma
1ority of the politicians are tongued-tied.
The public at large speaks their name In
whispers. To put the case bluntry. did the
railroad unions think of us when they
stood the public against the wall and
shook the government by the throat until
the dollars ratified loud enough to pacify
hem? Did they know that we were scour-
ing neutral Europe for food and clothing
and metal and forage?
THE situation that confronted us at one
time was desperate. but did that prevent
them from striking? Did they care wheth-
err ships got over to France or did they
OF? Supplies were in this country in abnn-
dance, but they had to be moved to the
seaboard by rail and we did not get them
in time because they were not where they
ould be shipped. In the meantime we were
working twelve. fifteen and twenty-four
hours n day for seven days week, not
! asking nor even thinking Of more pay OF
overtime, or fewer hours, or less work pei
hour, much less of striking! This Is not
the jury. The soldiers and the American
public will judge this question at the prop.
err time Our interest now is more in the
understanding and correction of an in.
| tolcrnble situation.
ITO say that Stayhome has not i'm.
proved his scale Of living IL to belle oul
eyes. He In fat. wears better clothes. eat,
bigger and better meals and has biossomet
out in mansions. motor cars and jswe'ry
The motor cars around any factory prove
that Labor stnyhome got his Tho mos,
noise ana discontent are kicked up b,
Alien Stacker stnyhome, who has not beer
able 10 awe all of his wages to retire
across tina Atlantic.
THE whole point II that the family Stay
home Is not satisfied VITA what no hRt
n year or two ago. He has raised his seal