Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-08-13
GoMPERS ON pRoFnEERlNe.


American Federation of Labor, in
"a published pamphlet enters Wig
orouS complaint against the present
Congress for its failure TO pass any
of the measures asked for by the
President TO put check upon the
unrightcouS profiteerinS now so
burdenSome upon people. He states
the fact that on the 9Th of August.
1919 the President appeared before
Congress and delivered Il message
dealing specifically with the high
cost of living and making susgeS.
lions and recommendations of acls
that should be passed to stop the
gouging Of the people by the con-
slant advance of prices and the
making of unjust and unreasonable
profits.
To show the necessity of lcgis-
lation on the subjects Mr.. Gompcrs
cites many cases of profiteering
We present few of them as follows
Cluctt. Peabody & Co., makers Of
mems collars, in 1919, made net
proiits of $5,153.129. an increase of
l75 per cent over 1913.
The international Paper Co., for
the thrce-ycar period from 1916 to
1919 increased its annual net profits
4S7 per cent over the previous per-
iod of 1909 to 1915. The aggregate
common stock dividend for the
period 1916 to 1919 was $74.15.
In the case of the United Drug
Co., the net increase in common
stock earnings for 1913 over 1916
was 14S per cent.
The Tobacco Products Corpora
ton made an exceptional record.
Its net increase in common stock
earnings for 1918 over 1914 was
1547 per cent.
The United Fruit Co., levied a
tribute upon fruit brought into the
United States from tropical coun-
tries sufficient TO produce net in
crease for 1919 over 1914 of 547
per cent on its common stock earn-
ings.
The American Linseed Co., ranks
high on the list with an increased
of 780 per cent on net common
stock earnings for 1919 over 1916.
The National Enameling & Stamp
ing Co., makers Of kitchen ware,
enjoyed a net increase in common
stock earnings for the period 1916
to 1919 over the 1909 to 1915 of
1178 per cent. The increase in
average annual earnings for this
three-year period over the previous
seven year period was 1926 per cent,
The Manhattan Shirt Co., enjoy
ed an increase in net income OF
275 per cent for 1919 over 1915.
The Pacific Mills, which means
flour, enjoyed an increase in ne:
income of 218 per cent for 1919
over 1915.
For the American Hide & Leath
er Co., the increase in net income
for 1919 over 1914 was 2G5 per cent
This. of course, accounts some for
the high cost of shoes.
The Corn Products Refining Co.,
makers of various kinds of syrups,
increased its common stock ea,'1-
ing 636 per cent in 1919 over 1918.
The Edincott- Johnson Corpora
= ton, makers of shoes, had an in
crease of 35S per cent for 1919 over
1915.
The Central Leather Co.. incrcas-
ed its net income 1903 per cent for
1919 over 1913 and had an increase
in accumulated surplus earnings
for 1919 over 1914 of 288 per cent.
In face of these figures the Re-
publican Congress sat still and
took no action looking to the re-
lief of the people. The session was
wasted in long and fruitless discus
sions of the Peace Treaty which, in
the end, the Senate refused to rati-
fy. If a party is to be Judged by
its record what sort Of judgement
will the people pass upon the Re-