The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-05-29
Again the Profiteers

Nr,,,x t,ovvs where actual blame for present hish
pr,ee. .hou,d h. laid The manufacturer puts
n the door of labor. Labor promptly returns '"'
compliment Jobbers and retailers are s'
reciprocal In their accusations. Recent figures pu"
pshed by Investigators for the government and TOR
lahpr unions however. permit formation OF aoii's
idsaL
In the last years the American people nav
- m net profits every dollars worth Of stock
e the coal companies and all Corporations IN INC
srprntial lines OF industry" asserts BASH NJ Manly
ss.t,-.rai r-,rarrh investigator washington This
u,sans simply he expiafns tina, ~ the government
- oper.ted an essential Industries rom the begin
mig Of the war would have sufficient pront 20
puschase every dollars worth OF cap'tn s'os 80
NV would be In possession OF prae.oai" 49,
initial industry plant In the country froisee'nS
= clearly Indicated by this. even II not pfov~
W. JET IAuck. consulting economist Va uhAAi "
- II brotherhoodS recently presented 70 ae -,
~ labor board startling figures indicative OF
proflteer.nr Profits increased enormously during
sbs war. he points out IAryc concerns PREVIOUSLY
Ven satisncd with 10 per cent pron,s aenans.s
10 50 par during the war His report tur,nsr
senses that for the four years. isSisis corpora"
profits cost each family OF five tn the un'ed STATES
$500 tina. the iron- steel and coal Industries Ase
A 600 900 900 OF net profit In three war years IN
szeexs Of the pre- var average: that this excess OF
prufft cost each family Of five s3<o year and tha'
the disclosures he made do not reveal eomps,ey .ns
extent Of corporate prcteerins. due to
methods Of covering up. Capital" he concludes.
IS proffteerfng such scale a. 70 menace the
future Of the country"
Rather danning figures 10 prove hfs eontentscn
make up his report. Profits Of practically sveJ
essential manufacturing industry range from - to
100 per cent larger than In pre-war days when
the average man could live comfortably. Everything
from shoes to ships comes under the Indictment
Altho critics disagree with MI lAueh ASSERT
ing that scarcity Of commodities and other causes
to blame for present prices. his evidence Is con
vinctng
That causes other than the greed Of hE business
contribute to the h. G. l. however Their. h htts
doubt According to statements made public by West
ern commission men. public MARKET stalls In
Seattle are making 200 to 500 per cent profit on
such staples onions. cabbages and carrota IL
has been practice TO indsct only the cor.
poratsons the profiteers- The little felio~s
apparently just guilty. and their overcharHes
come much closer home.
Wherever the real blame m 10 Be laid. however.
the fact does not bring relief. The man who
suffers the effects OF profteerfns h utterly help
less. II sounds wen enough TO advise boycottins
and economy. but the most resentfui must
live. Consequently. every such one helps swell the
overlooking Golfers.
Mr.. Palmer has declared the proftesr.
Undoubtedly he well Prices have begun 20
fan somewhat In few lines-mainiy due. however.
feels to other than Mr.. Paimers efsorts
But prices stin beyond. reason. The public In
paying proflteers heir absurd profits and
continued verbal abuse Of the naughty profiteers
II II does get such results. get them promptly
congress- present administration prating poll
ticians generally may expect TO hear from II In
uncertain voice at the November elections