The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1920-04-22

! wanted Jobs was much greater Than
the number of places available. The
returning soldier seeking a Job was
] offered much smaller wage than he
knew was paid for the same work
while he had been lighting. II In
I censed him. He figured that he had
| given four years our Of his life, had
come home tired and broke. He look
ed upon the decline In wages a. q
positive discrimination against him.
Comparison Breeds Discomfort.
Everywhere have heard these men
say: I'VE are out Of luck. The
bands played and we were applauded
when we left TO light. While we were
gone the wages vent up. We don't
begrudge the men who stayed at
home the wages they got. but it's
damn funny that when we come back
down 20 wages. The cost Of living
don't 90 down. ] guess we're out Of
luck"
found two phrases inseparable In
the speech of the discontented. "the
high cost OF hying:" "the proftser."
Workingmen with whom l talked,
freely admitted that some Of the high |
cost OF living was the legitimate re-
suit OF the great demand for every |
thing and the natural shortage. but In |
the same breath they insisted that
much OF II was due to the mercenary.
ghoulish profiteer.
The profiteer took blood money dur
ing the worlds greatest tragedy. He
exacted usury from the toiler at home
and the fighting man at the front.
He drew dividends out Of the tears
and wills OF broken-hearted women
and fright-stricken children. He
minted his gold out Of agony. starva-
ton, heartaches. He stands today
the Judas Of the war. the most de-
spIsed man Of earth.
The profteer Is not an Englishman,
a Frenchman, Italian or American.
He Is found In every country Of the
world. man without nationality,
without conscience, without humanity.
He Is the pimp OF civilization. He Is
still on the job.
The profiteer has given the United
States terrible black eye. A com s
mon comment Of Europe Is. 'The
United States made money out OF the !
war" These people do not refer to
the money we made legitimately.
They point to the fact. fact that ,
has been given great publicity In Flu
rope, that in August, 1914. there were
about 1000 millionaires in the United
States, while at the time Of the sign
ng OF the armistice 1t was estimated
he millionaire colony had increased
~ $1,000, making a total Of $4,000
In the United States. The ,
1rofteer Is still on the job. He Is
holding up the world. starving, cold
world.
Profteerino Case In Point. !
Under date of November II. 1919. J. {
!, Bache & Co., members Of the New (
FORK stock exchange. In their financial
etter say: I'm mercantile circles
here Is proceeding at the present time q
vast amount OF speculation on o
cry large scale in commodities. An L
Incident Is cited to us OF one con
ern that Is carrying $4,000, 900 worth
4 vegetable oils. which are in great
emand. and the concern Is holding v
hem for higher prices. This Is r
lstinct damage to the consr ners, and :,
eeps living prices In these things, :,
sed daily. at top and increasing lev
Is Speculation OF this kind Is q
cal detriment to the community
The pair of shoes the workingman
nee bought for $3.50 are now SO and g g
10. II Is true that the cost OF labor ~
nd material have gone up, but not m
nough to warrant any such exorbi- &C
mt prices. Business men have tax T.
n advantage of the situation. and jus Ell
fly their larcenles on the ground of q
he law of supply and demand. A sy
hoe man with a prominent Chicago IA IA
rim. a man long in the business, told W
Ie that the present unwarranted and ~
outrageous price of shoes was due to T.
he fact that American shoe manufac- be
irers could get almost any price for re
hoes from the barefooted people Of be
urope. u