The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-08-07

ceived by wage earners, salaried
men, agriculturists and the small
business man who should be exempt
from this tax. The profiteer and
some OF the highly capitalized units
have used the excess profits tax as a
favorite excuse for loading on the
consumer by means of highly inflat-
cd selling prices many times the
amount actually paid the Govern
A necessary condition to the ma
tional contentment and sound busi-
ness is a just proportion between fair
profits to business and fair prices to
the consumer. 1t is unQuestioned
that the enormous expansion OF pub
lie and private credit made necessary
as "a part of war financing, the diver
sion Of the products of many indus
tries from their usual channels, az
we'll as the disturbance to general
business caused by the withdrawal of
millions Of men from producing
fields, all contributed TO the rise in
prices. Revesion OF these various
agencies to q more stable condition
will tend toward a recession in the
enormously inflated present prices
Of many commodities and property
values, and there are now evidences
that a sane adjustment is not far
distant.
FORTUNES WRUNe FROM PEo-
PIE BY HIGH PRICES.
Deep patriotic sentiment enthralled
our people during the war, and slight
attention was given to the enormous
economic changes that were then IN
progress, and when observed these
changes were generally accepted IS
one of the trials necessary to be en-
dured, and they were submerged in
the thought and purpose for victory.
While millions of free men, regardless
of wealth or condition. were giving of
their blood and substance, many cor
porations and men seized the very
hour that civilization lay PROSTATE TO
secure for themselves fortunes wrung
from the public and from the Govern
ment by the levying OF prices that in
many cases were a crime. Under pres
ent taxation laws much capital il
drawing out Of industry and finding
investment in non-taXable securities.
This will cease II the changes suggest
ed are made.
In the analysis of government, as the
events of to-day enable us TO peno-
trate the subject we see the differ
ence between the old and the progress
sive kind of thinking. The belief Of
should not function more widely than
1t did in the past, but they seem 10
forget that the fundamental OF our
plan Is equal rights for all and special
privileges for none. Modern life has
developed new problems. Civilization
continues to build along the same
basic lines, and altrlistic as we may
all be disposed to be, the fact re-
mains that except for the exchange Of
products between individuals, com
mercial units and nations, our devel-
opment would be slow.
All OF this growth goes on under
the protection OF and with the en-
OF government. The
least therefore, that might be rem
dcred unto government for this con-
tlnuous service is a policy OF fair
dealing. Too often the genius OF man
prompts him to play for governmental
advantage, and the success which has
been achieved In this particular. has
led TO the formation Of groups which
seek this very advantage
PRoFlTEERlNG THE MOST SIM
lSTER INFLUENCE IN LIFE.
We are a busy people. preoccupied
in too large degree with purely COM
mercial considerations, and we have
not recognized as we should that the
CAPABILITIES has made II possible for
spirits TO develop preju-
dice against the institutions OF Gov
eminent, rather than against ad-
policy. There Is "a very
difference here. This diff
ference bears directly on proftesring,
which is to-day the most sinister in
huence In American life. 1t Is not
a new thing In America.
The tribe Of profiteers has Sim
ply multiplied under tho faVorhg
circumstances Of war. For years
large contributions have been
made to tho Republican campaign
fund for no purpose except to buy
a governmental underhold and TO
make illegal profits as the result
of preference. Such lHroesses are
TO day a greater menace 20 our
eontentment and our institutions
than the countless temporary
y proftesrn who are making q