The Washington times., 1932-05-28

month and the man who gets rich at $50 or $500
day. The book, just published by Brewer, Warren &
Putnam, is the record of his disappointment
''Take the Profts'
Bernard Baruch was an early mover in this
propaganda; the American Legion seemed at one time
anxious to "take the profits out of war; Nothing was
farer in eyes than the proposal to draft the dollar
if you draft the men; and in the back of minds lay
the hope that if no could make money out of
one would be so anxious to push us into We
had proofs that anyone pushing for the pur
poses of private gain; patriotism annual state
ments impenetrably But know, after it is all over
that profits ranging from go to 800 per cent made
in the years in certain metal industries and
call figures even higher in other felds-sometimes
much 1000 per cent profit Isn't it reasonable that
with that prospect before them and women might
think good thing?
Is Per Cent Fair or Good?
Mr.. Wadmans point is that all the proposals so far
made miss their objective Compared with 800 per cent
per cent seems mild profit and per cent is what
the head of the American Legion declared satisfactory
to his followers. Mr.. Waldman notes that today the
the guarantee of per cent would be godsend to thou
sands of industrlalsts. fair return investment
in wartime strikes improvement over extrava-
CANT profits, but Mr.. Waldman shows that the
putaon of fair return might land in bog of liti
cation out of which industry would off pretty WE'LL
Finally, the commission recommended "that consttu
tona amendment to permit the taking of private prop
erty in time of war without compensation be considered
by Congress-" So you still may draft the man, but
not the factory.
The book is welldocumented; you will find scandals,
incompetence profteerng on one side timidity and help
voice of those who know that you cannot plan to pre-
vent profit in wartime unless you plan your whole ma
tion'S life.
Is Reduction Improvement?
I think Mr. Waldman has been exasperated beyond
bearing and little extreme. There is good in scaling
down. if you cannot actually abolish, profits. In
1916 the heavy industries of the United States
making toerable fortune out of supplies sent to
Europe. If the Government had had power then to
control profits and if that power had been rgdy
forced profits after entered the might have been
less instead of greater. few months ago people
talked of a boycott against Japan-a which
might have led to If all profit above the level of
the past three years taxed 95 per cent would
desperate industries care much for declaration?
Publicity Value
Even he attacks the results of the commissions
work. Mr. Wadman unconscousy testifies to its chief
Importance. It is quite true that great capitalists do
not want their money and their factories confiscated it
is also true that human beings do not want their lives
confiscated But they dodge and hagge they offer
compromises, the defenders of the present system
confessing that there is connection between death and
profits that every killed the field turns il
hundred thousand dollars to the cashier Proof is still
wanting that government kills the in order to
insure the profit; but proof is not wanting that when
the men are killed the profit