The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-11-02
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hdtchet Out
The Truth
. A CHEER FOR INDUSTRY
@ NOT AFTER WAR PROFITS
o THE HOPE PERSISTS
O SLUMPS TAKE GAINS

One of the most cheering things in
the present situation is industry's lack
of enthusiasm for war profits.
Industry evidently realizes pretty
generally that war profits are de-
lusion and snare.
They may be grand while. the going
is good but after the war-my, what
a headache!
Industry and business have voiced
this view repeatedly since war began
in Europe.
There has been very little licking
of chops over prospects Of juicy war
gains. Instead, industrial leaders and
business organizations have been
slamming at the idea that war means
fat profits and have been to the fore
in urging that the United States keep
out Of war.
Barney Baruch, who knows a thing
or two about profits and profit t-mak-
ing, says therell be no war profits if
America is involved in the European
conflict
There is one outstanding fact para
mount in possibilities of this country's
involvement in war, he said recently.
"No one will gain and there will be
no profits
"You can put this in your pipe and
smoke it," he said. eff we get in
volved in the war, nobody is going to \
make the profits that they may think
they will make.
"a ceiling will be fixed on prices
and taxes will be increased and no
body will gain.
"If anybody thinks they can make
profit out of war, they're crazy"
X X X
Mr.. Baruch's statements may be
rather sweeping but in the main he is
right.
War would bring profits to some, in
all probability, but whether they
could hang on to them is another
matter.
AS Mr.. Baruch intimates, war taxes
are likely to play havoc with war
profits.
But human nature being what it is,
hope of war profits is bound to per-
sist. If war should come to America.
industry and business will hope and
strive to profit. Nor would eXpecta-
tion of profit be confined to the en-
ploying class. Workers would expect
to profit through increased employ
ment opportunities and high pay.
x x X
A disastrous slump after the war
could easily more than wipe out ALL
gains, for both capital and labor.
We haven't forgotten that a slump
came soon after the world war, in
1921 and 1922.
And a shattering bust came only]
eleven years after the ending of the
war, following period of what pass
ed for abounding prosperity, but
which wasn't prosperity for large
groups, as for example, the farmers.
Plenty of people believe that the
Great Depression was direct result
of our futile crusade to make the
world safe for democracy.
X X X
Industry's lack Of faith in war
profits is undoubtedly a factor in it's
firm opposition to war. In that it is
standing side by side with the great
masses of the people.
Industry and business are asking
adequate defense, but are opposing
any move or policy that might draw
US into war. Wall Street organs have
joined with labor in urging strict
American neutrality.
With other Americans, industrial
and business leaders have no faith in
the idea that we can make Europe
over. That, they are convinced, is a
task for Europe and for Europe alone.
If Europe can't do the job, others
can't either, they strongly suspect.