The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-04-17
Black Markets Called
Insult To Seruicen1en
American People Actuated by Wisdom of Neces-
sity of Emergency Measures
Will Hate "Racketeers" Worse
Than Nazis or Japs.

IAN American simply does not
wish to be told what he may and
may not do" declares Henry H.
Heiman, Executive Manager-on-
leave of the National Association OF
Credit Men, in his Monthly Bus
mess Review for April, issued today
Americans will cooperate in the
war effort and when thoroughly
aroused of their own volition will
deny themselves most everything to
help accomplish such a worthy OBJ
ject. If, however, they have any
doubt upon the wisdom or necessity
of program, they just naturally
rebel. Tht explains our black mar
ket situation" declared Mr.. Hell
man.
1T would be foolish to assume
that we could win the war without
having our nodmal life interferred
with" Mr.. Hermann continued
Some ten million of our citizens
are demonstrating that fact every
day they are in the armed forces.
1t is also true that those of us who
are at home have little reason to
complain over our lot or over the
few inconvenience we have had to
put up with. But both the armed
forces and the people at home will
Squawk day and night if they think
they are being forced to do I'M
necessary things in the guise of a
war effort. Black markets are an
insult to our armed forces" Mr..
Heimann said. "They are an aid
and comfort to the enemy; they are
immoral and indefensible. Let us
educate the people as to the reasons
why black market patronage is
reasonable and then let us be Ger
tain there Is no rationing or re-
striction unless there Is cause for
1t - either immediate or in the fu-
ture. Let our judiciary take cogniz-
ance of the character of citizen
who practices or patronizes black
market operations. In our rationing
and regulations let us remember
that the simpler the rules, the more
easily they are understood, respect
ed and obeyed. Americans are
mutually suspicious of the intricate
and the complex. Theirs is the SIM
pie and direct way of life.
I'VE IN industry who have great
public relations experts might well
use such departments to help in the
battle OF the home front and to
stamp out black markets. Explain
the need for rationing where there
is C seed; the Consequence OF
cheating rationing regulations or
price sterilization, and you'll soon
md a black market patron or Or
gan1zer will be deSpiSed as a Jap.
Some OF the black market opera
lions are little short of treason but
until the public feels that way about
them the chiSelers will continue to
stab our people in the back. The
public can and must be made to
learn the facts and once the truth
Is before them, you won't need a
large group Of enforcing agents and
officers to ferret out the black mar
get traitors"
BY way Of a reply to those who
argue that no corporate executive
should receive salary of more than
$4,000, Mr.. Holman points out that
If such situation should come
about, our Red Cross, u. s. O., Ma
tional War Fund, churches, societ-
les, ETC., would suffer a severe re-
duction In the amount of their
support.
"It is true in some instances SAL
aries could be drastically reduced
without real harm to the recipient,
for the net compensation he would
retain after taxes varies little once
a salary exceeds $25, 900 a year But
in many instances such a reduction
would prove hardship not only to
the generously minded taxpayer,
but, more important, to those or
CARNATIONS which have been the
beneficiarieS Of his support. 1t Is
well to remember that an allowance
up to IS per cent is deductible for
contributions to charity and other
acceptable purposes. We have. for
instance, Just conducted Red Cross
drive. No man, irrespective Of his
income, could have made contri-
button Of 1000 or over to this
worthy cause out Of his income had
1t not been for this tax provision.