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Show THE Thursday, September 21 ,1939 Bruckart's Washington Digest WASHINGTON. My faith in the soundness of the profit system as the basis for people to make a living always has caused me to lean somewhat to the defense pf business practices when there had to be a choice between theories. Every fair minded person knows that business ag- riculture, manufacturing, banking, transportation or any other has had a terrific onslaught of cockeyed arguments to meet in the last few years. To me, it is a distinct tribute to the profit system that we have seen as many businesses survive the last five or six years as there are still operating. But, calling upon the record of these columns, I have contended without exception that there are crooks In business, and that the present administration ought to direct some of its venom at the crooks, rather than at business as a whole. And, so, this week, I want to write about this situation that has come to the surface as a result of the burst of flame that has engulfed Europe; they have shown again the true colors of their makeup and they have taken advantage of a situation in world affairs, without any justification, to bleed the consumers of the United States. Almost with the crash of the first gun on the Eastern front, a small minority of business interests rubbed the palms of their hands together and began to count additional dollars they could gain in profits by boosting prices. And to cover up their perfidy, their treachery and their characteristics of a water snake, they have spread a counterpane of lies that will react against all business, including the growers of raw materials such as the crops of the fields. It is so easy to blame things on the war; it is being done by government officials as well as the brigands of business, but the latter class is collecting an unseen (but deeply felt) tax from all of us who buy food to eat or clothes to wear. among the retailers. In stances of actual sales and cancellations of contracts and refusal of deliveries and delays in handling shipments were related, where added profit accrued to the, wholesaler or jobber, that almost seemed too fiendish to believe. And worse, those fellows were constantly offering new suggestions that had no basis in fact in justification of their acts. We heard every one of the alibis of fered during the days of 1917. A flock And the manufacturers. of those fellows, again, not a large percentage, were found to be hiking their prices on goods already manufactured and ready for delivery. Now, I ask how on earth the prices on a finished product can be influenced by conditions that did not arise until after the work was done. The only answer I obtained to the question anywhere was that replacements would cost more, and there must be an inventory of sufficient size maintained to meet the demand. In other words, that limited group was taking the profit while the takshown Hoarding and High Prices Due to Greed, Crookedness I have interviewed a lot of people in the field of business in the last few days in an effort to ascertain where the cheating is going on. I have investigated a Moreover, number of business practices with the thought that these would provide a clue to some of the price increases, and reasons for them, with the results mentioned in the para- graph above. There must be added, however, one additional conviction: hundreds of thousands of consumers have become frightened and have started hoarding buying excess supplies because of fright. I still can not believe, however, that these hoarding tactics are completely responsible for the kiting of prices that has taken place. Ruthlessness and greed, faithlessness and the ordinary, garden variety of crookedness among certain elements of business must accept responsibility; for, from these things together with the campaign of misrepresentation which those elements have engineered come the fright of the average consumer. Hence, hoarding. In my study of the price situation on the regular purchases of a household, I have sampled quotations and advertising In Washington and Baltimore. Washington is somewhat different than any other city in the United States, but Baltimore is a large Industrial area, fairly reflecting normal reactions of buyers. I have observed the prices of chain stores and traced them back to wholesalers and jobbers, and to the mnn'ifacturers in some instances. Guilt attaches to a small percentage in the retail lines, the average store. There were instances found where the prices were boosted on commodities that had been on the shelves three months, articles that could not have been affected in any way by any possible change in manufacturing costs, added ex penses due to higher labor payments or increases in transportation and distribution. And. Incidentally, there is almost no record of any increases in those items of manufacturing and distributing costs The department of commerce figures do not reflect them, nor do the reports In the hands of the department of labor rats show them. But the beady-eyebehind the counters of a small per centage of retail stores will blandly tell you these things have happened. d Some Wholesalers Are as Guilty as Sneak Thieves There are certain of the whole salers who are as guilty as sneak thieves in the night, but, like the retailors, not all of them are resorting to price Increases for plain profit. From my own Inquiries and from all of the information that has been made available to me, I am Inclined to believe there are more wholesalers larger percentage of them who have taken advantage of "the perils of the times than can be PAGE THREE Star Bust IT 1667 k Screen Cinderella if Athlete Gets Lead if To Have Mot to Hold Hy Virginia Vale , fc.. PHOTOGRAPHY ROLLS DEVELOPED tt silk; enlargements, orprints, of Itl printB without your choU-enlarge tu en t.p 25c coin. Hepnnis Uue&i NORTHWEST PHOTO SERVICE Fargo . D9t. H - North Dakota ANT a Cinderella story? POLAND concerns Kathryn Vy- AUSTRIA D. C. U I Without Justification Prices Are Boosted and People Scared Into Hoarding; Public Sentiment Is Only Force That Can Correct the Racketeering. WNU NKI'III. UTAH S. Poland Again Battles for "National Existence Crooks Take Advantage of War To Bleed Consumers of Nation By WILLIAM BRUCKART Service, National Press Bldg., Washington, TIMES-NEW- f "AOSTftlAVVU - Poland began to disintegrate with the rise of power of the Teutonic knights in East Prussia. ltu.ia began taking land when the Teutons caused internal strife. Boundaries of Poland in 1560, after the marriage of Queen Jadwiga of Poland and King Jagello of Lithuania. Lands of the two nations were , combined. Adams, who didn't win a AUSTRIA "Gateway to Hollywood" con test. She did get first place in the eliminations for her Poland's first partition took place of the country (Minnein 1772, when Russia, Prussia and part however, and got to sota), to Austria each took lands; Russia the northwest, Prussia Austria, south. to the east, Simple Scrap Quilt Is Colorful and Gay Hollywood. But he lost out there, and was all set to go home. The story goes that Gregory La Cava, the ace produc- saw her walking across the lot, and asked to She test. a screen her did, take so sure that nothing would come of it that she even told him that she didn't like the script provided for her, and he let her write her own. And she was given the second lead in "Fifth Avenue Girl," the latest Ginger Rogers release, and may go farther than the girl who won out in that contest in which she was an also-ran- . er-director, RKO-Radi- J fr KXik P "AUSTRIA a Tw RUSSiA ( RUSSIA f ...2.....v. , hl Poland declared its right to autonomy in 1918. Shaded area shows old German boundary restored by Hitler's decree. The third partition, occurring in 1795, caused Poland to disappear altogether. Russia, Prussia and Austria shared the spoils. Russia and Prussia alone shared in the second partition of Poland, which left that country with very little original territory. As fL 1 I f LITHUANIANS - Britain Guards Her Children Against Gas Attacks ing was good. One can not examine the situation, as now presented without considering the stock market the buying and selling of securities. It is not news to hear that quotations have boomed on every share of stock of a corporation that may sell an added cargo overseas. I believe it is fair to state, however, that this condition is one of pure gambling, and o Major Bowes and his staff looked in the number forward to a let-uof amateurs they'd be auditioning during the summer months, but in stead of diminishing the number of applicants increased. They lay it p Pattern 2216 Out of your scrap bag, like magic, come all these colorful dog patches so simple to cut and ap- ply I Make a gay quilt, pillow or scarf or all three to add charm to your room. Pattern 2216 con- tains accurate pattern pieces; diagram of block; instructions for cutting, sewing and finishing; yardage chart; diagram of quilt. Send 15 cents in coins for this pattern to The Sewing Circle, Dept., 82 Eighth Ave., ttf this speculation has added to the fright of consumers whose household budgets are limited. Nee-dlecr- aft New York. Please write your name, ad dress and pattern number plainly. People Are Frightened And Commence Hoarding In discussing the situation around Washington, I found another influence, or what might be called an- other basis for excitement. It is quite unjustified, of course, but people nevertheless were swayed by it President Roosevelt has been talking about the dangers that exist, and how we must avoid them in order to stay out of the European cataclysm. Heads of government agencies everywhere have been echoing the sentiment. There can be no argument: this nation must stay out and must help to keep all of the nations of North and South America out of the stream of molten lava that is spreading through the belligerent nations. It may be a necessary evil then, an unavoidable phase of world affairs, that people are frightened and seek to hoard. The tragedy of it is that the un principled element I have referred to is in a position to capitalize upon such a circumstance. ' But to get down to cases, let me repeat that there has been no in crease worth noting in wages, in the costs of raw materials. There has been no increase whatever in trans portations costs. There has been no increase in overhead expenses of grower or producer or manufacturer or wholesaler and jobber or retailer. All of these may come, and prob ably will come some time, but they have not arrived and when anyone attempts to justify profiteering prices, that individual should be asked to show how and where those increases have had their origin. My guess is that, for the time being at least, most of these price increases are due largely to racketeering. A typical scene In England, where every precaution Is taken to safeguard defenseless civilians against the scourge of possible enemy gas attacks. Here are English children, carrying gas masks even as they use, the old swimming hole. Practically every child of school age has been evacuated from populous areas. Congress Faced With War Issues i ' Hi - f Miss America half-bake- fright, higher prices and more fright. Of course, It is unlikely that there will be any legislation result, because as far as I can find out there is no sound and workable method by which government can reach the scoundrels responsible. Yet, there will be efforts made and there will be investigations, and the demagogues without any more idea of what to do than your runt pig will shout and harrangue and create new doubts as to any and every kind of business practice. And having a many crackpots in places of responsibility as we now have in the federal government, you can be sure that those boys will give birth to Ideas In quintuplet quantities. So, when one sums up all of the data, it Is made to appear that all business honest and men had better get together and use their own type of blackjacks on the elements within their ranks that , constitute a cancer on trade. 1939 I'm f;V to the New York World's fair It seemed as if most of the people who went to New York for the fair didn't ofaMotorOih care so much about seeing it as they did about trying to land on the "Original Amateur Hour." The arrival of cooler weather hasn't lessened the number of applicants and auditions continue, at the rate of 600 per week. Gary Cooper has been enjoying himself at Southampton, Long Island, among the debutantes and the sand dunes, visiting his wife's fam ily, and resting up from the exer tions of "The Real Glory" which. incidentally, has the conquest of the Philippines for its background. David Niven worked in that picture too. Quaker State Motor Oil has a background of over half a century of scientific refining is recognized by cat owners, the world over, as the quality lubricant for automotive use. ... It's Clayton Moore who's to have the lead in "South of Pago Pago," after all. He's a newcomer to the screen, bat has the athletic back ground which seems to be the main requirement for the role. Moore bais from Chicago, where he was inter-cit- y swimmer, pole vaulter, basketball player, boxer, and prac tically everything but a ping pong champion, apparently. r i Public Sentiment Is Only Force to Work Effectively And what will be the result of all of these things? I said early they would react on all business, good business as well as the rats. The government can not do anything about it. Public sentiment is the only force that can operate effectively, and public sentiment ought to exert its pressure. There will be a lot of talk about government control and there will and even quarter-bake- d be schemes offered in abunserious desire to danceall with break the grip of the small element that has started this wave of The3Rs MAJOR BOWES Miss America for 19.19 is Patricia Mary Donnelly of Detroit, Miss Michigan. Patricia was given the crown after winning over four other finalists at Atlantic'ity, N. J. The other four were from California, Oklahoma, Virginia and Washington. Perennial Refugee Legislation dealing with neutrality and its allied subjects will face the present special session of congress called by proclamation of Presl dent Roosevelt. Despite the chief executive's previously expressed wish that the senate and house act quickly on his request for repeal of the arms embargo and then go home, attempts are being made to broaden discus sion of legislation. f Nazi War Machine Fords Pontoon Bridge ilV T ft i ! WOT" t y g'f VVi' Paul Laval, the orchestra leader. collects batons used by celebrated conductors. He has 71, formerly the property of such famous leaders as Toscanini, Bruno Walter and Mascagni. But they're to have, not to hold when he's conducting an orchestra he doesn't bother with baton, just uses his hands. There seems to be something about being on the radio that makes a man want to drive the oldest car he can get his hands on. Jerry Mason, who is "Sr. Blodg ett" In "The Life and Love of Dr Susan," has one that first saw the light of day in 1930. He arrived at rehearsal the other day all out of breath his car had broken down and had to be towed to a garage, the first time that had happened and he'd driven it 85.000 miles. "I knew it wouldn't last," he remarked sadly. And James Melton drives around Connecticut, where he lives in sum car dat mer. In a red, ed 1910. He wears a cap, goggles and a duster. four-cylind- ODDS AM) EM!Joan Craulmd said In be coniil'ring a return to the Haue a$ a night club ilmtcer in the Right" it all lilay called "God drpimd on u hether hc can gvt a vara . . . Joh tinn from piclurp-makinTrent, former transport pilot, hn't al lim ed to fly uhile he'$ at work on one of his 1 nihmn tommy will play Joh Hirhnrd Ifnrlhelme Carfield't brother in "Underground" . . . Ilarthelmest was one of Firtt Va- tionaf leading Hart nme Firs national hat been merged for yean with Warner Brothers, and Dnrthelmett hain't been on lha lot for five yeart . . . Barbara Stanwyck may find herself back on lha tlage thit fall, and in musical thnuy at that. RilciKd by WtiWrn Nrwpapr Union in 1 n " -- - pu-tur- A perennial refugee is Judith Ann Acker, daughter of a V. 8. naval officer. Born In China, she was a refugee of the war. She arrived on a V. 8. liner recently, with her parents, a refugee of the European war. three-year-o- fair-minde- d A German multiple-wheele- d military car, also provided with tractors, crosses a pontoon bridge erected by army engineers. This phase of German military preparedness i vitally important to Nail forces to Poland, where retreating Pole- - destroyed bridges. ld Quaker State Motor Oil is refined exclusively from the finest Pennsylvania crude oil. All impurities are scientifically scmoved. Each drop of oil is pure, lubricant . . . assuring maximum reliability. 'Acid-Fr- When you use Quaker State Motor Oil regularly, you are free from worry about motor trouble due to sludge, carbon or corrosion. Your car will run better, lat loogcr. Quaker State Oil Refining Corp., Oil City, Pa. Acid-Vre- e |