 Words at war Good evening sucker. Oh, no, no, don't look at him. It's you I mean Think you're a wise guy, don't you? Catch you by in the Brooklyn bridge or taking money out of your sock to pour it down a fake oil well And my heyday is over bootleg gin speakeasy's protective associations All my rackets gone with prohibition Who may be sucker maybe Yeah, I'm still around and doing fine. Take this war now. It's got angles if you know how to work them You call it a war for democracy. Well, that's okay with me. Call it what you like suckers I ain't complaining. I'm getting mine out of it What's along sucker? I'll be seeing you The national broadcasting company in cooperation with the council on books and wartime presents another program in the widely discussed series Words at war tonight our story dealing with the enemies on the home front is based on the book by Harry Lieber and Joseph young wartime racketeers Ted Osborne is the narrator We're facing a fact tonight The ugly fact that Americans are paying billions a year in tribute to the wartime racketeers The whole crew of them the swindlers the hijackers the gunman are out to line their pockets with your earnings Mr. And mrs. America Not in a dark alley at the point of a gun. That's pre-war technique the gangster 1945 style operates in broad daylight You may meet him in the corner meat market or grocery store. You may rub elbows with him in a crowded railroad station I Pardon me madam you want a reservation to Chicago. Do I you have one to sell on the century for tomorrow for a hundred dollars That's what I said, lady, but that's twice as much as that. I mean well after all excuse me I thought you had to get to Chicago Did she buy that ticket was she one of those Americans who figured she was an exception That wartime sacrifice was fine for other people The government requested civilians avoid all unnecessary trips did not apply to her She knows as you and I know that all trains are needed to bring the wounded home And that the speed VJ day troops must be carried to the Pacific Coast Was her trip so urgent that she had to buy a ticket on the black market nuts What's that? Just me sucky. I told you I'd be seeing you Sure me and my pals are doing business at the railroad stations at the meat market and grocery stores, too It's a free country ain't it people want to buy from us. It's their business They got the money to spend sure they got money to burn. Yes, my scummy compatriot. You're right Americans have money to spend today 14 billion dollars more spending money than before the war But what about it mr. And mrs. America? Do you want to put that money into war bonds to speed the victory over japan? Or do you want it to go into the pocket of this character here? the wartime gangster According to price administrator bowls Every time the housewife goes to shop Between three and four percent of the price she pays for food goes to the black market here in food alone America is giving the gangster a yearly bonus of one billion two hundred million dollars Sounds big don't it? Look peanuts just peanuts just part of my take Look if you're smart you can work this war a hundred different ways and pick up plenty of change in the process Listen, hey somebody's typing. That's an innocent sound, isn't it? You hear it every day in your office Well, I got a pal who can use a typewriter too. He's the kind that likes to work alone His equipment is simple typewriter stationery stamps a casualty list and an address George dear will you come here, please? What is it dear this letter? There's something strange about it. Let's see it seems to be from some sporting goods company in chicago Yeah, it's a done to jim payment long overdue Golf bag clubs tennis racket doesn't sound like jim to have let her bill that big run so long No, it doesn't but you know how I used to love tennis You remember any of this stuff around the house? No Or maybe he bought it while he was stationed at great lakes could be What do you think george should we pay it? Yeah, what else can we do? I wouldn't want anyone to think our boy didn't meet his obligations So jim's parents sent the check for the phony bill without question anything to avoid the hint of a blemish on their boy's memory Biographical sketches of war heroes published in the paper give the racketeer the key to his victims hobbies Rarely does he make a slip? Yes the fraud through the mail boys are doing a flourishing business these days Here's another one of their favorite form letters in action mother mother Franklin's going to be in a book. It says so in this letter for heaven's sakes, dear. How exciting listen Your husband was posthumously decorated for gallantry His brave deeds are to be perpetuated forever in a commemorative book This handsome illuminated leather bound volume is modestly priced at ten dollars Oh mother Modestly priced at ten dollars The book if the family receives it at all will be At best a shoddy collection of newspaper stories of soldiers And here's still another letter racket streamline for war And if you have a loved one among the millions of fighting men who will soon be meeting the jabs in the pacific You may well be a target for this kind of pious and plausible approach Dear friend See that your loved one goes into battle protected by the divine guidance of a bulletproof bible Repeated tests have shown our steel covers will deflect a 45 caliber service revolver bullet shot from any angle True or false Well, the federal trade commission looked carefully into that claim and promptly took action against the firm which made it For this is what the experts found Steel jagged at bibles afford a service man no protection whatsoever against bullets and shrapnel On the contrary the jagged holes left in the bible by projectiles passing through them Increased the risk of serious and painful wounds Better isn't it In trying to bring spiritual solace and physical protection to your combat soldier You may be tricked into placing his precious life in even greater jeopardy bitter and tragic take it easy After all it takes all kinds to make a world Even a world at war and it takes two guys to make a deal A salesman and a customer Now take for example, some of us boys got a little finger in the gasoline a little finger You're in the gasoline business up to your armpits At least 2,500,000 gallons of gasoline every day are being drained from the crucial civilian and military supply That's the unholy alliance of gangsters counterfeiters and dishonest station operators You forget what I said about it takes two to make a deal What about the motorists they're in this too? Yes, unfortunately the motorists are in this too That'll be 1080 sir 1080 Or there must be some mistake. I only have coupons for three gallons Who said anything about coupons? I filled her up that I was doing your favor. Oh, oh Thanks, buddy. Thanks a lot See what I mean We wouldn't be in business unless we hit customers. How true In facing facts tonight We might as well face this one too We can pass laws to ban the black market We can create agencies to enforce the law But as long as part of the public any part of the public is willing to deal with a black marketeer He's going to stay in business The operator of the gas station knows he's taking a chance and selling gas without demanding coupons If he's caught he may be fined or sent to jail. Hey, you're making it sound hard. It's not so tough He knows if he's smart in picking his customers If no one reports him to the opa, he'll get by And he doesn't worry about turning in coupons for gas either. Yeah, he's got plenty Where's he get him? Wait Oh, yes Thanks for reminding us Do you hear that printing presses at work working against you Working against all america working overtime to flood the nation with phony ration stamps for shoe sugar meat gas The masterminds of gangsta them need these goods for the black market There's a fortune in it for them The evil of inflation and higher living costs for you What about the 22 million counterfeit red points unearthed recently from beneath the floor of a brooklyn flat 22 million Were the men who printed those stamps engaged in hopeful speculation or did they know their market? Had they sized up correctly the cynicism with which some americans regard the rules of war at home Of course, it's no concern of the racketeer if your children get sick on black market poultry Or your family falls victim to trichinosis from the infested tissue of illicit pork Oh, they're well organized these gangs They know their business well sure they do the smart cookies. They're no saps. Yes, but they sometimes slip. Oh, yeah, yes Sometimes they contact the wrong man. Oh, well rather not hear it. Let's do Listen to a case on record. It's true. It happened in a little new england town Mr. Williams, this is mr. Hill. Oh, uh, come in come in. How do you do sir? Sit down, won't you? Thank you. I don't know. Maybe I should have gone to the opa instead of coming here to secret service Mr. Williams, I'll see the opa. What's it all about mr. Hill? It ain't much except. I just didn't like the smell of it Cyrus bingham. He's another printer in town came to see me today So well seems he had a big job and can't handle it all in his shop The long and short of it is he he offered me easy money if I'd print counterfeit ration stamps Oh, and you turned him down. No, and I didn't take him up. I stole him off Well, uh, wasn't he suspicious? No, I expected it. He's always telling me I'm too cautious for my own good I reckon he didn't expect me to come here either thinks I'm too cautious for that too Oh, mr. Hill, you may have something there If uh, if we can work this so it leads us to a counterfeit ring Oh, I don't think Cyrus bingham is the head of a counterfeit ring He hasn't brains enough for that. Well, I'm just wondering if you might lead us to some of the top men They're label artists, for instance The engravers in this racket are the slippiest babies to catch. Is that a fact? Yes I got a friend in new york who's an engraver named carlson specializing in counterfeiting. No, no, I didn't mean that carlson's an honest man I just thought he might help you out. I doubt it But wait a minute Does cyrus bingham know this engraver friend of yours? Well, cyrus knows carlson's work, but never met Carlson won't ever leave new york to pay me a visit says the quiet of a small town makes him nervous But the kingpin of a counterfeit ring might come to a small town to meet a good engraver Do I look anything like your friend carlson's to hill? No, for one thing his shoulders are too broad Carlson may have to have broad shoulders for a few hours That is if you're willing to cooperate for the opa in secret service on a plan How many more blocks sergeant about five mr. Williams turn right the next corner, then we're practically there only a few minutes to go mr. Hill Yes, uh Darn need matches anyway A little nervous iron. Oh, no, and I just can't get this pipeline But I ought to be nervous never been arrested before cyrus bingham and the bird behind him are more apt to talk to you if you and I are picked up as part of their gang They won't know where the leak is them I only hope they won't keep me long at the police station My wife didn't like my coming to the shop instead of going to church on sunday morning I'm not on time for dinner. She'll raise cane. Well, don't you worry. You won't even miss the suit Is it mr. Hill? Yep, this is my shop. All right men, hold up Now, uh, mr. Hill Just show the sergeant and his men that back room of yours Can you still hear me in the other room when I speak in this force? Yes, sir. Let's check the queue. What is it again? I'll be taking the noon train back to new york, right Hmm 11 o'clock They ought to be here You're sure bingham didn't suspect a trap when you told him you wanted to meet the big boy himself Oh and positive. He didn't he thought it was my cautious nature And just like me to want to meet the man who was going to pay for the job Quiet here they come Well, hello, cyrus morning bird Mr. Antoine mr. Hill's a printer. I was telling you about I'm glad to know you mr. Antoine meet my friend mr. Curls Oh, yes the engraver. That's right. Are you a good engraver, mr. Carlson? I've had 20 years to prove it. Tell me could you copy exactly the great seal of the united states? I can try mr. Hill has some samples of my work. Yeah, it's right here on the table Hmm. Yes, not bad The work of a craftsman at least You are responsible for these reproductions mr. Hill. I am sir. You work well together. Hmm. I like that I appreciate good work I pay well for it Very well I'm willing to give you a thousand dollars now and nine thousand more when the job is delivered Is that agreeable to you gentlemen? Well, that's all right with me I'll guarantee my work will fool any expert We have bird hill preset on the right paper stock mr. Bingham will see to that We have ample supplies of specially processed paper Um, shall I say borrowed from the government? Does the government help you in distributing the stamps to unfortunately now Since we are competitors. They will not cooperate in marketing them for us. We have our own wholesale distributors Oh, you have your work is not in that department mr. Carlson We do not encourage probing. Oh, that suits me The less I know about this business the better all I want is my cut of that 10 000 I'm glad to leave all the details of hill In fact, if there's nothing else, I'll be taking the noon train back to new york All right boys, get them up, but how do you see here? That goes for you too. What my dear fellow? I'm a stranger here. I don't know what this is all about I'm sure you heard what I said get your hands up That's more like it I suppose all of you file out quietly to the car in the alley Be too bad to spoil the sunday peace Mr hill missed church that sunday But by leading the opa to two men involved in the counterfeit racket This printer in a little new england town performed a valuable service to his country With his help a counterfeit ring was smashed before it could produce and circulate its handiwork. So what? That's one case sure, but just one It's a drop in the bucket unfortunately true Now the general public and the families of servicemen Are not the only targets for the war racketeer g i joe himself is on their list Not long ago two sailors found that out the hard way in a pub in liverpool Say cut out that humming would you Why I like the tune. There's nothing wrong with the tune only My wife sings the gallows that's on i'll say she does Last thing she sang to me. No kidding. Yeah, that's my gal's theme song too. Yeah Yeah, sure give a lot to see her again We was married six months ago just before I shipped out from norfolk norfolk. Well, that's where I met my gal I never believed and loved at first sight till it happened to me We got hitched there about eight months ago If I could just hear a voice just once over the phone. Yeah, it sure would be nice Oh boy. Hey, you want to see a picture of my wife? Okay. Of course you don't do it justice But hey, take a look. Isn't she a honey? Sure sailor. She Hey, let me get a better look at that Why you two time and last I'll knock your block You're going crazy. Hey, give me back that picture. I will not that's why I'll say it is that gob stole my wife's picture Your wife wait a minute. Wait a minute. I suppose this is a picture of your wife, too Well And in a bathing suit. Hey, where'd you get it? Where'd I get it? Say that guy ought to be locked up With my own camera. I take a picture of my wife. You say that again. I'll let you have Now listen you two cut it Let's see those snaps Some chassis Yeah, it's the same pickup girl. All right, she's my wife. Your wife. She's my wife. All right, stop it Now stop it You gobs don't look very bright, but you ought to be able to dope this one out. You're wasting your time That's enough out of you The only thing wrong with you guys is you're both married to the same dame. Wow, it's impossible. What's impossible about it Ain't either of you ever heard of allotment annie So that's mad judea the queen of the hotspots. That's her Well, arrest her as soon as she finishes that song. She's just a kid Don't look more 17 to me not much older than that probably This babe is a smooth operator The office of dependency benefits was just getting wise to her when they got a navy report confirming their suspicions Let's get ready Just a moment. Mr. There make way sir. But you imagine me in a hurry. I gotta date with the party Very honey, don't shout it to all the world. We're not baby. I'm proud of it. I want the whole blooming world to know But it was to be our secret secret marriages are rather in your line. Aren't they mr. There I don't know what you're talking about two of your husbands met by accident recently How dare you ray, let's get out of here one moment. Mr. There you recognize this badge Perhaps you do sailor. Oh, but look here. I miss the dare is under arrest But you can't be she's my girl. That's right. You tell them ray darling. We're getting married Mr. There marries easily sailor without benefit of divorce We have evidence that mr. There is drawing seven allotment checks a month from servicemen Do you want to be the eighth? Is that true? Don't believe them. Why would I do a thing like that? Answer me. Is it true? Ray, don't don't look like that. You you scare me You're the only one I really love honest, honey That's french. Yeah Suppose you're coming on quietly now, mr. There. What's the hurry boys? I want to fix my face It pays to look nice. Don't you think so? And that's a lot many Very often the product of a broken home Lack of religious training of two zealous a pursuit of happiness She continues to trip blithely up church isles, but sooner or later she trips and falls into the arms of the fbi She's just an amateur. She don't know from nothing The guy that's really cashing in as a misery jip artist. Oh, yes I was coming to him He hits a new low of contemptibility. Well for once i'm almost inclined to agree with you Well, even you The stark entrade of the misery jip artist is human suffering His technique is a personal visit to the family of a man in service Good morning, and mrs. Trimont. Yes, allow me to introduce myself a lieutenant hitchcock. Oh come in lieutenant I came to see you about your son You are the mother of private john trimond. Are you not you know my son? I have news of him Oh, do sit down. No. No. No sit there in that chair. It's more comfortable. Thank you I haven't heard from my son for three weeks Is he well? Do you know if he got the box of cookies I sent him? Well, I didn't have the pleasure of knowing your son, mrs. Trimont The ward apartment said be here today mrs. Trimont your son fell in action Somewhere in germany Oh, no No, it's a great shock. I Wish there were some way I could help Yes, I But he was so young Never to see him again It's been hard for me to tell you this mrs. Trimont. There's so little one can say in a time like this But if it would comfort you to have your son at rest near you instead of some foreign land Oh Oh, if that were only possible as a matter of fact it is possible The ward apartment is helping families bring our fallen heroes home for a nominal sum. I I don't quite understand The $100 covers the cost of preparing the body for burial and bringing it home In every case our government is willing to contribute half that amount if the next of kin pays for the other 50 $50 Yes, it's not in any way obligatory mrs. Trimont your decision is entirely up to you. Oh, yes. Yes, of course I I suppose you want the money right away. Oh, not necessarily if it's difficult for you if you don't happen to have it in the house But I do I have it thank heavens. I do have it It's right here in this candy jar I've emptied my purse into it the end of every week I was saving it for him To help him get started on a career It's grown a lot Nearly $60 50 is all the ward apartment that's mrs. Trimont. Yes, so you said Oh What's this? Oh, uh, just a temporary receipt for the money mrs. Trimont. Oh, but really lieutenant that that's not necessary Perhaps not, but I prefer you have it. You'll receive an official receipt from washington in a few weeks. Well Will it be very long before they send him home? Yeah, I I hope not mrs. Trimont for your sake I promise you I'll do everything in my power to bring your boy back to you as soon as possible Major riley the report on private john trieman has arrived. Oh good sergeant Huh, that's as I thought Sergeant take a wire to his mother. Yes, sir. Mrs. Harold Trimont Monroe michigan And pleased to inform you that your son is alive and well Urge you to report to police full details of visit and money transaction with so-called lieutenant He is undoubtedly an imposter the armed forces never solicit money for hospital or funeral expenses Signed peter riley major and uh sergeant. Yes major riley see that copies of mrs. Trimont's letter are rooted to all the proper agencies May fbi especially may want to question her. She may give them a clue helpful in finding this human scum scum It's an ugly word But not ugly enough to describe the type of man who thrives on the grief and suffering of others But they exist These traffickers in pain and death They are part of the army of crooks who have fattened on the war G. I. Joe goes fighting on He with his allies Has won victory over the international gangsters of berlin He'll keep fighting till the gangsters of tokyo lay down their arms But what about the homegrown variety? Will it ever be unconditional surrender for them? What do you think sake all right? You tell us why not you ask for it Me and my pals are keeping up with the times We're pretty busy these days figuring things out our own way I'll tell you this burial rack. It's been overworked. You've got to angle it differently missing man That's a ticket bringing glad tidings for missing men It's a cinch now that v days over folks want their boys home not policing some hellhole in europe or some sandbond the pacific You can't go wrong with a new aid to veterans organization a whirlwind campaign for funds and then scram It's going to be the biggest rummage sale in history surplus housing airfields industrial equipment. You're telling me I aim to get in on it I You get it We didn't get no gulag's invitation at the san francisco conference But we're thinking of the peace thinking plenty Well, so long I'll be seeing you sucker How about it mr. And mrs. America? Will he be seeing you? We're tracking down the war criminals in europe What about those on the home front? They're making their post-war plans now It's not enough to be indignant. It's not enough to say there ought to be a law We have laws now to drive them out of business But in the last analysis it's squarely up to you And me the ordinary citizens without us the racketeers and jip artists simply couldn't operate Working together we won the war against hitler and his gang We're going to win the war against japan And by working together we can win the home front war We can free our country of racketeers We can win the battle for america Night on words at war you heard a dramatization based on a book by harry lever and joseph young wartime racketeers The radio version was written by maxine wood and featured ted osburn and chuck webster The music was arranged and played by william meter and the production was under the direction of gannett garrison Next week we present a story suggested by the book soldier to civilians Words at war is brought to you in cooperation with the council on books and wartime by the national broadcasting company And the independent radio stations associated with the nbc network This is the national broad