Money and the U.S. remaining the world's leading power

"Take the shoe people. They like war. It brings business with abnormal profits.

They made huge profits on sales abroad to our allies. Perhaps, like the munitions

manufacturers and armament makers, they also sold to the enemy. For a dollar is a

dollar whether it comes from Germany or from France. But they did well by Uncle

Sam too. For instance, they sold Uncle Sam 35,000,000 pairs of hobnailed service

shoes. There were 4,000,000 soldiers. Eight pairs, and more, to a soldier. My

regiment during the war had only a pair to a soldier. Some of these shoes probably

are still in existence. They were good shoes. But when the war was over Uncle

Sam had a matter of 25,000,000 pairs left over. Bought—and paid for. Profits

recorded and pocketed."

https://www.heritage-history.com/site/hclass/secret_societies/ebooks/pdf/butler_racket.pdf