Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-09-11
Food Price
Rise Saves
u, ). Millions
Government Profits
On Crop Loans
By Recent Boom

With Washington's stample COM
modify dealers reporting a general
leveling off in prices today, admin
istration farm officials said that the
war boom of the past few days had
virtually wiped out potential Gov
eminent loss of $119, 100000 on loans
advanced to farmers on surplus
crops.
Following conference with
President Roosevelt today, Secre-
tary of Agriculture Wallace said
they discussed prices OF five or six
commodities, but declined to speci-
fv them or elaborate on details Of
the conference.
runs" Stopped.
Reported runs" on grocery stores,
common last week, had virtually
stopped today and wholesalers said
their business probably would reach
normal again when orders from re-
tailers received on the week end
were completed.
Meat markets were steadying,
though local dealers still were re-
porting difficulay in getting complete
orders filled in the Midwest. Prime
meats were up and 6 cents, but the
pork market was off slightly from
the weekend quotations.
Government officials said the crop
loan loss, indicated by an inventory
last March 81, had been taken care
of by the sharp advances in prices
of wheat, cotton, corn. wool and
other products under the stimulus
of the European war. The advances
had increased the value of products
pledged as collateral for the farmer
loans by more than 100000, 900,
statisticians reported.
If commodity prices hold present
levels or continue to rise, it is quite
possible, officials said, that the Gov
eminent will need very little of the
S119 100000 Congress appropriated
to restore capital stock of the Com
modify Credit Corp. agency which
makes the crop loans.
VdSC case W Dc HSkcu.
Meanwhile, the United Textile
Workers of America, an affiliate of
the American Federation of Labor,
said that textile workers would de-
mand an increase in wages 'suff-
Gent to meet the rising cost of
living"
In a statement, Francis J. Cor
man, chairman of the unions eXecu-
tive council, said textile manufacture
erS were getting more for their
products and could raise wages
without cutting dividends.
Officials of the United Federal
Workers of America at the same
time called on Attorney General
Murphy to take action to protect
Government workers against profit
eering" as their salaries cannot
be adjusted to higher living costs
except by legislative action, and
such action on Government salaries
is often very slow
AS similar requests continued to
pour in, the American Retail Fed
Grafton assured President Roosevelt
that it would do everything possible
to discourage profiteering in the
retail industry.
David R. Craig. president of the
federation, transmitted a pledge to
the Chief Executive in letter which
said the organization desired to
place its entire facilities at the
disposal of the National Govern
ment in the event of serious crisis
President Asks Cooperation.
The National Retail Dry Goods
Association received a request from
Mr.. Roosevelt yesterday to CO.
operate in protecting the public from
"unwarranted" price increases as a
result of the European war. Lew
Hahn, general manager, said the as
ISOLATION was in complete agree
ment" with the President.
The federation's letter and reso-
luton adopted by its Board OF
Trustees were made public by Ed
ward j. Noble, acting Secretary OF
Commerce.
The resolution said there was a
responsibility upon retailers to con-
tinue their normal function in the
present crisis of supplying con-
sumers with goods they want at
prices they can afford" and added
THE Board of Trustees of the
| American Retail Federation will
exert its influence to prevent use oil
the war scare and unwarranteo
threat of higher prices as a reason
! for urging buying today.
Unless this condition is avoided
it may bring about an artificial in
fation with its inevitable evil effect
on American living and the national
economy