The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-04-04
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hdtchet Out
The Truth
0 CHAIN STORE TAX
. RIDICULOUS PROPOSAL
Q UNIONS ARE CHAINS
. BILL is DOOMED

Most amusing right now in Con-
gress is that relating to the Patman
bill, intended to levy on chain stores
tax that would put them out of busi-
ness.
For the first time a hearing has
been scheduled. Patman has got that
far-and THAT probably will be as
far as he ever gets. AS a matter of
fact, right there is probably where his
remarkable bill will take the final
count.
Such bills can't stand too much light
of day.
Of all the ridiculous legislative pro-
posals, this one just about takes the
cake.
When the evidence rolls into the
hearing, Mr.. Patman probably will
be surprised person-and so will
those who have joined him in his
effort to jam the nations econ
omic machinery.
Most of organized labor has gone
to bat against the Patman bill, on two
major grounds: First, the broad
ground of economic progress involved
in existence of the chain stores; Sec
ond, on the solid union ground that it
is the chains that employ union la
Dor. Those are tenable grounds.
| x + X
The support of the bill has no ten
able ground. 1t is wholly true that
not all chains are fair to unions and
nobody ever said they were. But it is
also true that it is among the chains
and NOT among the pa and ma stores
where labor has made it's gains. Nor
has it made them to any degree among
even the big independents.
The big independents-and the little
ones, too-are doing very well, thank
you, and nobody wants to see them in
jured or destroyed. If competition
puts some of them out, that has hap
pened always.
If there is a desire to end the COM
petitive system entirely, that is an
other matter.
The fact is, as far as competition is
concerned, that the chains themselves
are now up against very real and
sharp competition, in the form of the
independent super markets. If the
chains can't meet that, then let them
look out for themselves.
But the feeling is pretty strong
that it is no part of Uncle Sans busi-
ness to tax out of existence type of
business which is wholly within the
law, which is sound and which has
broken the age-old system of ineffi-
cheney, dirt and sloppiness in the
business of handling the nations food.
That's permanently to the good.
x x x
If the unions were right smart they
would be remembering that they also
are chains! And lot of people don't
like them. And would welcome good
fight against them. And they need
friends, for the wallops already being
delivered and for the ones that are
just around the corner.
Unfortunately, there are always
some unions-a minority-which don't
care hang for friends, which ride
high and mighty and which never see
the tumble until their neck hurts after
the landing.
But that doesn't go for most of
them. Most of them are wise in their
public relations, honorable in their
dealings, sound in their legislative
programs and secure in their friend
ships, which they do not betray or
misuse.
President Green has pointed that
out, time and time again, in reply
ing to those who seek to jump on la
Dor.
And that's why nearly all labor has
swung into line to knock out the
strange and destructive measure spon-
sored by the Texas Congressman.
X x X
1t is worth niche in the coils of
memory that Mr.. Patman wrote one
law which he later wrote book to ex-
plain-and he didn't give the book
away.
Could there be a subsequent book
about the chain store tax bill, if it
ever should become law?
But neither he nor we need worry,
because this bill isn't going to get that
far.
Discriminatory and confscatory tax
alton are not a part Of the American
idea of how to deal with business.
For unfair competition there now is
punitive law. To infict death we
should not enact law. Laws should
be for life and living, not death and
destruction.
Those who support such preposter-
Gus propositions should never forget
that always there may arise some
subsequent fake Messiah who will
propose that what is sauce for the
goose is good poison for the gander
also-and he might get away with it.
i I-CMW.
NATIONAL NEGRO CONGRESS