The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-08-07
Consumers Fate
In National Defense
Program Discussed

l IOSI dill DIoCuooCu
WASHINGTON.-( Wheels of
the machinery supposed to protect
consumers against price changes that
may result from the national defense
program started slowly to roll here
August as Miss Harriet Elliott, con-
sumer advisor to the council on ma
tional defense, called a conference of
representatives of interested organiza-
lions.
Principal objective of the confer
ence, attended by over 100 persons
including labor representatives, was
to lay the basis for cooperation in the
as yet unformulated program.
Unofficially 1t was learned by Fed
Grated Press that consumer protection
will rest, for the most part, on the
willingness of retailers to be reason
able and the unwillingness of retailers
to face unfavorable publicity.
In the background will be kept the
possibility of antitrust action by the
department of justice in the event a
Widespread movement to raise prices
and rents develops.
The national defense council, 1t was
further learned has before 1t plans
which will soon be approved calling
for the establishment of state and
local defense councils, patterned after
the national body. Methods for the
establishment of these state and
local councils have not yet been fully
worked out.
These state and local councils, it
was explained, will handle problems
of labor, consumer protection, produc-
ton. raw materials and agriculture on
local basis so far as the problems
are capable of such local treatment.
It was the plan of those directing
the consumer conference, it was
stated, to acquaint representatives of
various civic organizations with the
ideas of those directing the consumer
protection program and to get from
them assurances of cooperation in
the working out of the program.
Specifically, it was said, should the
price of butter, for example, rise un-
justifiably, representatives of these
civic organizations will go to the con-
sumner advisor of the local or state
defense council.
This consumer advisor would then
make an investigation, discuss the
problem with the merchant or the
merchants organization involved, and
reach settlement or pass the prob
lem along to the higher body.
If the price increase involves a ma
tional retailing or wholesaling estab-
lishment, the problem can be dis
cussed by Miss Elliott's office on a
national basis. If it involves recall
citrant local merchant the prestige of
the national council can be brought
to bear.
1t was emphasized that the council
wants to avoid any repetition of the
crack down" of the MIRA days that
proved ineffective. 1t intends, in
stead, to enlist the cooperation and
support of civic bodies and groups in
terested in consumer protection to
develop public pressure against un-
warranted price increases.
In opening the conference, Miss
Elliott declared that 1--WE are thinking
of consumers in the broad meaning
of the word We are viewing our
task in terms of the well-being of the
men, women and children of the U. S."
"We are concerned" she told the
conference, with the flow of goods
to consumers through the regular
channels of trade-the prices consum-
ers pay for their food, clothing and
living requirements, and the quality
of the goods they get for these prices.
1--WE are also concerned with prob
lens in the field of nutrition, health,
consumer aspects of housing, recrea-
ton, and child welfare as these relate
to the defense program.
Someone has said in this country
we can have guns and butter too, and
one of the functions of the consumer
advisors office comes under the word
butter.
Among the 81 organizations and %
government agencies represented
were The U. S. Conference of May
ors, the American War Mothers, Fed
eral Council of Churches of Christ in
America, Natl. Consumers League,
Natl. Education Assn, Natl Council
of Jewish Women, Consumers Natl.
Federation, YWCA, League for Indus
trial Democracy, Natl. Assn. of Col
ored Women, American Farm Bureau
Federation, Kiwanis, Rotary, Ameri-
can Friends Service Committee, OAR,
League of Women Shoppers, Consum-
ers Union, and the Natl. Urban
League.