Milford chronicle., 1941-12-19
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Soaring prices to be held down
More billions for lease-lend pro
gram. Neutrality act revision. Ov
erhauling of priorities system. Con
gress and the Administration hav,
couple of things to attend to these
days. But good many of the key
New Dealers-yes, they're still
around-have nevertheless manag-
ed to exc out a little spare time fol
planning. This time they're plan
ming about the Industrial system
and its rearrangement after the
war.
Cartels for control of big indus
try-like automobiles, steel, and
the others. Balanced abundance
the phrase belongs to Vice Presi-
dent Wallace-is the keynote, and
of course nobody is against that.
Coated with such titles, many of
the planners think industry will
continue to take in big doses the
regimentation which it has accept
ed as necessary evil of war
economy.
Some of the planners envision
the extraordinary power of the
Supply Priorities and ALLEGATION
Board as a part of our permanent
economy when the war emergency
is history. Take a look at these
powers, which are revolutionizing
our industrial setup. In fact take
two looks-once from the view
point of the present unlimited ma
tional emergency" and again from
the viewpoint of the post-emergen-
cy days to come. Acceptance of de-
Tense orders is mandatory. Simpli-
fication and Standardization of in
dustrial products are being re-
quested. ALLEGATION of raw mate
rials for civilian as well as defense
industries is planned, so that the
government for practical purposes
controls inventories of private in
dustry.
Industry, concerned with view
point No. 1, has been in the fore
ground of those asking for central
lied defense planning. But as re-
turn for industry's wholehearted |
and back-breaking ef-
fort, the planners are scheming to
take full advantage Of the regi-
made necessary by the
and accepted by indus
Try as part of the whole series of
sacrifices defense is asking of ev-
sryone.
The planned economy boys feel
hat the critical times have given a
'ebirth to overall economic plan
ling that they just can't afford to
ct go. Not so long ago their
were to a large extent dis
by the failure of the stag
,ering spending programs to pro-
-ide incentive for employment and
lew enterprise. In year they have
een more Capitalization take place
han they were able to obtain in
light years of constant effort. And
hey want to be certain the regi-
nentation is ''for keeps"
Some of the planners like to talk
f what's happening to Great Brit
in. But if they're hoping that
he British will lead the way to So
ialization of industry they ought to
cad what lone ,sof LoRdon's sfOresbl
lost economic journals has to say.
The Statist," speaking of "The !
lague of Planners" says in part:
"Once the markets of the world
re open again for peaceful trad .
lg and men of business can turn
leir attention to their real task of i
,eding and clothing the crowded
illions of these islands, the
lackles which now bind enterprise +
Id the plans which are to bind it b
the future will alike be repudi- I
ed, because such restrictions will n
can the cramping of trade at a
ne when the nations recovery
i'll depend upon the utmost trad b
z energy. The days of laissez- 1
ire have gone forever and the Z
orld will probably never again see "
era of cut-throat competition C
It the alternative to laissez-faire l
not a rigidly controlled and CEN
ally directed community. The al
rnative is a community enjoying z,
e maximum of freedom in the &
nduct of its affairs and enduring al
ly the irreducible minimum of I,
ntrol. Planning is only another ST
me for regimentation, and regi-
means stagnation, and 70
Ignation in its turn means death cE
nation which must always de- cf
nd upon vigorous and adaptable !
ding system" lie