The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-06-24


Stewart the basis OF a
NAL normality.
It's absolutely abnormal in COM
parison with what preceded it.
Nevertheless, we've adapted our
selves to it, there are more than
enough jobs to go around. We're
temporarily prosperous after a
fashion. Taxes will begin to soak
us frightfully shortly and we'll run
into numerous other uncomforta-
bilities, whether we ourselves be-
come involved in the rumpus or
simply go on aiding the democra-
cies. All the same, we stay-at-
homes, at least (maybe not our
military selectees), will adapt our
selves to the situation and feel
tolerably normal - until so-caiied
peace comes along.
Then what? Why, by that time
peace will be an abnormality to us
for quite a spell. II we revert TO
the same conditions as those that
prevailed before the scrap started,
we'll remember what they were
and will be able to readjust our
selves back into 'em, probably
with no great difficulty.
But they'll probably be OF an
altogether new kind, and darned IL
I don't hate to contemplate 'em.
Before the last World war we had
one way of living. Then we had
the World war variety. Then we
had a boom. Then we had a slump
and a prolonged depression. Then
we had a New Deal. Now we've
another war on our hands. Sub
sequently, IL THIS war ends all
right, we're assured that the world
will be better all around. I'm blest
if I believe it'll seem so to ME.
After living through half dozen
changes Of the game, I'm sick of
readjustments.
War May Last Years
So far as I'm personally con-
cerned. so long as. we stay out II
wouldn't like to see US involved)
and do nothing but lease-lend to
the democracies, I'll be suited to
have the thing wag along inter-
minably.
And I note that some Of our best
authorities say that perhaps it will.
For instance, Assistant State
Secretary A. A. Berle, the other
day. compared the pending strife
with the Napoleonic wars, which
hung on for II years.
War Secretary Henry L. Slim
son also remarked that I'VE face
the prospect Of long war"
Stimson and Berle, as witnesses
before the congressional rivers and
harbors committee, were answer
ing the argument Of opponents Of
st. Lawrence waterway and power
development, to the effect that the
plan isn't a worthwhile war prof.
ect, because it can't be put through
in less than several years, and that
the war'll be over by then. Slim
son and Berle predict not.
AS to whatll ensue when II does
end?
Plenty OF our best economists
are worrying audibly over the
problem.
Leon Henderson OF OPM Direc-
tor Bill Knudsen's staff is one Of
'em. It's In an effort to guard
against imitation and a postwar
slump that he's doing all his price
fixing and his warning against the
boarding Of the necessaries Of life.
The trouble with his anti-hoarding
advice is that he seems to have his
fingers crossed on certain items.
Only a few days ago the OPM
outfit appealed to householders to
buy their next winters coal right
now. SOS not to congest the rail-
roads with countless tons Of II, to
transport when cold weather comes
on. 1t was a bright suggestion.
too. II there's a congestion, there
will be shortage and prices will
skyhoot. I'm buying some Of the
stuff myself. but am / not hoard
ing It? To hoard or not to hoard?
That's the question. Evidently it
depends on what you hoard.
How About Small Factories?
Peter r. Nehemkis of OPM's de-
tense contract service likewise is
in a stew over the future effect Of
the governments priorities upon
small factories. Many Of these fac
tories turn out goods that aren't
defensively useful and they can't
be adapted to defensive production.
But they do need raw material
that defense manufacturers re-
quire. They can't get It. though,
because the defensive plants get
priorities on It. At the moment
the non-defense arrangements are
not much sympathized with. The
idea is, 'let their customers do
,.,tthO,tt ust,ak that,sra an~ta.t. -