The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-08-21
(By Staff Writer)

20.-A near panic among small
business men of the nation is ap-
parent here as more and more OF
them contact their congressman
and the Office of Production Man
agement to find out what they
can do to get the raw materials
on which their businesses depend
Complaining that priorities for
defense make it impossible for
them to get materials for civilian
products, they say they are be-
ing forced out of business. They
also point out that they are forced
to let their employees go and re-
fer to priority unemployment
as being a serious threat to the
welfare of the people.
Several branches of the govern
ment are trying to solve this pro-
blem, but in many cases no solu-
ton is expected to be forthcom-
ing. Either these small manufac-
turing plants will have to find
some defense product they can
make or will have to close up
their shops. The small business
men and their employees will be
the first to suffer from this state
of affairs, but it will soon be felt
by the consumers when they find
they can no longer buy many pro-
ducts which they want.
The sacrifice of which President
Roosevelt spoke last March is
now closing in on us, it is appar-
ent here. Last March, the Presi-
dent said:
whether you are steel work.
er or a stevedore, machinist or
a housewife, a farmer or bank
er, a storekeeper or manufac-
turer-to all of you it will mean
sacrifice in behalf of your coun-
try and your liberties. Yes, you
will feel the impact of this gigan-
tic effort in your daily lives. You
will feel it in a way that will
cause you many inconveni1nces.
To make our sacrifices as pain
less as possible is the aim Of all
government departments, but 1t
is going to call for cooperation
on the part of the people and OF
business by showing their will
lingness to go into new kinds OF
work, move their homes and take
steps which involve risk rather
than stability.
Legislation is being pushed to
control the domestic situation,
with price fixing constituting the
spearhead of this drive. When the
President is given full power to
fix prices he will undoubtedly
delegate that power to Leon Hen
derson's Office of Price Admins
tration and Civilian Supply. Mr..
Henderson is expected to call for
volunteer fair price and fair rent
committees in all communities
and will fix ceilings on prices OF
all goods which would otherwise
go on a price spree.
The price fixing measure, I'M
der the present plan, will be en-
forced largely by the people, who
will be given the right to sue for
$50 or three times the value of
their purchase when they pay
higher than the fixed price. If
the purchaser doesn't take legal
action, the government itself will
have the right to take action and
impose a heavy fine.
The administration has not
asked for wage-freezing legisla-
ton, but many congressman be-
1ieve this is tied up SO closely with
price fixing that it will have to be
enacted soon.
Still the leading question, from
the civilian and business stand
point, is the question of the taxes
which we will pay next year. 1t
is quite certain that the man of
small income will pay about three
times what he paid last year, but
the chief subject of debate now is
whether to tax those six million
tax payers who were not taxed
this year-who earn $3.50 to $500
if they are single and $1,000 to
$4,000 if married.
Over-shadowing all of our
emergency legislation is the ques-
ton of the true peril faced by this
nation and the need for acting as
if we are on the verge of war.
Debate over extension of the SER
vice of selectees and National
Guardsmen, beyond their re-
uuired year of training, shows
there is still a lot of anti-war SEN
timent in congress and good
deal of pressure by the people in
many sections to keep out of any
involvement in the war. Debate
also shows tpe question of our
war peril is still guided by party
- ri+x, IF DprnOoratc