Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1941-01-02

will dread getting into the mess,
Certainly Congress win be in no
mood to vote for declaring war
against Germany, Japan, or any
other nation. 1t will be bewildered
and afraid to s'fish, cut bait, or go
ashore"
The new Congress is a conserva-
tive body, although tits democratic
It not only breads war for its own
sake, but believes that if we enter
World War III, we really will end
up with dictator. This, more
over, is not merely "third term
campaign talk. There is latent
dread Of this among the labor and
farming elements as well as bust
nessmen. All groups are begin
ming to see that special legislation
starting with protective
tariffs fifty years ago = has led
from one thing to another until
the cure is worse than the disease.
They wonder if the answer may
not be to wipe all out and start
over again.
Cost of Living
Perhaps the most important
figure for readers to watch in 1941
are those on the cost of living.
During World War I, the cost of
living increased greatly; but the
prices of farm products went up
with the prices of manufactured
goods. Since then, however, the
prices of farm products have fallen
900, while the prices of manufac-
tured products dropped only 300.
Prices may increase slightly more
during 1871, but need not do so if
no group kicks over the applicant.
We are now asked to supply only
Great Britain with food and goods;
while during World War I, We had
to supply France, Italy, Russia,
Japan and other nations in addi-
ton. The airplanes, which Eng
land needs most, do not take a
large amount of raw materials.
This applies as well to many of our
other exports, although not to the
ships which England must build
here. Concerning food products,
which England will need in large
quantities, We already have an ex-
cess. Certainly there is no fear of
q shortage in 1941 of sugar, which
in 1920 sold at % cents a pound;
or wheat, which in 1918 sold at
$3.50 per bushel. Perhaps most
important of all is that we have
learned much about controlling
prices.
What About Wages? =
In certain lines such as among
tool makers, shipbuilders and plane
makers, there will be wage in
creases in 1941. If by chance the
number of unemployed is reduced
from 100000 to a normal figure
of 100000, then other wage in
creases are inevitable. Generally
speaking, however, the cost of liv-
ing should be the answer to the
wage question. If the government
acts sanely about taxes and if en-
ployers are reasonable about
profits, then improved manufactur-
ing processes should keep down the
average cost of living. Certain
materials such as metals, for which
there is a great foreign demand,
will increase in price; but other
items, like cotton, the export of
which has been severely cut, should
show little change in price.
In short, if we will be reasonable
and keep down the cost of living,
most wage workers will not ask
for more money. It is true that
labor leaders usually feel they
must get something for their union
members each year in order to hold
their jobs as labor leaders and col
lect dues from members. In 1941,
however, these leaders will have a
good excuse and a fine alibi for not
doing this. They can "pass the
buck" to the government and to
Mr.. Hitler! I am very serious
about this. Let us all, whether
employers or wage workers, act in
1941 as if we were in the army,
whether or not we have on uni
form.
Higher Pay Rolls-Fewer Strikes
Total pay rolls will be bigger
in 1941 than ever before in our his
tory. Even today with 100000
unemployed, total pay rolls are
higher than at the peak of the past
period of prosperity, and much