The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-09-12
BY ROGER W. BABSON

Babson Park. Mass Sept. 12-
People In the East are being criti.
cized for taking automobiles out on
Sunday and for driving evenings
unless necessary. Secretary IckeS
says they are trying to live as
usual and do business as usual not
withstanding the great conflict go
ing on in the world today" This
Is also said of the manufacturers
OF various household and other ap-
planes which use metal.
Business AS Usual?
II Is very important for all of
us that the war should be as short
as possible. The only way to short
en- it is to intensity our production.
This means that we must not fol-
low the business as usual policy"
but must make sacrifices where
necessary. But this also should
mean an end of labor as usual"
and farming as usual" The atti-
tude OF the Government in not APP
plying the same rule to all groups
is unjust to consumers.
This priority" which our farm
ers and laborers seem to enjoy is
the chief reason for the division
among our people. Employers cheer
fully accept burdening taxation,
control over instalment- credits. dis
heartening priorities, and the thou
sands of regulations which they re-
ceiye from Washington and Otta-
wa. But to see the farm and labor
groups get anything they want
both in the United States and Can.
ada, irrespective of the good OF
the nations. seems very unfair.
Cost or Living
When 500 farm representative
demand more representation in
government and less interference
with farm prices" while food prices
are increasing every week, things
are going too far. This is especially
true when the Government "inter-
ference" both in the case Of wage
workers and farmers. has been to
raise both wages and farm prices
above what they would naturally be
IL allowed to. seek their own level
The cost of living is less today
than in 1929. Living costs have in
creased less than per cent even
during the past year. This increase.
moreover. has been wholly due to
union wages and pegged food prices
both OF which have been artifi-
cially raised. would not complain
that foods are at their highest
prices in II years if they were
natural prices.
Wage Workers VS.. Farmers
Wage workers should keep in
mind that higher wages mean high.
er prices: farmers should remem.
Der that as they raise their prices
they must pay more for all they
buy. Its too bad that it's so. but it
is so" As long as farmers prefer TO
buy gasoline instead of to raise
oats. there can be no parity OF
prices.
1t is wrong for the labor leaders
to fool the workman-and wrong
for the politicians 10 fool the farm
ers as they are now doing. Passing
laws will not make two plus two
equal five; nor make water run up
hill. The correct solution for our
economic troubles lies with greater
production, increased demand and
lower prices.
Government interference
The Government is guilty OF rails
ing food prices in at least three
ways: % 1t has been buying food
and shipping II out OF the country
at the rate OF 100000 per day
covering 20 different products -
thus increasing demand. 90 1t has
pegged the price OF nine food pro
ducts az relatively high levels by
announcing that II will buy all of
them offered CD It lacked up wheat
and corn prices by the policy. forced
on the Administration by the farm
bloc, OF accepting these crops as
collateral for loans at prices equal
TO So per cent Of parity"
PARTY prices" for farm crops
which will enable the farmer to buy
as much Of the same things" as
he did in 1909-l4 Is perfectly feast
BILE. But remember that in those
years farmers bought no radios, no
electric refrigerators, and had only
one car or truck. The trouble today
is that no farmer is satisfied with
true parity. The whole parity pro-
gram is "cockeyed" when feed grain
and hau uuppiinc for TQ4f 40 ,x.fiI ka