Imperial Valley press., 1941-03-26

w ASHlNG On, MARCH 20 ilcl I
are at least 400 organizations and
no telling how many individuals
in Washington intent on influence
ing public opinion, Congress and
every departmet of government. In
spite of this surplus, however, there
is or should be room for one more
pressure group-the National So
ciety for Keeping Your Shirt On.
Also your pantywaist.
This observation is made. gratis,
as a result of one recent, unfortu-
nate misunderstanding which, given
official misinterpretation by an Of
flee of Production Management
spokesman. nearly threw an entire
American industry into a panic,
caused a price rise scare among
dealers and consumers, and will
take unlimited time to correct.
Here's the story, and though it
concerns pots and pans, it might
just as we'll have been porkchops
or prunes.
A short time ago. manufacturers
of aluminium ware and cooking
utensils were called to Washington
to determine what could be done
about cutting down consumption Of
metal. thus releasing more for de-
fense industries.
Twenty Of the leading manufac-
turers in this branch of the in
dustry used about 10 per cent Of
the national aluminium consumption
last year Currently, the industry
is using about 4 per cent of pro-
duction, and has about three to
five months supply in stock. sup
plementing about two months
stock on dealers shelves. There is
therefore, enough aluminium ware
available to take care of normal
consumer demand for the rest of
the year.
JUST A SMALL
MISUNDERSTANDING
At the Washington conference
however, one manufacturer was
overheard asking in effect, We'll.
if we go out of business, what are
we going to do?'
1t was this question, apparently,
which in slightly garbled form was
passed on TO Robert L. Mehornay.
one of the dollar-a-year men IN
o. P. NJ. Mehornay, in Cleveland
to make a speech, held press in
tervieW in which he gave the im-
preston that the aluminium uten-
sils industry was out of business for
the war, and with his remarks the
fat was out of the aluminium fry
ing pan and into the fire.
The 1900 workers in the industry
read it and wondered about their
jobs The dealers who sell the ware
took look at their stocks and 4
started to rush in orders for a re-
serve. A few stores may have been
led to raise prices. Consumer de-
mand increased. which had the ef-
feet of boarding aluminium.
Now, all this tangled daisy chain
Of events was totally unnecessary
and 1t could have been avoided 4
a few men, the manufacturer who
asked a needless question or others -.
VINO gave It credence, had not
started a panicky rumor
Aluminium is of course a strategic
and there is not an over
abundance for all purposes, but by
;areful rationing, there is no reason .
Why there should be serious short
'ge5 for any industry-yet-if the
upply is well managed.
sKJLLETS FOR
NATIONAL DEFENSE r
Defense production naturally gets =
irst call, but defense production :
n almuinum can mean manufacture
# soup kettles for army fieldkitch-
ms, or pots and pans for navy des- .
rogers or mess kits for both. There =
ore. after defense industries have y
lad their quotas allotted. whatever
s left will be divided up propor-
ionately among other industries.
In this connection IL chotiId ha