Evening star., 1942-07-08
Crisis at Hand

Is approaching crisis in the fight
against imitation. Since the Presi-
dents fortnight discussion of this
subject last April, there has been a
great deal of lip service to the theory
Of controlled living costs, but very
little actually has been done. The
one notable exception relates to the
limited measures which have been
put into effect by the Office of Price
Administration, but these measures,
as every one admits, cannot of them
selves prevent a ruinous advance in
prices.
In his April statement on initiation,
the President enumerated seven
points, including the "stabilization"
OF wages and farm prices, which he
properly said were essential if the
cost of living was to be kept in hand.
Some people," he added, "are al
ready taking the position that every
one of the seven points is correct
except the one point which steps on
their own individual toes. A few
seem very willing to approve self
denial-on the part of their neigh
bors. The only effective course OF
action is simultaneous attack on all
of the factors which increase the cost
of living, in one comprehensive, all
embracing program covering prices,
profits, wages, taxes and debts"
This was an admirable statement
of the problem and of the steps
necessary to deal with it. But, un-
fortunately, the comprehensive, all
embracing program" has not been
forthcoming. And it has not been
forthcoming because the some peo-
pie" of whom Mr.. Roosevelt spoke
have had sufficient political influence
to keep their individual toes from
being stepped on.
One Of these groups is represented
by the House farm bloc. Despite the
pressing need of increased food pro-
duction, this group has mustered
enough political strength to prevent
the Government from disposing OF
it's own stocks of grain for feed pur-
poses at less than parity prices. The
Government wants to dispose of this
grain, which was acquired during the
lean years in the course OF the effort
to aid farmers, to stimulate greater
production of dairy products, live
stock and poultry And in order to
make this program successful-to
bring about the greater production
at prices which the people can afford
to pay-the Government wants to
dispose of its own grain stocks at less
than the parity price. But the farm
bloc has been adamant in it's refusal.
The other group is represented by
organized labor, which is demanding
higher wages. This group is insisting
on an increase of 81 day for the
thousands of highly paid workers in
Little Steel" and it has similar de-
mands pending in behalf Of thou
sands of other workers in the durable
goods industries. If these increases
are granted, prices cannot be kept
down. But, because of the political
strength of this group, the Govern
ment has not yet taken firm stand
against its demands, and an inter-
esting sidelight on this situation is
the manner in which spokesmen for
these groups are playing one of
against the other.
Thus, Philip Murray, president OF
the CIO, says that today it is only
the workers, those who can least
afford to bear the burden of the
severe rise in the cost of living, who
have been called upon to make the
severe sacrifices" And Edward
O'Neal, president of the American
Farm Bureau Federation. charges
that the Government is not trying to
"beat down" the wages of industrial
labor, and asks why, out of al
groups, should the farmer alone be
singled out for punitive action?'
Each, apparently, sees only the sac
rifices of his own group.
In this sorry state of affairs, 1t il
encouraging to have Senator McNary
the minority leader and stancf
advocate of fair deal for the farm
ers, rally to the Residents support
on the feed grain issue. But 1t il
discouraging to have the President
oppose a general wage increase in the
steel industry in such mild terms a.
those he employed at his press con-
ference yesterday. It is just as true
now as it was in April that the f1ght
against imitation will be lost unles:
the Government deals firmly witt
wages and farm prices. If these two
great factors In the advance in living
costs are not to be restrained because
of political or other considerations
the rest of the program might just a.
we'll be abandoned, for it will prove
utterly inadequate
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Submarines in AIeutions