The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-12-18

Grapevine Says jap and
Man Stocks Wesken
GiII-Edeed Boys Run
For Cover
American Colleges
Face . Problem
May Try q Dose OF
Initiation Ionic
49, -EE~EEn
By RAY TUCKER

NANHLN NION most TtHtSAA-
ing news Washington has received
lately by way Of the international
grapevine is that war stocks.
particularly shipping and textiles.
are dropping on both the Berlin
and Tokyo bourses. In some re-
spects the decline in their value
carries greater significance with
respect TO the conflicts outcoms
than our victories in North
Africa and New Guinea
Word of Axis setbacks is reach
ing the financiers, despite CEN
sorship. Like Wall Street top
notchers, who frequently serve as
off-the-record advisers to both
state and treasury because Of
their inside information, the in
ternationally, minded men in
Japan and Germany often have a
better knowledge Of world af-
fairs than their respective for
eign offices. The Mitsui estab-
lshment and the famous Peers
bank. like the House of Morgan.
Chase National. National City.
etc, have devious means Of get
ting the unpleasant truth
Despite dictatorial controls in
both enemy countries. there Is a
semblance Of free finance and
economy. II was the moneyed
men who supported Hitler in an
effort TO stave off communism.
Contrariwise, the gilt-edged boys
in Tokyo have long opposed the
aggressive, bellicose militarists.
So il begins TO look as Ii they
were already running for cover.
The American educational in
stitution. especially the colleges,
will either close down or undergo
a revolutionary change next year.
The smarter heads and trustees
are spending much of their time IN
Washington attempting to make
the readjustment.
The draft Of teeners will re-
reduce enrolment almost to the
vanishing point. The struggle is
also depicting the ranks Of facul-
ty members, janitors and char
women. New textbooks are be-
ing increasingly difficult TO OBJ
tain. Moreover, in many in
stances, the war or navy DEPART
ments will virtually commander
establishments as housing and
training units.
Only a few weeks ago, without
even a by-your-leave, the Knox
organization took over one Of the
Capitals finest and oldest girls
seminaries. and the schools own
ers cannot find new space any,
where. The same thing will hap
pen TO many other centers, al
though the extent Of the ravages
has not been publicized yet.
Where the government does per-
NIT a university to continue to
operate, it will determine the
kind of subjects TO be taught,
with winning the war as the de-
Gliding influence.
Although a tragic development,
academic leaders recognize the
necessity. Those now flooding the
District of Columbia are seeking
to ameliorate the hard conditions
they face. In fact, since 1t Is
necessary, they are trying to
salvage some funds by making as
good a deal as they can and to
obtain some assurance that their
facilities will not be permanently
damaged. Some. however. fore
see a gradual invasion Of the ma
tons scholastic system that viii
not disappear with the armistice.
Washington plans to modify its
present price control system so
that the nation will experience a
slight touch Of initiation. The rea-
sons for the shift in policy are
political and economic.
On many products, especially
agriculture commodities, the CELL
ings were fixed so low that in
centiye for increasing production
in 1913 was killed. With the lack
Of labor. machinery. Transports
ton equipment and fertilizer Civ
ing headaches to every farmer in
the land, the removal of the profit
motive naturally inclines him 10
cut down rather than expand.
distribution and en-
ploye costs discourage both
and dealers. Fact Is
that a businessman makes more
money now by selling less than
the market maximum. Wage
raises granted by the various
agencies handling union issues al
50 tend 10 precipitate an infla-
spiral
Federal finaneiers viii not adj
init it publicly, but they favor the
trend as a safeguard
against a blitzkrieg boom. The
present revenue act Is hopelessly
inadequate 10 sop up excess pur-
chasing power and the public
buying Of bonds will not solve
that question With goods rapid
~ disappearing from shelves.
there VIII soon be more than
thirty billion dollars rafting
that must be absorbed in
some way. And the New Deal
strategists figure that
that safest scheme Is 10 permit
or stimulate a rise in the cost OF