The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-01-29
Economic +. i.
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National and International Problems
Inseparable from Local Welfare

production, with powers second only
to those of the President, marked the
real start of this country's all-out wal
effort. In the past, we simply did not
do enough. There has been too much
talk and too little work. Now, faced
with enemies who have devoted all
their resources for many years to the
creation of gigantic armies, we must
at last throw the potentially limitless
American production machine into
high gear.
The effect of that on the country's
economy will be revolutionary. During
the year which ended, we spent less
than % per cent of our national income
from military purposes. During the fis.
cal year which will begin next July
it is expected that more than so per
cent of our income will be devoted to
the needs of our Army, Navy and Air
Force. And in the years to follow, ii
the war is still going on, the proper
ton will be further increased. The
President has said that the building of
military power only slightly superior
to that of our enemies, is not enough
that we must, instead, build military
power which is overwhelmingly great
er The results of that program will
be felt in every home in the land
There is little point now in talking
about the mistakes of yesterday, save
as they can point the way to prevent
similar mistakes in the future Labor
strikes stalled production and deprived
our fighting forces of vitality needed
supplies. Some segments of industry
were reluctant to make the tremendous
transition from Il peace to war econ
omy Government officials, including
the President, vacillated before taking
the steps that were necessary to real
efficiency in administration. Congress
dilly-dallied and debated endlesSly
while the Axis forces rolled ineXorably
on.
The individual will find himself liv-
Ing IA very different kind of life. He will
have to work harder, and he will have
TO forego a long list of luXuries and Il
number of seminecessities as well. The
complete ban on automobiles and tires
indicates the way the wind blows IT
is expected that within Il very short
time the production of electric refrig-
orators, washing machines and similar
equipment will come to an absolute
stop. There will be little or mo tin to
spare for canned goods. And, while
most workers will receive higher wages
than ever before, a larger proportion
of their earnings will he taken by GOV
ernment through taxation. Everyone
may be required to devote definite
proportion of their income to the pur-
chase of defense bonds. In short, your
pay check may be ;bfg, but the part Of
it which You will have left to spend
as your whims and desires indicate,
will be small q
The effect of the war on industry
and business will be similar. Every
kind of factory, from the great auto
mobile plants down to the smallest
crossroads machine shops, will be
given some part i'm war production.
Very large gross profits will probably
be made in many fields. But net profits
will he modest because of taxation
The Treasury will get the bulk of
every dollar earned over and above
the cost of production. No one will
get rich out of this war. 1t is to the
credit of most industries that they
aren't trying to make great profits,
and are asking for only enough earn
ngS to keep going and to eXpend their
facilities
At the moment there is considerable
unemployment, due to the shutdown
on ears. Hundreds of thousands of
mechanics, tire and auto statesmen,
service station workers, and others
are being thrown out of work. The gov
ernment expects that several months
taken into defense activity. But, by the
middle of the year, many anticipate
an actual shortage of wOrkmen. Amy
man, skilled or unSkilled, will be able
TO find Il job. It may not be the kind
of job he wants or is used to, but it
will give him Il living.
Before long ii is probable that all
ablc-bodicd people, men and women
alike, will have to give part of their
time To public work. Those who are
not directly involved in defense produc
ton or military service, will be called
upon to participate i'm the faSt-eXpand
ing civilian defense work. There is Il
shortage of people trained in first aid,
fire fighting, policing, and similar ac-
tivilicS. The government has made Il
large appropriation for equipping ci-
william defense forces, the bulk of which
Will be spent on the Atlantic and Pa
ciiic coasts, and training is now under
way on II biz scale
4 X
There is less and less talk of sac
rltlce' these days, The reason for that
is clear-the work we must do and
the money we must pay are simply an
inevitable and unavoidable part of the
Waging of "A war which we mnSt win