Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-28
Small Firms
Told TO Root
Hog. or Die
New Whiskers Id e a in ,
for Some Trimming
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

BY HUGH S. JOHNSON
MR.. ARTHUR WEEK of WPB
Avn told convention of ice men
that many small businesses must
close up shop and root hog, or
die" before they lose all their
money through the priorities
system.
The advice was probably good
If present policies are 10 con-
tinue, but does il lie in the
mouth of a WPB man to be
saying so?
Part of the duty of that or
ganization is to see to it that
civilian morale and supply is
maintained as long as possible.
If it has done one thing to help
in that direction, the record
does not show il.
Wherever il sees a shortage
looming it's first and only
thought is TO take il out on
small business and the civilian
population.
Mr. Weik points out that this
will so restrict the volume Of
sales OF small retailers and
manufacturers that their intake
Will not carry their overhead
and that they ought 10 liquidate
and offer their services 10 the
government which, by the way.
and TO their bitter diSappoint-
ment. may not want them no
matter what has been their
experience
WHOA! / must keep person
w alitieS out OF this column.
Take a recent case in point.
II has been announced that men
must worry along with one ra-
zor blade a week for safety ra-
ZorS. This may save 100000
pounds OF steel OF varying
grades.
Al about the same time we
learn that plans are being
studied for retaining the scrap
steel lying around in weeds OF
farmers fence corners. on aban-
doned railways and the like. 1t
is estimated by somebody that
this will salvage 100000 tons
OF steel.
a better estimate would be
10000, 900 tons if the job were
properly done. And isn't II
pretty late in the day 10 be doing
this? The Japs are sinking our
ships and killing our men with
steel they have been salvaginG
from our scrap piles for several
years.
But for us il is too much
trouble II is easier 10 traitor"
razor blades 10 get 100000
pounds, which is quite Spectacu-
lar but very sterile Of results.
THREE hundred thousand
Il pounds mot tons Of steel) is
not a drop in the bucket OF our
needs. but it will be great and
needless daily annoyance TO a
good many million men. and one
more Stoppage in the flow OF
business through small outlets.
When you begin dealing in
these relatively small figures. |
don't know how much justice
and equal division of burden is
involved, but everybody kr''u's
that no two types OF razor b,sce
have the same quantity OF steel.
Some have many times more
than others.
II is apparent that not a great
deal of thought has been given
this new great American whiS-
kcrS enigma.
Boards have had their ups and
downs through the ages, some
times being regarded as mark
Of manhood and sometimes the
reverse. Wars have played their
part in the result.
Alexander the Great plucked
his out by the roots TO preserve
the appearance Of eternal youth.
but made even his Asian Co
hortS (to whom boards were
sacred) get rid of theirs 10 de-
prive their enemies Of handle
10 hold their heads while they
carved out their innards.
DEARDS came back to Ameri-
- can fashion during our war
among the states because. there
being no safety raZors. il was
Just too much trouble TO shave
in the field
There was some sense 10 both
Of those examples which this
newest fantasy lacks. The lat
ter is just another of those
bright ideas of bright young
men who arc running our war
effort with too much bureau-
cratic high-handedness and too
little thought for the human
factors involved.
Our people are ready TO make
any sacrifice TO match or emu
late the sacrifice of our soldiers,
but the day is coming. as sure
as sunrise. when all this rough
Shod. ill-conSidered unnecessary
riding over the comfort and
convenience of our people is 60
ing to be felt and resented and