The Hardin tribune-herald., 1942-01-01

$500 major strikes involving ov-
er 100000 workers. THIS is
about double the average of the
preceding five years. Congress
should insist on a secret ballot
by workers before strike can
be called.
FARM PRICES WILL
BE BETTER
I estimate that if farm prices
are not controlled, the farmers
in 1912 may receive an increase
of .20%o over 1941. This could
increase the national farm in
come 1919 and raise farm con-
sumner purchasing power to
nearly double what it was a few
years previous Cash farm in
come in 1912 should reach
about $13,000,0OO,0 ,0OO-the high
est since 1920. This figure COM
pares with $11,00O,00O,OOO for
1941, and $9,000,000,000 for 1910.
During 1941 food prices in
creased about 1870, but 1912
should show a distinct tapering
off of this upward curve. BY
substitutions and the elimina-
tion of waste, most people can
absorb this food price increase
without either further wage in
creaSeS or a reduction of living
standards.
HIGH LIVING
STANDARDS
Readers who are squawking
about Increased prices should
remember this fact:-Consdier-
ing 1929 wages and living costs
at 100, the wage index has gone
up to 106 while the retail cost
of food has dripped to 80. In
other words, the average Amer
lean today left over for non
food purchases 81 ,O45 compared
with 1887 in the boom year of
1929. To put it another way,
all wage workers are at least
20To better off today than in
1929. What possible excuse is
there for more strikes or even
wage increases? These high
standards will hold up during
1912, Notwithstanding our war
with the Axis powers.
FIRMER COMMODITY
PRICES
Wholesale prices will average
during 1912 about 1919 over the
"1941 average" But do not get
excited! These pirces are now
about 1919 below the 1926 Level
which the U. S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics considers normal"
Those who expect a than
1919 increase point to Cd the
large stocks of food supplies,
raw materials, and merchandise
now on hand; (2) the heavy
advance purchases which con-
sumers made during 1941 which
could keep them going for a
time; 60 the high taxes of var
ious kinds which 1912 is to wit
ness. together with the curtail-
ment of installment credit; and
a. a gradual increase of unem-
ployment in the non defense in
dustries.
Those who expect a greater
than-10% increase point to Cd
the steady decline in available
non-defense goods regarding
defense materials, the making
of which goods will be cur
tailed; (2) the increased pur-
chasing power which will come
from the farm sections even if
wages in the war industries are
no longer increased; 90 a shor-
tage and speculative buying and
boarding which cannot be pre-
vented. Psychology and fear are
more potent than law; a. the
fact that higher taxes and more
bond sales will result in greater
disbursements which must come
back to increased purchasing
and higher prices.
I believe that these eight |
reasons about balance one an
other and that the net result |
will be an increase of not over
1919, as above indicated. This,
however, does not necessarily |
require an equal increase in
CAiS SooI VI AN AFl1iS 1O1 SalC1 u1
housewives.
STOCKS TO GO UP?
The stock market was a "se- /
lective market" during 1941 and
will probably continue to be
such during 1912. While the
market as a whole was declin-
ing, certain stocks were moving
upward. Among these were war
stocks, movie stocks, motor
coach stocks, chewing gum
stocks, soft drink stocks, anu
certain chain store stocks. On
the contrary, the stock Of COM
panies making mostly refriger-
ators, oil burners, auto parts,
and the like have declined
much mcre than the average
market This has also been true j
of the electrical appliance
stocks and the "small-loan3'
stocks. AS declining stock prices
came in 1941 accompanying ad-
Vanri,oU h11cinacc octiyitU II ,s