The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1943-11-18
NEWS ~
BEHIND
THE@E:5lNlillSis'EE!!E1
By PAUL MALLON "
CURRENT EVENTS BATTLE
NEWS READER
By RULMALLON

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WASHINGTON - The strikes,
wage actions and economic de-
bates from the labor and food SUBJ
Sidy fronts must seem wholly be-
yond the understanding of even
a well-informed news reader.
In truth, some developments
are beyond the full understanding
of the participants who are split
ting statistical hairs and pulling
political ones. The controlling
forces behind the developments,
however, can be set forth with an
undeniable assurance which
should enable readers to under
stand the implications of current
news. .....
A real national economic crisis
has arisen from the campaign Of
labor leaders to break the loose
economic bounds fixed by the adj
ministration on wages and prices.
The unauthorized coal strikes, the
threatened railroad strike, and
similar developments must be
traced to that labor initiative.
The seriousness of the situation
apparently is NOT fully understood.
Nor has the public been informed
of the depth of White House per-
plexitY in trying TO find compro-
mise solutions.
The White House plan, how
ever, is clearly discernible be-
tween recent developments. The
Vinson decision against a full
eight cents an hour rail increase
to incorporating employees and
the War Labor board split decis-
ion q to Sd in the Illinois coal con-
tract granting possible $40 a
week raise, show the administra-
ton is ready to bend, if not Off
cially break the ceilings of the
Little Steel formula. r.a 80
But it obviously wants to hold
down the break to a point that
will not again throw prices into
any higher inflationary ground
than necessary.
At the same time, its talented
mobilizer Jimmy Byrnes is soft
shoeing his way around inside
congress trying to get some ar
rangement for continuance of the
Commodity Credit corporation
food subsidies which will make
the consumer and wage Garner
think prices are not as high as
they are, by making the treas
ury stand some of the increase.
In short, the White House meth
cd is to compromise at whatever
negotiable point it can find, in
order to stave off another general
wage and price increase. Weeks
will be required to work it out, If
it can be worked out, and the eff
fectiveness Of the results cannot
even be guessed.
The crisis has war and political
aspects as well as economic sig
nificance.
Coal production already has
broken down to the point where
suffering in many localities can
be expected this winter. Produc-
ton Initiative was disturbed long
before the recent crisis by the
fact that sons and friends OF min
ers were able to find other war
work paying higher wages.
Then, also, the railroad broth
erhoods are a powerful group,
which usually gets what it wants.
A rail strike obviously cannot be
allowed in view of war necessity,
even If it voted.
All this agitation is, of course,
being used by Byrnes to brighten
congress into a compromise on
food subsidy, but apparently
without much effect.
Even If Mr.. Roosevelt's compro-
mise plan is successful, it prob
ably will lead the nation into high
er inflationary ground, but appar-
emily he hopes the ground will
be beclouded so as not to scare
anyone. Also, such negotiated
decisions must be temporary.
Both labor leaders and farm
leaders apparently justify their
existence by planned successive
campaigns to increase wages and
better conditions without end.
Their organizational setups are
such that they cannot afford to
take national economic view
pointer accept one which con-
flicts with theirs. -
Nor have they overlooked the
fact that critical presidential
election is in the offing next year,
having recently modified their
national political pledges at their
conventions to the point of prac-
tically inviting the President to
fish for their votes if he wants