Nogales international., 1943-01-08
Rationing Will Cause Inconvenience
But All Will Get A Just Share


ians will begin to feel the real pinch occasloned Dy
this war; To large part of the civilian population,
the first realization will strike home that the nation
is engaged in the most gigantic struggle tor natonal
existence the world has ever known The loyal patrl
oc American will accept the situation cheerfuy and
endeavor to make the best of it. the British people
who have been living under the pointratlon1ng sys-
tenn of goods for some time and have been getting by
with it take it, certainly the American people can
AS announced by federal officials, the point
rationng system will be introduced in February and
will include the ratoning Of 200 kinds Of foods.
With few exceptions, all canned, frozen and dried
fruits and vegetables and soups to be ratloned at
first. UnQuestionably later III the year meats and
other types of foods will be added to the list OF
rationed items
Rationing as disagreeabe as it may be to the
average consumer, will mean that all will get fair
and just share of the goods available for civilian con-
sumption. This democratic way of apportioning
foods and other products will be inconvenien but it
will assure that all will get portion OF the goods on
hand. AS it is now, many at times 60 without some
of the necessities solely because the merchant has
sold out his stock of the particular item to the first
customers to arrive at his place of business This is
true almost daily throughout the country with respect
to meats.
Some criticism has been directed at Claude R.
Wickard, secretary Of agriculture and food admins
TRAITOR and Leon Henderson, whose tenure price
administrator is drawing to close, because they an
nounced in advance that they planned to ration more
announcement, the critics declared would enable
people to rush to their nearest grocer and begin
boarding these items and thus the market would be
cleaned of these products in short order.
Since human nature is what it is, unquestionably
many American civilian consumers will begin hoard
ing processed foods That is to be expected. Hoard
ers must declare the stock on hand before they may
obtain a rationing book Some persons who bought
up large amount of sugar in anticipation OF rise
in the price, of shortage, and who did not apply
fOrc ratiO ks made
of their folly They now without coffee. Hence,
those who hoard the processed goods will of necessity
have to apply for books and declare the amount OF
goods on hand.
Potential hoarders of processed goods may feel
that they are getting away with something by buying
up as large supply possible At first glance that
might seem true, but an analysis OF the sltuatlon
based experiences Of some OF the sugar hoarders
should be suffcient.for them to reach definite con-
clusion that they are not beneftng themselves. 1t is
safe bet that all future rationing under the point
system is going to be founded the rationng OF the
processed goods.
We might point out to prospective hoarders that
failure to apply for a ration book and declare the
goods on hand may result later in inability to get
other ration books because they haven't the No. l
book of the point-rationng series. That will mean
no meats and of any other items that are to be
rationed in what might be termed perishabes which
certainly cannot be boarded. Loyal Americans who
want to win the war and who want to assure victory
will not hoard and all civilians whose patriotism isn't
of that order will be wise not to do SO.
Rationing undoubtedly is going to bring an in
crease in black markets and "bootlegging" Of food
supplies That is inevitable for those whose criminal
instincts strong enough to them to engage
in such outlawed activities have neither patriotism
nor the welfare of the nation at heart. Common
sense should tell all civilians that they cannot deal
with crooks successfully. Sooner or later trouble will
come and whatever slight advantage of being able tc
get something that honest civilians passed uE
will boomerang with double force If all will abide
by the regulations the sooner the war will be over
and the quicker everyone can return to norma
life (Arizona Republic)