Evening star., 1943-07-15

proved ana lengthy record OF ability
before being permitted to help con
fuse the public via their OPA
rulings. In my opinion the best
thing that could happen to OPA
would be forced cut in the lega
staff of SO per cent.
In OPA there is a hangover
in attitude and methods of another
administrator which makes itsel
continually evident as an active OBJ.
structive force
The heads of many of our vita
departments are handicapped by 6
fundamental lack of practical ex.
perience. We have a large number
of professors and theorists whose
unavoidable ideas have been con-
ceived in the rarefied atmosphere o1
the classroom.
Much of the confusion In OPA has
been caused by lack of understands
ing of the problems involved, in all
their depth, and a complete un-
willingness to seek or accept the ad-
vice and knowledge of men expert
enced in the fields affected. In OPA
there is a marked distrust of busi-
ness people
The professional mind, in my esti-
nation, is one of the most dangerous
factors in our Government today
Instead of the broad view that is
theoretically promised, their think
ing under the unaccustomed glow of
authority taks wing and scars
through the clouds unimpeded by
facts and unhindered by actuality
I've had my fill of these slide-rule
boys. I've found there is no give to
their inelastic, academic minds.
They try to make walled city out of
OPA because there is no opinion
equal to their own unless it is one
of complete agreement or of greater
daring in their world of dreams
They don't want the advice of
people who are experienced Their
book bound, dream-r ribbed classroom
minds definitely have no doors or
windows leading in.
Labor has been promised a roll
back in food prices Yet with the
exception of two articles there is no
money available for this rollback,
and today it is, in my estimation,
nothing more than an empty
promise.
OPA also suffers from the strange
Washington belief that if you just
wait long enough everything solves
itself. I've never seen such conf
dence in the healing power of time,
It's the old waiting game. Direct
decisions are avoided. One COM
promise leads to another crisis and
another compromise.
The idea of OPA planning and
executing any food program with
out utilizing to the fullest extent the
knowledge and the complete CO.
operation of the Food Administra-
tons people and agriculture is just
plain nonsense. Yet that has been
done in the past. We have had far
too many vest pocket operations in
OPA and experience and practical
knowledge have been a definite ham
dicap to those who wish to help
OPA.
Consistent Defiance of Law.
There is no question that OPA has
consistently defled the Price Control
Act in refusing to consult with the
businesses affected except in a
strictly window dressing manner.
There is little attempt to observe
or utilize the normal processes of
business. 1t must be new and diff
ferent and difficult or it isn's OPA.
I don't believe OPA should be
turned over to big business or little
business or any group oI interests.
However, OPA should welcome the
experience and knowledge and CO.
operation of people who know the
intricate problems of those affected
by their orders. Industries should
have a part in making the regula-
tions they must live with. OPA has
failed to take full advantage of busi-
ness experience and good sense in
helping make their programs work
If a man owns an extra suit of
clothes or if he has been success
in business-that shouldn't bar him
from service in OPA. And a college
degree shouldn't be necessary.
Only a country as great as ours
could survive the bungling and i'm
practical dreaming of OPA that has
thrown much of the country's small
business into confusion.
OPA must not fail. It's a vital
agency that affects directly the lives
of every one in the Nation. 1t must
be made to function and only a
complete house cleaning will per-
NIT this. The record of the past
proves beyond doubt that the pro-
fessors and lawyers and theorists
inst haven't done the ioh