The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-18

1850
q floor under tie prices Of al farm
products for ht least two years after
the close Of the war. ~
You have been through many
lean years. You wouldn't be human
II you didn't hope 10 see esq prices
90 higher ~. II YOU didn't want 70
see poultry prices and tobacco
prices and milk prices Increase.
Yes, higher prices would mean
more money IN your pockets. But,
please remember that you can't
raise the price Of some products
without raising the price Of other
products, which means the cost OF
living. You cannot raise the cost
Of living without increasing wages
And increased wages means still
higher prices. That way leads "a
inflaticti ~. sharp, drastic, violent
infiatiolt that can Wipe out thousakids
Of Connecticut farmers asyit wiped
out SO many millions Of farmers In
Europe after World war NO a. The
OPA needs your help In Its fight "a
keep our living costs down. Give tis
your help. Write your congressman
that Connecticut farmers are gill
ing to do their part Cin protecting
our people against runaway prices
Now let me say this to you folks
who, own and operate Connectictt't
forty-six thousand grocery stores
drugstores, garages and department
stores. Some. Of. you have been go
ing through hard, times. Some Of
you have seen the goods on your
shelves growing less and less. -
Faced with fixed costs and small
er profits, you have asked that the
prices Of this, that, or the other
thing be increased, and then, In
creased some more. F.
If the requests that you make are
met, they will only lead to similar
requests from others. Prices will
spiral up faster and faster. Event.
llally, as surely as the sun sets, OF
night, there will be q crash. Thou
sands Of small business men and re-
tailers will be swept under. Mil
lions Of workers, your customers,
viii be impoverished. z
No Equality
Ladies and gentlemen, war Is
never fair. War never falls equally
on all groups. Try as we vii, some
Of you viii suffer more than others.
It is our Job In the OPA to even up
the burdens as far as we humanity
can. But war is not the time to
improve our economic position. War
Is mot the time to look for personal
gain. War Is not the time to adopt
q selfish "rne first" attitude. War is
not the time to profit OF the ex-
pense Of our i1eighbors.
Our American program for the
duration Of this war can be divided
into Tour parts. First, we must
raise q huge army and navy. We
must train IL well, equip 1t well and
send II into battle under the ablest
leadership that we can provide.
Second, we here at home must
produce, produce and produce !.
In our factories, In our Shipyards
on our farms. in our oflces. SO thai
our soldiers and sailors may be pro.
vided with the finest weapons or
earth!
Third, we must protect the health
Of all Of our people through care.
full rationing. We must look par.
ticularly to the welfare Of our I'M
derprivileged so that they may share
properly In the supplies that are
available. .s.... s ~;
Fourth, by our wisdom and by our
courage we must protect our right
to q great and secure future. 0ur
homes. Our savings. Our victory
bonds. Our defense stamps and
savings accounts. Our millions OF
insurance policies. Our social rights.
Our human rights. The stability
and vigor Of our economic systems
on which to- rebuild when peace
finally comes. -r
when Victory Comes
When victory comes, we can and
should face q great future with In
finite confidence. Then we can pro-
vide proper, plentiful food for all of
our children. Then we can provide
hospitals for all Of our sick, schools,
universities, libraries, Fairgrounds.
Then, ladies and gentlemen, we caI,
provide o better life ..a more
prosperous life 80. o more demo-
cratic life :, for all Of US Ameri-
cans regardless Of color. race o.
creed than ever fell to the lot 4
any people on earth. ~ :