The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-10-07
By JAMES THRAsHER N7EA Stan CorrespOndent

NEA stan Correspondent
 The rank and flle Of American citizens have trained two powerful weapons on the wartime enemy of infiation. They are tho local price panel and the Home Front Pledge campaign. And if those weapons are kept in order and kept firing, they will probably do more than anything else to keep the cost of living to Q sane level.
 That isn't meant to infer that Washingtons part in the point ra- tioning and price ceiling operation isn't important, or that the setup is anywhere near perfect. Nor does t mean that pouring of loose money into war bonds doesn't serve as a vitally necessary anti-infiationary safety valve. But it is obvious that the more you pay for food the less you have left for bonds. And the food price situation, imperfect as 1t is, has at least been brought to the point where 1t is largely a matter of individual responsibility, both to the consumer and the retailer.
 Price panels are not nearly SO exciting as campaigns. They don't stir up Q lot of community enthu- siasm. They mean extra hours of hard work for the volunteers who are already hard working as well as public spirited. But the job these volunteers are doing is highly nec- eSsary.
 Whatever you may hear about slackers and loafers, lawyers and professors, in government bureaus the fact remains that the once of Price Administration hasn't got enough workers to do Q thorough job. Their field men have to concen- trate on the big operators, and can't even scratch the retail field That's where the price-panel vol unteer comes in. He works win and backstops the community ration board, cheeks complaints, visits stores Gas an identified, unohlcial investigator and not @ snooper), settles Q lot of differences, and does much valuable spade work for OPA.
 CITY CAMPAIGNS
 Home Front Pledge campaigns are Just as valuable, but they're 6 lot more fun. Many towns have launcl- ed them in Q fine burst of com munity spirit. And while statistics are, as always, slow to come in and, in this case, difficult to compile, the campaign has paid of in at least one city.
 That was in New Orleans, which served as guinea pig for the venture last spring. Tn four weeks time, 250.- 900 persons voluntarily signed this pledge:
 I will pay no more than top legal
 prices. ,4..s ....' I will accept no ratiOned goods
 without giving up ration
 stamps.
 And 1t worked so well that . sur vey taken 0 month later showed that the whole city's average food prices had been reduced 6 per cent.
 Maybe you would like to know how some other cities worked it.
 Tn Hammond, Ind, a city of 0O,- 900 pledge cards and 0 list of cell ing prices on lnarket-basket foods were distributed to every home. The mayor issued proclamation asking support for the campaign. OCD block matrons called on housewives, explaining the campaign and col lecting signed pledges.
 In Omaha, Neb., Q poster on the court house lawn showed a huge black COW, IS by 25 feet, which was WSliteswashed as signed pledges were returned. The goal was the complete "whitewash" of the sym. bolical bossy, who represented the black market.
 IT'S UP TO YOU
 The campaign was planned by civic, business, labor and women'S organizations. Seventeen OCD board leaders planned the distribution of pledges, which was carried out by 2,300 block leaders. At Q Labor Day picnic, 16,53l labor union members and their families took the Home Front pledge ea masse.
 or course. its easy for any of us to take this pledge, just as it's easy to go on the wagon or get religion at a revival. The tough part is stick ing with 1t, The Home Front pledge campaign isa lot more than a week or enthusiasm and hoopla.
 Your town can launch the cam paign any time 1t wants to- But the campaign will last for the duration and probably beyond. How well we al! abide by the pledge, once 1t is taken, Is going to have a lot to do with the price of eggs.