Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-29
NEWS
BEHIND
The NEWS
BY Paul
MaIIon

sAA nv -
economic debates from the labor
and food subsidy fronts must
seem wholly beyond the under
standing of even a well in
formed news reader.
In truth. some developments
are beyond the full under
standing of the participants who
are splitting statistical hairs
and pulling political ones.
The controlling forces behind
the developments, however, can
be set forth with an undenlable
assurance which should enable
readers to understand the lmpll-
cations 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 administration on wages
and prices. The unauthorized
coal strikes. the threatened
railroad strike. and similar de-
velopmentS must be traced to
that labor initiative.
THE seriousness Of the stu
Il alton apparently is not fully
understood. Nor has the public
been informed of the depth of
White House perpleXity in try
ing 10 find compromise solutions.
The White House plan. how
ever. is clearly discernible be-
tween recent developments. The
-VinSon decision against full
s cents an hour rail increase 10
incorporating employees and the
War Labor Board split decision
Il TO s. in the Illinois coal
contract granting possible SO
week raise, show the admins
tration is ready to bend, If not
officially break the ceilings OF
the Little Steel formula.
But it obviously wants 10 hold
down the break. 10 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 10 get some
arrangement for continuance of
the Commodity Credit Corp.
food subsidies which will make
the consumer and wage Garner
think prices are not as high
as they are, by making the
treasury stand some of the in
crease.
IN SHORT, the White House
Il method is TO compromise at
whatever negotiable point ii
can find. in order TO stave off
another general wage and price
increase. Weeks will be re-
quired 10 work it out. if it
can be worked out, and the
effectiveness of the results can
not even be guessed.
The crisis has war and politi-
cal aspects as well as economic
significance.
Coal production already has
broken down TO the point where
suffering in many localities can
be expected this winter. Pro-
duction initiative was disturbed
long before the recent crisis by
the fact that sons and friends
of miners were able to find
other war work paying higher
wages.
Then. also the raj DAD
brotherhoods are powerful
group, which usually gets what
it wants. A rail strike obviously
cannot be allowed in view of
war necessity. even If 1t is
voted.
TIIE rest of union leadership
Il obviously is holding back TO
see how these two vanguardS
come out. before bringing for
ward again their pressure for a
general wage increase.
All this agitation is, OF
course, being used by Byrnes
TO brighten Congress into a
compromise on a food subsidy,
but apparently without much
effect.
Even if Mr.. RooSevelts COM
promise plan is successful. 1T
probably will lead the nation
into higher inflationary ground,
but apparently he hopes the
ground will be beclouded so as
not to scare any one. Also,
such negotiated decisions must
be temporary
Both labor leaders and farm
leaders apparently Justify their
existence by planned successive
campaigns 10 increase wages
and conditions without end.
Their organizational Setups are
such that they cannot afford TO
take a national economic view
pointer accept one which con-
flicts with theirs.
NOR have they overlooked the
~ fact that a.scr1tical presi-
Dental election is in the offing
next year, having recently modi-
fled their national political
pledges at their conventions 10
the point of practically invit-
ing the President 10 fish for
their votes If he wants them
and to use bigger and better
bait.
An overall, arbitrary freezing
of both nriceS and wages AT