Evening star., 1943-11-01

ton OF 1000 Is now properly CEN
tered in one man and one agency,
except only where such administra-
ton might encroach upon other war
agencies which deal with such sep
arate but relevant subjects as price
control, transportation, etc.
There have been many complaints
about the existence of black markets
in food 1t Is an unfortunate fact
that many persons who complain Of
black markets are themselves indi-
vidually encouraging them by their
patronage Some black markets
exist in all nations which have ra-
tioning The operators of these
black markets are unpatriotic-and
as they are caught, they will be
punished. But We should all attach
as much blame TO those of our cit
liens who hurt their neighbors and
their Nation by paying exorbitant
prices in black markets. Vigorous
efforts are being made by the ap-
propriate Government agencies to
stamp out black Narkets.
Must Grow All Possible.
The obJectives of our food pro-
gram will, as in the past, be TO grow
and raise as much foodstuffs as Is
humanly possible.
! We shall maintain our fighting
men as the best fed in all the world
( We shall guarantee that every
individual of our civilian population
will have an ample and healthful
diet. Every one may be assured that
there will be enough food to 60
around. No one need fear that only
comparatively few people will be
able to afford an adequate and
varied diet.
We shall assist in fulfilling the
requirements Of our fighting allies
for food and shall also assist in as
suring that the liberated peoples will
be given sufficient food to regain
their physical and economic strength.
Our farmers will receive a return
over and above their costs of pro-
duction that will compensate them
decently and adequately for their
long and arduous work. At the
same time. the consumers Of the
Nation will be protected against
rising costs which are properly
chargeable to the war effort itself.
The price support program is
proving reasonably successful on
both fronts: Increasing production
and maintaining fair food prices
for the consumer. I am convinced
that to abandon our present policy
would increase the cost OF living,
bring about demands for increased
wages which would then be justih-
able, and might well start a serious
and dangerous cycle OF imitation
without any net benefit to any one.
Some people say "a little imitation
will not hurt any one" They are
like the man who takes the first
shot of opium for the sensation he
thinks it will give him. He likes it,
although he swears that he will not
make it habit. Soon he is taking
tWo-and then more and more-and
then he loses all control of himself.
/ Initiation is like that. A little
leads to more. 1 am unalterably
opposed to taking the first shot by
congressional or by an other, action.
| The Nation cannot afford to acquire
the habit. We have children to
| think of.
Those who are advocating an In
| f1ation course will have to be ready
to accept responsibility for the re-
suits. We have so far been follow
ling tried path, and are getting
along fairly we'll This is no time to
start wandering into an untried field
of uncontrolled and uncontrollabls
prices and wages.
With the same determination that
has led our fighting men to con-
quer their military objectives. We
at home shall reach the objectives
of our food program. We will get
the production that We have set as
our goal. We will see that the
supplies Of food are distributed
fairly and equitably and at stable
prices that are fair to the consumer.
To do this We shall have to draw
upon that basic characteristic of a
democracy "a characteristic that
has its roots in the American farm
community. We shall draw on our
teamwork, teamwork of the farmer,
and the consumer and the dis
tributor, and the Government in
both its legislative and executive
branches.
The accomplishments Of the past
year have been great We shall
! demonstrate 10 the Axis hou, tho
teamwork of free people can make
even those records fall. We shall
demonstrate that freedom and
teamwork make the people Of
democracy the most efficient pro-
ducers in the whether it be
of battleships. tanks. planes. guns,
or Of the produce Of the soil.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
! The White House November | lo4a