The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-02-15
FLIGHT
Higher Costs Menace
Low Paid Consumers
Too Many Gimme"
Coteries al Work
Vice President and RFC
Head Still Disagree
Farley Wants War Over
Before Election
BY RAY TUCKER

BY KAY TJOhEh
WASHISGTON-Almost every
ecoomic control established in an
effort to prevent disastrous In
flation Is breaking down. WASH
ington experts coneede privately
that the nation faces serious
crisis unless the president and
congressional cliques quit quar-
reling on the home front and
achieve some sort of unity.
Prices are steadily pressing up
ward, but not high enough TO
save thousands OF retailers and
middlemen from bankruptcy.
Nevertheless, the rise in the cost
of living pinches low-paid con-
sumers. Even the poorest vari-
cites of meats are beyond the
reach Of their pocketbooks. With
John L. Lewis first In the parade,
o score of powerful labor unions
are asking pay increases that
will upset the Little Steel wage
formula and accelerate the spiral
Farm bloc leaders on Capitol
Hill are plotting again. They aim
to revise the parity arrangement
80 that the value of work per-
formed by tillers and their fami-
lies shall be included in fixing
agricultural returns. To insure
victory for their renewed demand
they have formed an alliance
with the A. F. of L. and the
c. I. o. 1t is a threatening
coalition.
Mr.. Roosevelt is making quiet
attempts to negotiate several
compromises, giving each GIN
me" coterie part of its requests.
If the groups prove too recalci-
trant. he may issue a statement
denouncing them as selfish and
unpatriotic. Perhaps he will APP
peal over their heads to the moth
ers and fathers whose sons under
fire are earning only fifty dol
lars a month.
Vice President Henry Wallace
and Jesse H. Jones have renewed
their feud as to which shall con-
troll the billions required to buy
strategic materials for the
United Nations stockpile and
prevent these supplies from
reaching the Axis powers. Their
open dispute created such scan
dial a few weeks ago that now
they are sparring behind the
scenes.
The current controversy GEN.
ters on House proposition
authorizing the Texans RFC to
raise another five billion dollars
for the purchase of essential
commodities. The bill passed the
house at the last session but was
stymied in the senate after Mr..
Wallace, as head of the Board of
Economic Warfare, accused Mr..
Jones of being too cautious and
dilatory in advancing funds to
BEW. The Secretary of Com
merce retaliated with the charge
that the agency of the V. P. had
made no accounting to him for
the cash he had given it. He in
timated that the Iowan was a bit
careless in this respect.
Henry B. Steagall, house bank
ing and currency chairman and a
pal of the financier, reintroduced
the measure q few days ago and
will jam it through If possible.
But Henry and his chief aide,
Milo F. Perkins, have been but
tonholing key members trying to
get this money for their setup,
thus freeing themselves from
RFC watchfulness. Mr.. VILLAGES
stellar role as postwar planner
and angel handicaps him in this
scrap. Realistic Legislators don't
dare entrust vast sums 70 q man
with his utopian dreams.
James A. Farley is feeling his
1874 oats. Washington places no
other Interpretation on his recent
utterances and conferences with
important Democrats throughout
the country.
Jim has not annOunced-at
least not publicly-his future po-
litical program. He does not need
TO broadcast It, for by his actions
he has furnished a tip-off he
resigned as national chairman IN
1910 because ne opposed a presi-
dental third term. so 1t is logical
10 assume that he Will be against
Roosevelt's denomination. He ex-
planned last November's COP
landslide with the comment. the
American people are tired OF be-
ing showed around
Now he forecasts a speedy
United Nations triumph. and pre-
diets 1914 campaign waged On
domestic issues" Oddly enough.
he dismisses the possibility that
Mr.. Roosevelt may seek re-elec-
ton 50 that he can preside over
the peace table.