Evening star., 1943-01-01
Abdication Forced
ByLack Of Goods
And Manpower
Standards to Remain
Far Above Those of
Other Motions
BY CAMBRIDGE Associates.

BY CAmbridee Associates.
Between the crash OF inflated
prices in early 1920, which blew the
elaborate plans for the inaugural
OF Warren Gamaliel Harding right
out the White House window, and
that Sunday Afternoon in December,
1941, when a couple of formally at
tired, Nipponese confidence men
were ushered from the State De-
partment, the consumer ruled the
roost in this country.
AS business man there may have
been periods when you didn't
amount to shucks. AS a wage earn
er there were times, perhaps, when
you couldn't earn your salt. AS a
consumer, however, you were the
pet and darling of the gods for
more than two decades and in
dustry, science and the arts existed
only to anticipate your whims and
tempt your appetite to the full ex-
tent of your cash or credit.
World Seems Topsy- -Turvy.
Understanding that background
1t is easy to understand why most
of us find it difficult to orient our
selves in this topsy-turvy world. To
have cash, actual folding money,
that cannot be instantly translated
into goods and services is a novel
and upsetting experience. But it
is an experience that will be more
tntensively and frequently borne
for the duration and rather more
than six months thereafter.
1t may not be true that small
restaurants are putting up such
signs as IF you don't like the Serv-
ice be quiet; it's easier to get Gus
toners than help" That, as you
probably have sensed, however, is
the atmosphere in many retail and
service establishments and for good
reason. 1t is easier to get customers
than it is to obtain help or to re-
plenish stocks, and there's no dodg-
ing the fact. The consumer has
been pushed from the throne and
become simply a bothersome, i'm
fortunate seeker of crumbs from
the quartermaster's stores.
Rationing to Be Extended.
Perhaps the foregoing paints
too black picture Of the low state
to which the consumer is falling.
Perhaps not. Certainty supplies of
goods for civilian consumption are
going to become shorter and short
er. Rationing will be greatly ex-
tended. Many familiar items al
ready have disappeared from shelves
and showcases, and others are dwin-
ding fast.
On the brighter side for the con-
sumer is the hope that price con-
trolls and equitable rationing meth
ods will give him fair share of
available supplies at uninfated
prices. How happy he is will depend
a good deal on his adaptability.
Also on the durability of his auto
mobile, his radio, his mechanical
refrigerator and the other house.
hold conveniences whose production
has ceased.
Reserves Cushion Shock.
Up until the present time the
buying public has not felt the full
impace of production stoppages, be-
cause large inventories in the hands
of manufacturers and distributors
have made possible fairly normal
dealings. Reserve stocks are dimin-
tshing fast now. Almost day by day
the category of items gone for the
duration grows longer. The huge
volume of 1912 Christmas trade will
clean stockrooms of many goods
which cannot be replaced.
None of US need go hungry next
year, although our menus may fire.
quently not be wholly to our lik-
ing. No one need go shabby or rag
geed if he has money to buy clothes
although the range Of styles and
materials may not always meet our
fancy nor the quality be all that
we would wish.
For a good while it will be rather
easier to get luxury and semi
luxury items than many staples,
simply because reserve stocks will
last longer. The single true and
comforting thought is that it is still
better to be a consumer in this
country than in any other in the
world