Evening star., 1943-11-09
The Line Waivers

In one OF his early explanations
OF his stabilization program the
President said that the way to
stabilize is to stabilize" What he
meant was that an exception made
IN the case of this group and that
group would result, in the end in
no stabilization at all And that is
the direction in which we seem to
be headed now.
The most recent and the most
disturbing sign of general retreat
along the stabilization front is the
curious announcement by Chairman
Davis of the War Labor Board that
I'VE become increasingly conscious
OF the fact that we are asking one
segment OF our society Qabor) to do
It's part to protect all Americans
from the ravages of imitation, while,
at the same time, a similar obliga-
ton has not been placed as heavily
upon the shoulders of some of the
other segments of this society"
From this. one might we'll conclude
that Mr.. Davis does not propose to
stand much longer at the line of the
Little Steel formula. That unques-
tionably is the view that the leaders
of organized labor will take of the
statement, for it is equivalent to an
open invitation for them to increase
their pressure for an upward revision
OF the boards wage ceilings. Nor
can any one reasonably doubt that
Mr.. Davis intended otherwise.
This is disheartening for it reflects
q determined indifference to the
facts. Since Mr.. Davis did not
Identify the "other segments" of
which he spoke, there is no opportu-
nifty for comparison in that direc-
ton. But the record is unmistakably
clear as to the favored treatment
which organized labor, on the whole.
has received since the beginning of
this war. Since Pearl Harbor the
basic wage rates of these workers
have kept abreast of, or have sur
passed, any rise in the cost of living.
And the increase in their actual
weekly earnings, something which
the board studiously ignores, is far
In excess of the rise in living costs.
These workers are a favored class
In our society. Some other group
the farmers perhaps-may have re-
ceived still more, but the undeniable
fact is that organized labor has
Jared better than the generality of
the American people. And if the
stabilization line is to be abandoned
now in their behalf, it can only serve
to enlarge their relative advantage
over the less fortunate elements of
our population.
There is still another aspect of
this matter which deserves atten-
tlon. In recent days the President
and OPA Administrator Chester
Bowles have made urgent appeals
for new subsidy appropriations
billion or more dollars to hold food
prices in line and to bring them even
lower Does this mean that the Gov
ernment wants to subsidize a further
reduction in living costs with one
hand while paying out higher wages
with the other? II so, what kind OF
stabilization is that?
Fortunately, there are two men at
the top in this administration who
have given evidence of a really firm
determination to hold the line"
They are James F. Byrnes and Judge
Fred Vinson, and it is to them that
the forgotten people" of this war
the unorganized and inarticulate
majority must look for the resolu-
ton and the courage required to
survive the assault on their living
standards that has already been
launched