Evening star., 1943-07-15

/ (Foilo1ping Is the tert OF a state
ment issued By Lou r. Maron in
connection NTH his resignation
from the O1ice OF Price Admin
| istrdtion)
| After several weeks of considera-
| ton have decided that I cannot
accept the position of general man
ager of OPA and have also reached
the conclusion that I cannot con-
tinue to be associated with OPA in
any capacity. I have resigned as
of this date.
OPA must not fail. It's collapse
would send prices skyrocketing and
bring mob scenes as housewives
stampeded for the limited supplies
OF the essential goods that are now
rationed.
But if OPA falls it will be because
of its own internal weakness-con-
fusion, indecision, compromise, miles
of legalistic red tape and the pres
ence of theorists in policy making
positions.
The job of controlling prices and
rationing scarce commodities under
| the tremendous stress of global war
is vast enough without the infusion
of any efforts to remake the Amer
ican economy at the same time.
OPA needs at once a drastic re-
organization, strong, clear direc-
ton and liberal TRANSMISSION of
common horse sense. Only these
steps can rebuild the morale of the
agency and provide the leadership
which the thousands Of volunteer
workers for this agency so des-
perately need through the country.
Until these steps are taken and
until there is willingness to SIM
plify price control and rationing
as far as is consistent with winning
the war there is nothing more that
l can do in OPA.
Morale Declared at Low Ebb.
Months ago an extensive change
in OPA personnel was promised
This promise has not been kept.
Today the morale of the agency is at
low ebb. The good men there are
looking for other jobs The theo-
rists and the young lawyers will, of
course, continue until forced out
of the picture, because most of
them are in better jobs than they
could obtain in private life.
l have been deeply disappointed
in our failure to establish sound
comprehensive policies and plans.
In my estimation there still is no
realistic workable overall food pro-
gram. Operation in this vital field
has been strictly catch-as-catch-can,
and OPA moves often have been di-
rected by eXpediency rather than
by any sound. long-distance future
plannings.
There is a strong clique in OPA
who believe that the Government
should manufacture and distribute
all commodities. Call them left
WingerS, or new thinkers, or Tug
wellists, or whatever you will, they
are actively at work in OPA. They
are using the war as means of
furthering their reform ideas and
will continue to use honest men in
OPA as a front for their efforts.
If this group isn't curbed, we are
going to lose a good slice of the
very freedom We are fighting for,
I cannot subscribe to their OBJ
vious efforts to force radical and
dangerous concepts on the public
under the excuse of wartime needs.
I cannot subscribe to the type
of thinking that created the hosiery
order, or that continues to drive
for grade labelling or permits an
agency of the Government to
openly declare that an independent
merchants store is an inefficient
and costly place to patronize
Grade Labelling Called Threat.
Grade labelling, in my sincerest
estimation, presents the greatest
threat to American industry and
our way of life that ever existed,
because it is without question the
Spearhead in a drive to eliminate
brands, trade marks and eventually
free enterprise.
In OPA we have people who like
to control just for controls sake.
| can't subscribe to policy of try
ing to apply price control to every
thing when all our efforts, energies
and resources are needed to keep
the basic cost of living items in
hand.
Our young lawyers have OPA so
bound up in legalistic red tape that
Houdini himself couldn't untangle
it. I don't know how many hours
they spent on the wording of their
classic order on fruit cake. but it's
six pages of fine print. They have
managed to keep their fingers on the
strings of OPA and Congress might
we'll consider legislation to force
OPA to employ lawyers with a