The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-01-14
LOOKING AHEAD


Washington, d. c., January 10,
1944-We have not reached the per-
iod for massive civilian production,
but we are thinking lot about the
so-called "reconversion" of our great
manufacturing plants. One giant cor
poration estimates that it will cost
it 500 million dollars to change over
from war production to the manufac
ture of automobiles. The same diff
culties are faced by thousands OF
corporations in every part of the
country. That is why the topics OF
conversation concern government
ownership, control, regulation, etc.
Perhaps this talk is not as danger
GUS as it sounds; nevertheless it is
led in with such related questions
is essential jobs for returning SOL
Tiers, reconstruction, and preserving
he American way of life.
One prominent administration Off
ial has warned the public not to be
90 optimistic about the early pro
iuction of civilian goods. Neverthe
ess the War Production Board has
let it be known that it favors NOR,
production of civilian articles, with
)ut interfering with the war produc-
lion.
There is every indication that the
,attle on the Home Front after the
nd of the war will not be an easy
)ne.
asaa
Time For A Fresh Start
The turn of the year is good
ime to make a fresh start, when
Kings go wrong.
AS individuals. we are making res
buttons to turn over new leaf, anG
get on the right track in our person
II lives.
AS a nation, we should resolve tc
make a fresh start on some of the
problems of the Home Front that
nave been badly messed up during
he past year. And no prbolem calls
% urgently for new beginning as
he handling of the nations food.
Our Government agencies got bad
Y mixed up ON this food question
md consumers have been the victims
rhe Department of Agriculture has
,een urging farmers to grow more
rops and livestock, to feed our ar
MES in the field, our Allies and the
civilian population at home upon
which the war effort necessarily de
lends in the long run. But the De
,artment and other agencies have
lone many things which prevent far
ners from fulfilling the high produc-
ion detectives set before them.
The OPA has set ceilings on food
rices which in number of instance
ave failed to give the farmer enough
cover his costs. A striking example
this is the ceiling on beef prices
Which at present prices for corn spell
oss for many farmer in the Middle
Vest who buys ranch cattle and fat
ems them on his farm. This ha.
leant less beef and poorer quality
eef for the armed forces and civil
ans.
The War Production Board, the
Var Manpower Commission and lat
erly the War Food Administrator
ave all been concerned with the
God problem Often, their rulings
re ill-conceived and conflicting.
The biggest mistake of all, howev
r, was the rollback and subsidy plan
volved by the Office of Economic
.tabilization. This plan was devised
s sop to labor leaders, who could
hen claim they got the Administra
ion to cut the price of meat. Ceilings
or meat prices were lowered and
ubsidies were paid professors to
eep livestock prices unchanged. At
ne same time, ceilings have been i'm
,osed on live cattle prices. after the
department. of Agriculture said they
Jere impractical, to make the meat
eilings conform to law, and plans
re being drawn up to allocate live
took coming to market.
Never before has such detailed reg
nentation been attempted of SO
omplex an industry. The trouble
18th the entire system, as every
armer knows, is that it will not
lork.
Agreeing To Disagree
The President and Congress are
.rifting apart, No one knows 1t bet