The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-05-26
News "a
Behind,
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Released BY western Newspaper Union.
WILL FARMERS RUSH
By PAUL MALLoN y

| w O1N.-Nl1s 4JOWlCS WIZ
a good story Of the reasons behind
the abandonment of the cheaper
meats rationing, but 1t contains holes
which may not sustain his expecta-
tons.
His explanation was that feed 10
short and, therefore, the points were
taken off to induce greater consump-
ton. But consumption depends these
days primarily on supply and also
on price, rather than the number Of
ration coupons outstanding.
There Is to be no change In price
and all the other economic factors
of supply still prevail today-only
the consumer coupon phase having
been removed. Will the farmers
rush any more or less cattle or hogs
to market as a result Of that single
change? Or will people buy more?
So also with the feed angle, there
is a large unobserved question
mark. Nothing has happened lately;
no new crisis has arisen in that long
dangerous condition to explain the
suddenness of Mr.. Bowles' step. The
only development has been an adj
verse action taken by the govern
ment itself.
The government went out to 100
odd western farm counties and COM
Wandered all corn supplies to get
enough to keep the processing plants
(cane syrup, etc. going. No one in
those counties can sell any corn ex-
cept to the Commodity Credit
corporation. Thus, the government
is getting enough corn for the proc
essing plants, but has left less for
feed.
WHAT ABOUT NEXT FALL?
But say the scheme works as
Mr.. Bowles outlined 1t, and the
farmers now rush more hogs and
cattle to market, and consumers
rush to buy this increased supply.
In that event, Mr.. Bowles himself
said he may have to renew rationing
on these less demanded meats in
the fall. He could have made it GER
tain that harder rationing than we
have known must follow the decline
of cattle and hogs available.
We have no reserves of corn,
only little of wheat. The farmers
being shorthanded cannot be ex-
pected to cure the feed situation un-
less providence enables fewer
hands to grow a greater crop.
The corn feed crop will be avail
able in September or October, but
there is a presidential election COM
ing in November, and the betting
around here runs about 100 to that
the much harder rationing which
seems to be in prospect for fall will
not be put into effect until after
November Z.
Indeed, the election factor
makes a more sensible ex-
PLANTATION for the removal Of the
rationing than the others.
None of this is said in criticism
of Mr.. Bowles' administration, only
his excuse. His administration may
be far from perfect, but it looks
like magnificent efficiency when
compared with the earlier Hender-
son regime. Mr.. Bowles has been
slowly correcting the Henderson
mistakes both in orders and in per-
sonnet, apparently even the biggest
one of coupon rationing itself.
The government really rations the
supplies of food before it gets to
the consumer. It takes so much for
army, navy, lend-lease, etc., leav-
ing a certain amount to be dis
tributed. If that amount is not suffi-
cient to meet consumer needs-as
has always been the case-it makes
no difference how many coupons
you have. The real rationing there.
fore, is done before selling to the
consumer.
YOU MUST BE EARLY
AS everyone knows, unless you are
early in line at the grocery fol
your butter, steak, or any rationed
product, you will not get it. Truth
is there has always been less ra.
toned food available than coupons
Hoarding could be prevented more
simply by limiting the amounts tc
customer.
A great deterioration in quail
ity of meats available here has
been noticed in recent months.
This is due to the direct move
ment Of cattle from grazing to
market without going through
the feeder lots where they for
merly were given corn.
The army and navy, however, are
getting good cuts of corn-fed meats
in this country.
The fact that we have so many
men abroad now has lessenee
domestic demands, which is another
factor counteracting Mr.. Bowles' eff
fort to increase consumption on 6
coupon basis alone.
@ @ o
ARCH SEDITIONTST' Is DEAD
The "arch seditionist" is dead
the 80-year-old man from q small
town in Kansas, who the mighty
justice department and its FB,
thought of sufficient importance Il
indict for sedition with jailed Nazil