The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-06-29

Hope for some relief of thel
local meat situation was seen in
Wilmington yesterday when it was
learned that Senator Josiah WI
Bailey will discuss with President
Truman early next week, the
problem as described in a letter
to the President signed by Bailey
and Senator Clyde r. Hoey.
Immediately upon his return to-
Washington, D. c., the Chief Exc
cutive's attention will be called
to the letter, according to word
received yesterday by Bailey from
the Presidents secretary.
Chester Bowles, d T e C t
of the Office of Price Admin
istration, was sent a copy of the
letter, but no answer had been re-
ceived from him at the time.
The text of the letter follows:
THE undersigned senators from
North Carolina are deeply con-
cerned by some of the operations
of the OPA, and we do not hest
tate to say that the situation In
North Carolina is by nc means
satisfactory. There is great deal
Of complaint coming to our offices.
Generally speaking the Black
Market is entirely too active tor
the good of the country or the
morale of our people.
1.-The people Of North Carolina
will stand for any sacrifice to win
the war and they have given in
ducitable manifestation of their
determination to sustain the war
effort and see our government
through to victory.
'It may be safely said that they
are in favor of giving our soldiers
the best Of everything and that in
great abundance. They are will
ing to do without material COM
forts themselves in order that the
soldiers and sailors may have ev-
erything that they should have.
III the estimation of our people
the war effort and the armed forces
come first
However, the matter of short.
ages, for example, have presented
themselves to our people on q
somewhat different basis from that
in the whole country. The great
rank and file of our people are
being deprived of elementary foo6
The latest complaint is with re-
spect to what is known as side.
meat. This is sometimes referred
to as bacon, but generally speak
ing, it is the meat with which oul
people cook. They cook theil
vegetables with it. 1t is also eater
as fried food and it is the one
most available to all classes anc
one meat on which the grea'
masses Of the people depend.
1--WE do not understand VIII,
there should be a shortage of side
meat in North Carolina. If there i.
good reason for such a shortage
let the reason be stated and ou
people will not complain if the -ea
son is sound. There is some com
plant as to the shortage of bee1
but this is confined rather large
ly to the area into which the bes
is shipped from the packing houses
There is also complaint as to tn
freezing of the local sale of chick
ems in large sections. If this is nee
essa~y in order to supply our fight
ing men first and they put the wir
ming of the war first.
There is general impressio
now that good many of the d,
privations, including those abov
referred to, are due to mismanage
ment and to blunders that Nigh
have been eliminated by SCUM
management and that they ma
yet be eliminated. What we d,
sire is a Straightforward explain;
ton and an end Of debate and CO,
troversy in order that our peopl
may see and weigh the reason
for most unusual situation.
is our judgment that a shortag
OF sidemeat is the most serious {
the shortages It is difficult i
North Carolina to cook vegetable
without sidemeat and sidemeat
also eaten as food, supplying tn
element Of fat. 1t may not be col
sjdered as so necessary in som
homes, but generally speaking
is necessity to the masses of Of
people.
l 1--WE have thought of havin
something to say on the floor
the Senate concerning this SUI
iect and our letters are justifie
= but upon consideration, we feel tn
the better course now is to tai