The midland journal., 1945-04-06
News "a.
BEHIND Ct 60 |||||
THE{@H|||RzzHIyEA!1 |||RzIyA
Released by Western Newspaper Union,
WELL MANAGED PEACE
ECONOMY MUST BE PLANNED

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Some gross
misreading and misinterpretations
have developed over a series Of four
column reports ! wrote from south
Atlantic war centers concerning the
outlook and thinking of the people
In all walks and works of life, their
fears and discouragements.
Their attitude cannot possibly be
misunderstood. It is reasonable, nom
partisan, not q viewpoint" but q
general condition-simply this:
A-There is more cash in pri-
vate hands than ever before in
the history Of any nation; more
money in savings accounts;
more cashable bonds. AT the
same time there is a greater de-
mand for goods needed in every
phase of living. II this piled-up
cash could be used for the order
ly purchase of needed goods,
there should be ne chance Of
depression or bad times for three
to five years ahead.
B-Yet the people generally do not
think about such things. Naturally
they are inclined to look only at
their own individual future problem,
the soldier to his returning job, the
war worker to a new job somewhere
at how much money, the war COM
munity to how it will fare in re-
conversion, also the business man;
the poor about inflated postwar
prices, the rich about taxes, the
teacher and white collar worker
about his fixed income in world Of
Inflated prices, ETC., etc.
No class can see security ahead,
and as a result there has grown up
large number of people whose
thinking about their own problems
has led them to Encouragement and
disheartenment on the threshold Of
victory.
C-This encouragement should be
dispelled by government action hold
ing out prospects of security. These
fears need not be realized because
we have the ingredients for success
the cash and the demand for
goods. All we need is wise, sound
handling of these ingredients.
D-To solve the problem, Mr..
Roosevelt could well call in the
brains of the country as he did for
the war production job. He could or
ganize national reconversion for Ia
Dor, business man, farmer, etc., on a
firm basis to inspire general conf
dence. He could organize economic
cally to avoid initiation in prices and
deflation in wages, for stability in
both, altering his tax program,
spending, lending and every other
government policy toward the job
at hand. This would restore a sense
Of security all down the line-and
do the job.
The reaction to this simple an
alysis Of observable facts and con-
structive, rather obvious, remedy
betrayed the confusion existing in
the country.
One editor said this was a
political attack upon the New
Deal, trying to spread fear. The
truth is the New Dealers are
more discouraged than any 9TH
er group, as witness their WAL
lace) proposal to spend-lend
huge government sums for co.
100000 jobs to handle unemploy-
ment.
Another editor considered it an at
tack upon the south, although the re-
port said had observed the same
condition in public thought on trip
through the midwest a few weeks
earlier and in mail from all sections.
Claims No Fear.
A San Francisco editor said the
condition could not be true Of the
Pacific coast because he had inter-
viewed most Of the people on his
paper and found not one OF them
discouraged about their future.
would 60 further and say that
the average person who does not
look ahead Is in that same cate
CORY, but that the leaders of every
group from labor to capital must
look ahead and do see these things.
Newspaper people on fixed salaries
would suffer as much as any other
group from price imitation.
A Chicago financial editor said:
"But look at the stock market"
Yes, look at it, and look at what
It was In 1929 with inflated values
that no one did anything about in
time. And while you are looking,
ascertain how many race track
gamblers are playing stock-horses
now that the tracks have been
closed, without any thought Of the
future of the country.
I do not believe In pessimism.
A man who allows himself to be
either an optimist or pessimist
I'm these critical times Is only
fooling himself.
It may be true a great many
war workers have only an amount
set aside equal to one or two
months salary, and therefore must
get Jobs within 30 to go days after
losing their war positions, or 60 on
relief. They may have been spend
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