Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1945-12-13


flee to say that so much has
been written and said about it
that the meaning of initiation has
become almost synonymous with
danger. And yet
Do We there is hardly a
Have segment Of our
InflatiOne population which
does not favor,
in one respect or another, some
type of initiation which could be
packed with just as much disas-
ter as any other.
70 claim that we have no in
fiation is pure apple-sauce. We
have initiation in the. prices of
farm products, IN the wage level,
in real ) estate particularly
farms), and many items which
have mot been rigidly controlled
by OPA. We therefore have in
fiation Of currency. There is
more cash on hand today than
at any time in American history.
People have more to spend than
they have ever had. Goods are
scarce and the demand continues
greater than the supply. And
this law of supply and demand
willscontinue to dominate prices
in spite of any and all efforts at
controls. So long as we want
certain goods and these goods
remain scarce we are willing to
bid higher and so long as there
are willing buyers there will be
conscienceless sellers who will
bootleg scarce
Let's Not articles. So we
Forget The not only have in
'20 Crash flation but the
tendency is to
drfft heedlessly into greater
degree Of it without any thought
Of possible disaster awaiting US.
What Is to be the outcome no
one is capable Of estimating.
None of us desire it TO go to
the point where accepted values
win be damaged. But where is
the limit? 1929 answered one era
of wild initiation. Do we want
a repetition of the depression
years? Business has been so
promising, employment SO COM
plete and money so plentiful
that little evidence of fear can
be found among the rank and
file. Labor groups are on strike
and many strike threats exist
all demanding more pay.
Government has thus far re-
fused an increase in selling price
: resulting from wage increases.
Industry therefore has refused
to grant wage increases. We
are at a stalemate. Rise in
wages and corresponding rise in
selling prices start us on new
wave of initiation. Conservative
men in high positions express
real concern lest the tendency
assume runaway proportions. 1t
is a pleasant
Price Control thing to let the
Most auto drift stead
Essential lily on down
grade but we all
know that the end must come
and we must climb the other side.
Statisticians tell us that there is
unlimited time Of prosperity
ahead in America unless we
"muff it, through selfish inter-
ests. A tailspin such as was ex-
perienced in the years following
the crash of 1929 could follow
our "muffihg" the chance of
prosperity.
Price control is the only safe
guard against runaway infla-
ton. But more and more pres
sure is being brought to bear on
the Office, of Price Administra-
ton to lease up on ceiling
prices. Except in few instances
the job Of holding the line can
help much in this work by
checking constantly on prices
charged on everyday items. A
certain amount Of "chiseling" is
always existent. Local price
panels are being retained for
handling such violations. Any
merchant found guilty Of max
ing an overcharge is subject to
fine. The violator is "inter-
viewed" by a panel Of his neigh
bors. A few local instances Of
fines can have a salutary effect
on others.
Price control is most essential
to our recovery and the assist
ance Of the public is needed.