Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-02
More Controls Seen
By Government in as
Observer Predicts Change in
Suspected Drifting Policy
By David Laurence

observer freQ1ctS Ohdnge in
Suspected Drifting Policy
By David Laurence
This is the season of rosy forecasts
and optimistic hopes So 1t might not
be amiss to inject bit of realism.
What will the year 1916 bring in the
field OF government and economic pol
icy? Specific predictions might seem
like guesses but to focus on q trend
already manifest appears to be a more
certain method of approach.
The trend Of the year will be toward
more instead Of less control by Govern
ment Of the economic destinies of the
country. Except for an occasional re-
turn to rationing or priorities. the war
time methods will not be revived Other
forms OF control, however, already are
on the horizon
History. in sense, is repeating ITSELF
The huge SURPRISES In agricultural pro-
auction, for instance, led to an agita-
ton after the World War for a Nc
Nary -Haugen bill, which finally wound
UP IN an AAA control in 1888 when the
economic crisis became acute
More Complicated Now.
The economic situation Is far more
complicated today than it was after
the World War. At that time Repub-
hcan administration came into power
which believed in normally and In
letting nature take its course. This
time-though the party label is Demo-
cratic-the Warren Harding approach
is to be found in the Truman policies.
The tendency is to let nature take its
course
After 10 years of the Harding-Cool-
tdge formula came the 1929 crash and
the struggle of the Hoover administra-
ton to row upstream, only to discover
in 1888 that the voters insisted on and
Endorsed radical approach.
It's only question of time when
the voters again will express their dis
approval of drifting policies. The re-
turning veterans will feel the economic
confusion because of unemployment and
the shortage of housing They will -.
care what party label or ism" sluases
to their state of mind They T5AI want
action and if the Truman luministra-
ton doesn't assert itself rather yigor-
ously there will be change in the DO
ltlcal complexion of Congress and some
drastic legislation, will come out.
Somebody Has to Pay.
The idea that a Nation can fight a
5000 100000, 900 war and go back to nor
malcy the day after the armistice has
been proved illusory in the short time
that has elapsed since VI day. The
idea also that everybody can be placated
and nobody need pay the bill or make
any sacrifices may still have to be dissi-
pated. for the politicians have done
nothing to root it out of the minds of
millions of citizens
The dangerous trend toward an infIa-
ton crisis Is as marked today as it was
IN the period following the last war.
Government failed then for a long time
to exercise an aggressive leadership.
Government this year will find it neces-
sary to ask for more power or to utilize
eiiC CAloJu1S wartime statutes,
In Britain an extension of all war.
time powers for five years was recentlv
granted by Parliament. In America
there will be a determined effort to
abolish wartime powers. The failure of
Congress to provide any alternative
means of dealing with emergencies will
produce major political crisis 1t NAV
come during 1916. It conceivably could
be the issue on which the 1916 congress
sional elections is fought.
War Conditions Prevail
1t may take little while for the fart
to sink in, but normalcy cannot come
until something Is done to meet the
economic problems emerging from the
war. The hostilities are over but wartime
conditions prevail and in addition there
are economic consequences of the war
which In due time will put in their an.
pearance as rehabilitation is completed
and the Nation attempts to deal with
peacetime production at wartime costs
and within the inadequate home mar.
kets of the United States.
The strikes that began In 1945 ara
not mere disputes between labor and
management. They are revolutionary
disturbances along the economic front
and reflect deep-seated and funda-
mental currents directly traceable to
wartime preoccupation with the BUSH
ness of destruction, without counting
the cost or planning future adjustments.
Americas major economic troubles lie
ahead and that means more instead of
less control by Government over the
lives of the citizenry.
Let's check up on the trend a year
hence. 1t is to be hoped that this OBJ
server will be proved wrong but there
Will be much more economic unrest in
the country at the end of 1916 than
now if this forecast happens to be right
and loud cries will be heard for vigorous
leadership at Washington.
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