Evening star., 1946-07-26
Signing Of OPA Bill
Pulls COP From Hole
Protests on Price Disturbances
Now Will Hit Administration
By David Laurence

By David Laurence
President Truman certainly has
helped the Republicans out Of hole
by signing the new OPA bill. Had the
measure been killed the Republicans
would have been gambling with the
prospect that lack of controls would not
produce stabilized prices in time to
achieve popularity with the voter be-
fore the autumn congressional elec-
tions. They would have felt the effects
of the voters resentment.
AS 1t is, the OPA remains and the
country will infer that whatever prices
prevail, they are the result of Presi-
dent Trumans policies The Demo-
cratic party assumes thereby full re-
sponsibility for the price disturbances
and particularly for the black markets
which will flourish under the control
system.
The President would have been far
better off politically If he had vetoed
the second measure, because the read
justment which had set in after his re-
fusal to sign the first bill showed clear
ly that, once de-controls go into effect,
it is better to let them follow their nat
ural course until buyer resistance sets
in and stabilizes prices at a natural
level.
Rent Control Confusion.
The Congress was ready to maintain
rent controls irrespective of the fate Of
the OPA and resolution to that effect
could have been passed by both houses
within "a hours after the veto came on
the OPA bill nearly four weeks ago. But
administration supporters, on orders
from the White House, blocked it. The
present confusion in the rent situation
will not be Strengthened out, for it Is
difficult to do retroactively what might
have been accomplished by maintain
ing rent controls without interruption
on June 80.
The new situation politically is bet
ter for the Republicans also because
they will be able on the stump to show
that the Presidents leadership was
faulty when he vetoed the first meas
ure against the advice of the top men
of his own political party in the House
and Senate. The protests which will be
made against price controls and because
Of shortages of goods due to such con-
trolls will be reflected in the voting next
autumn
1t is significant that Democratic mem
bers Of Congress already defeated for
denomination in their primaries are
blaming Government controls. This is
a symptom of what is coming in No.
Vember. Three Democrats, beaten this
week in their own primaries in Okla
homa, blamed their defeat on Govern
ment controls.
People" said Representative Jed
johnson, Democrat, defeated in the
sixth Oklahoma district, don't like
regimentation and regulations andAhave
to blame somebody, so they blame their
Congressman"
Representative Boren, defeated in the
4th district for the Democratic nomina-
ton, said: The general sentiment was
to make change. I think it Is the
result OF people being disturbed by Gov
eminent interference in their affairs"
Representative Wickersham, Demo-
crat, who lost in the 7th district, said
that the farmers are worried about
price trends and that the people re-
acted in human way after years of
regimentation."
Administration on Spot.
In the face of this tide which has been
well outlined by political observers for
some time, the administration took
chances and fought the de-controls and
then turned on the propaganda of the
labor unions SO as to give the impress
sion that the restoration of OPA would
bring stabilized prices. Now, with the
OPA revived the people will expect
stabilized prices and increased produc-
ton and will blame the administration
| and the OPA if this doesn't materialize.
The President has just told Congress the
bill he signed is better than the one he
vetoed.
Labor union politicians will have to
give up their idea of reopening wage
contracts or making fantastic demands
based on the absence of OPA controls.
AAey Will nave W pdSS LIlelT aCLlOn on
other reasons than the OPA.
Ultimately, of course, a period of re-
adjustment when. price controls are
taken off will have to be borne. 1t is
unfortunate that the progress toward
readJustment which was under wav
after the President vetoed the first bill
was not allowed to follow its natural
course. A price furry of few weeks
would have been followed by stabiliza- .
| tion at natural levels and even at a
reduction. as the black market was
eliminated and production was stimu-
lated at fair prices. Such high prices
as did ensue would have been blamed
on the Republicans.
So while the President might have
gained politically, and the country too.
by sticking to his veto policy, the present
situation will rebound to the benefit Of
| the Republicans. Price controls will
not come off till after the results of the
November elections are revealed. and
/ present indications are that the Repub-
/ licans will benefit by the protest vote.
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