Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-07-26
Who Controls Prices?

1t is now apparent that the compromise
OPA Bill agreed upon by House and
Senate cOnferees is, in reality, nothing
more or less than a bill providing for de-
control of prices placing authority in the
hands of Secretary of Agriculture An
derson who certainly cannot be called
friend of price control.
In the end, it is the people themselves
who must settle the political issue in
volved in the handling of the economic
question of who controls prices. But even
the political reprisals which are sure to
occur in November against some OF the
members of Congress who have voted
contrary to the wishes of the majority
will not solve the problem unless con-
certed action is taken on the economic
front to force down prices
A price control bill aimed at de-cOntrOl
and collision rather than competition
among food and other commodity pro-
ducers cannot possibly bring about stabili-
ZatiOn of prices.
Lowered food prices can and will only
come about when the people who must
purchase these commodities act in unison
and restrain their purchases to an abSo-
lutte minimum.
While the demonstration here last
week pointed up the fight which is now
under way in Toledo and elsewhere
throughout the nation, it is but the signal
and token of the action which must be
continued against rising prices. To make
the protest effective requires more than
a mere voice protest. 1t requires the CO.
operation of all consumers regardless
of whether or not they belong to organ
lied labor.
How effective the nationwide buyers
strike has been is reflected in many mar
kets where slight declines have occurred
in commodity prices. However, the cuts
which have already taken place are the
merest scratching of the surface and the
fight must go on until those who control
prices are forced to make more radical
downward changes based upon the supply
of available fOodstuffs and other COM
modities.
Those who control the markets have
demonstrated in a most fOrceful manner
that their contention that competition
and supply and demand are nothing but
the formula of an economy, which, re-
changed from a competitive to a form
based upon collusiOn.
One does not need to be an economist
to see that the same type of unity which
existed among the food producers and
professors during their strike of with
holding commodities from the market did
not end when OPA died for lack of the
presidential signature on the emasculat-
ed price control bill. Price fixing and
price control rather than competition gov
erned the action of those who controlled
the food market, particularly that of
meats. This despite the fact that the pro-
ducers flooded the markets with cattle
and hogs.
And in the face of the united action
shown by business in its attempt to gOuge
exorbitant prices of the American people,
there can be but one remedy-that of
united action on the part of the consumers
themselves.
Congress has demonstrated its unwill-
ingness to go along with the people. Busi-
ness has shown its unwillingnesS to let
operate freely with supply
and demand The answer, if there is one
to the situation, rests squarely in the
hands of the people themselves.
Those who have taken part in demon
stratiOns protesting prices, as well as those
who object to being held up without in
creases in their incomes, have it within
their power to stage a real strike against
the prOfiteers and gOugers who now are
offering them food and other commodities
in large amounts. Buy only what you have
TO and let the surplus force down prices
Failing to unite against the profiteers,
everyone who works for living is going
% discover that their troubles are only
beginning and that they will be forced to
pay more and more for less and less.
War Assets Corporation has a happy-mind-
d soul doing its press releases. Last week he
wrote that. mApnrnximatelX 90 nnn sllrnlns