Evening star., 1946-10-19

New YORK. ~. Fll5SIamAO'
Post-Mortem on Price Controls
To the Editor Of The Star:
I take issue with the editorial In
which The Star asserts that the fail
ure" of price control was due to lack
of public support.
There is no way OF determining the
outcome of popular vote on the sub
iect, but certainly Mr.. Truman was
correct in stating that effective con-
troll was prevented by special-interest
group in Congress Moreover, the in
terests of this group mot confined TO
the meat industry by any means made
the sabotage of control their operation
imperative. Spokesmen for this group.
led by Republican Senator Taft. carried
their plea for decontrol to the public
with their cries of removal Of control
only solution" Government bureauc-
racy," unrestricted free enterprise
and so forth ad infinitum.
If the people fall for such a line In
direct opposition to their interests. then
The Stars contention is correct. How
ever, believe that the majority Of
people realize that all controls and res
ulations effected by the Government
were in their behalf and for their pro-
lection. Controls were designed to pre-
vent exploitation Of the public in the
form of high prices and high profits.
which are possible due to the big de-
&aI ayictinu
Our special-interest group would have
the public believe that now the war is
over, there no longer is any necessity
for keeping our economy under control.
They state that the removal Of con-
trolls is a prerequisite to the realization
of full production and equalization of
supply and demand.
Rather, 1t Is obvious that this Is the
critical period and 1t should be more
important than ever to maintain eco
nomic equilibrium during this transi-
ton from war to normal peacetime
economy. And speaking of necessary
controls, 1t would seem better and far
safer 10 err on the side OF too much
protection, than to recklessly throw off
all restraint and suffer the inevitable
consequences Of imitation. The cost OF
living already has spiraled to unprece-
dented heights. Every item decontrolled
seems to boost 1t little higher Along
this line, it follows that the bigger the
boom, the bigger and more devastating
the bust. Business and the Republicans
demonstrated that very amply after the
last war. We should have learned our
lesson.
On November the people will have
a chance to express their attitude on
the issue. Let us hope that when each
of us casts his ballot, we base our votes
on the record of the individual candi-
date, on history, and on fact and not
on the pure, unadulterated political
double-talk so prevalent in our news
papers today. WALTER I. WEED.
Appeal for Needy Children
To the Editor Of The Star:
At this season of the year, many
friends throughout the country send to
Tuskegee Institute used clothing, shoes
and other gifts for distribution among
maladjusted but deserving farm families.
During the past year, when scarcity
and high prices of such commodities
lifted them out of the reach of sub
marginal families, these gifts, through
judicious distributions, have relieved
suffering and privation, especially among
children.
We, therefore, are renewing our appeal
this year because, as winter approaches,
rural school teachers and other field
workers bring reports that, despite some
areas of rural prosperity, there are
other areas where poverty stalks in
manv drab and weather beaten cabins.
Whether parents in such homes are
indolent or victims of the present un-
settled economic conditions, innocent
children, through gifts of clothing and
other necessities, can escape to some
degree the health hazards in INSULT
GENTLY heated homes and rural school
buildings, and exposure on muddy,
wind-swept roads. Many such children
know nothing of the heart-warmth and
cheer of Christmas except for the gifts
which Tuskegee's friends have con-
tributed
Some friends prefer. to send cash with
which we purchase simple but colorful