Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-08-02
Con We Wait?


Assuming that price control will be
restored as a result of the action taken by
Congress last week, the question which
arises is-can we wait for 80 or more days
until effective curbs are placed upon pres
emit runaway prices?
There cannot be the slightest doubt
that it will take much more time to re-
store controls than it took business to take
advantage of the situation when there
were no controls whatever.
Business which Immediately raised
its prices on all commodities as soon as
OPA was allowed to lapse, will not return
to its former price structure unless and
until it is forced to do so.
In the meantime, people who have not
been given wage or salary increases will
still be paying more money for the food
and other commodities which they must
have.
Apparently, the answer to current
prices is continuation of the action of the
people in refusing to purchase more than
they must absolutely have in order to live,
an action which consumers can scarcely
help taking inasmuch as they have only SO
much money to spend and much less than
they actually need in order to meet the
prices which now prevail throughout the
entire country.
If the situation which existed with re-
spect to wages and prices was ridiculous
prior to the end of price controls, it is
even more so at the present time. Prior to
elimination of control, the workers of the
country had a difficult time in meeting
their current expenses of food, clothing
and rent, but with controls eliminated,
their position became hopeless.
This situation still exists. People are
still forced to pay too much for food and
clothing, and in many instances for rent.
They are trying to meet 1929 cost struc-
tIIre with 1882 income.
And If the wages and prices which led
to the 1929-1932 economic disaster were
out of line and productive of the evils
which followed for many years, SO too is
the present situation in which prices are
so far out of line with wages that the
worker and consumer cannot possibly pur-
chase all of the things which are on the
market waiting to be sold.
Even If the price structure Is restored
to that which prevailed prior TO June 80,
which is extremely doubtful in the light
of the present OPA bill, labor would still
be unable to create healthy economy be-
cause of the inequity existing between
wages and prices.
Today, labor, fully conscious of the
contradictions of the economic system,
must rise in its might to save itself and
the whole people from the chaos which
blinded businessmen and Second-rate
statesmen seem intent upon creating.
We cannot wait for nature to take its
course. We dare not, must not wait for the
Tafts, Wherrys and other reactiOnaries to
carry out their economic theories which
have long ago been shown to be false and
destructive.
Today, now, is the time for labor to
rise in its might and in justice and with
strong voice to demand economic sanity
in country which is Hell-bent upon turn
ing back the clock to the insane ideas and
ideals of discredited era.
Only labor stands between the blinded
leaders of a blind group and the crisis
which may send us hurling into the very
things against which we fought the last
war. We are marching, yes, racing into a
disaster of major proportions, the outcome
of which may bring us the very things and
a system against which we today stand
opposed.
We cannot wait for the events to
come to pass which are now being planned
by our political leaders. We must act. We
must act now and with decision to insure
a continuation of our present economy by
political and economic action.
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