The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-08-23
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BY GEORGE S. BENSON
presidexf--Eadixg college
Seany. Asksxsas
Hold the Line


The Office of Price Administra-
ton died officially on June 30, 1946.
Before it had been imperative ten
days, everybody whose life and
work were affected by it knew the
nation had sustained no serious loss.
Calamities that were supposed to
fall upon the consumers of Amer
lea did not happen. Some prices
rose little; others fell. The law
of supply and demand was still
working. 1t had not been on vaca-
ton.
In the building industries, among
real estate and lumber people, tim
i'd home seekers had predicted the
widest of runaway prices because
of the unprecedented housing de-
mand. Everything necessary to
make prices sky-rocket was pres
ent, but the crepe-hangers were dis
appointed. Industrial leaders went
into huddles and resolved for mod
GRAFTON, regardless of pressure from
eager buyers.
Returned to Life
The dead bureau was resurrected
on July Is by political pressure. One
powerful factor was the influence of
thousands of bureaucrats whose
easy jobs were all but lost. Lame
and weakened by legislative modi-
fications, the OPA lives and has GER
tain functions. But those Is inactive
days proved something: The long
er we lived without the OPA the
more useless it appeared.
Individuals who want to stay in
government, whether they serve any
useful purpose there or not, may be
expected to keep on trying, during
the next few months, to justify a
supposed necessity for government
al price-fixing. In reality, increas-
ing production may be depended
upon to hold most prices down.
Prices of some things will advance
in spite of anything the OPA can do.
Look for Advances
In subsidized industries, where
sharp advances were expected at
first, operators are using modera-
ton in making upward revisions.
While industrial leaders "hold the
price line," channels of trade are
filling up steadily with new pro-
duction and growing stocks hold
prices down. Meat is only an ex-
ample. Livestock hurries to mar
ket. Steaks and chops are on the
menu again.
There will be exceptions! 1t is
likely that the human race will
never be free from opportunists
ready to profiteer when there are
no restraints and crafty enough to
run black-markets when restric-
tons are in force. Maybe there
actually 'odS an unhappy couple in
California on July 2, whose sand
wiches advanced in price from 15c
to 40c while they were being toast
ed. Anyway it was good story.
Good Citizenship
We, the American people, are
heirs of dearly bought liberty. We
have l opportunity to prove that
we are worthy to inherit it. We can
do this by a fair approach to- every
price problem. Whether we are
manufacturers, marketers, or con-
sumers, we have a part to play. We
do not need anyone to play the role
of dictator. Truly no price was ever
fixed successfully by statutory law.
Consumers can keep prices right
by stunning racketeers who play
their customers for suckers, by pa
tronizing merchants who appreciate
their confidence and by refusing to
buy unnecessary things. We should
be slow to retaliate against price
rises that are leedful. If workers,
especially, will let growing produc-
ton adjust prices before calling for
higher wages, it will 60 far toward
Fastening recovery for everybody.