Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-07-05
sovino Price Control

Climax to the struggle waged by Con-
eress against the people OF the On,leu
States came last week when President
Truman correctly interpreting the temper
of the country vetoed the OPA bill and
forced a congressional showdown
Nobody should allow themselves to Oe
deceived by the claims of many business
reorle landlords and others who FOUND
themselves in the drivers seat July De-
cause of the complete absence OF cOntrol-
ling legislation. 1t is safe to assume now
ever. that every business will increase ltS
nrices. little by little, until the intlatlon
which the consumers of the country have
feared finally becomes reality
Nor is Congress particularly happy
over the situation into which 1t mas
forced the country Not one OF them'
from Senator Taft down to the most op-
scure congressman, but who realizes the
critical situation which faces the people
as result of the irresponsible and IL
logical action of both houses.
Not even Senator Taft who led the
fight to give us a price control that dld NOT
control has not had the courage to come
ont flatly and declare himself opposed to
anv and all controls. That would be poll
tical dynamite. Instead, he has used the
same uussyfoOt methods adopted by Dusl-
ness since price controls have been iittea'
at the same time intent upon making
noss;hle for those who control the market
1o poupe the consumers for all they Will
or can take.
Taft and his type, as well as business
are seemingly telling the people OF the
country, 1--WE don't want to hurt YOU we
won't rob YOU. Just trust us and every
thing will be all right" AT the same tlme'
thew are seeking to lull the country into
the belief that what has been done by
Congress is not harmful and will not lead
to dangerous inflationary spiral :.
Labor which will stand the brunt OF
the infIationary process is not unaware
of what il faces in the months which lie
ahead. And while labor leaders generally
are ouposed to increasing wages as the
answer to rapidly rising prices, they have
little or not alternative in the face OF
their inability to convince Congress that
holding the price line would tend to Sta-
bilize our economy.
In the months which lie ahead labor
will again be forced to demand higher
wages to meeting the rising cost of living,
and again the workers will be forced to
strike to enforce their demands upon the
employers. As strikes multiply, the press,
radio and paid propagandistS of big busi-
ness will again blame labor for forcing up
prices by their demands and we will be
off to flying start for the same toboggan
which marked the economic debacle OF
the early thirties.
Knowing all these things, the govern
ment is now expected to show leadership
in saving big business and its servile con-
gressional stooges from themselves. The
Roosevelt administration did 1t and un-
less Truman follows suit and shows more
leadership than he has demonstrated UP
to this time, nothing can prevent us from
racing headlOng into the chaos for which
we are now surely headed.
Price control which really controls is
the only possible way that we can save
the economic system and prevent the
country from experiencing the economic
disaster which Congress seems determined
to force upon us.