The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-01-18
News "a
Behind,
THENE|E|ERz$||IE5!1
Released by Western Newspaper Unto
By PAUL MALLoN II


failed this month for the first time
in history, although we extended
the time two weeks, and the CAM
paign leaders worked harder than
usual. They got less than half their
quota. Nearby in rich and swollen
Washington, E bond sales ran only
Sc per cent of the quota.
The leaders tell me the fall
ure here was almost entirely In
bonds Of the smaller denOmina-
tons. The lower income brack-
cts did not embrace the cam
paign this time. In one business
where the employees had pre-
viOusly bought as much as
$4,000, only S400 was purchased.
Yet the people have as much
money as ever, and are vying with
each other to spend it; one civic
organization had a dinner at the
best restaurant, and when it came
time to pay the bill, the treasurer
pushed forward a balance Of un-
counted bills and said:
"Give this to the help"
A waitress made a 81 tip on an
other small dinner for seven.
STORES ARE HOLDING
BACK SOME SUPPLIES
Bank deposits are up. Sales are
up. There is no unemployment; in
deed still shortage of help every
where. would say now, four months
after the Japanese capitulation, the
employment crisis of the war had
been relieved only rs per cent. No
competition in labor is anywhere in
sight.
We ART getting more food IN the
stores than in some years, but a
peculiar situation has developed
about this. Although some stock
shortages are evident in every line
in every store, some dealers have
been hesitant about bringing UP to
the counter what they have in the
basement.
1t seems that the income tax
reduction goes into effect Janu-
airy 1. By holding back goods
until next year, sellers can not
only avoid the highest war
taxes on the income from it.;
they can save about Is per cent
or more in taxes next year.
There will be food of food and
goods on the market after the
first of the year, they say.
Ours is not strong union town.
We have no large factories. Yet
everyone is talking about the unions,
and attributing to their leadership
the new psychology everywhere EVIL
dent here - that of doing as little
work as possible and charging as
much for it as possible. This is estab-
lished routine not only in the few
unions but among too many employ
ers as well as employees.
The electrician and plumber corn
! plain their small-union men just
stand around and smoke cigarettes
eight hours day, ignoring work as
much as possible.
"Once they join a union you can
not get any work out of then," one
says.
A PROBLEM OF HELP
OR EXCESS PROFITS
The men who own small bust
nesses must do, and are doing, all
their important work themselves.
No one else will carry the work
load. There is no such category as
the small business executive" here
any more.
A friend of ours had to stay over
night at nearby town a few days
back. Arising with his wife, he
asked the innkeeper where he could
get breakfast.
"You cannot get it in this town, "
the innkeeper replied.
His own dining room was closed
except for lunch and dinner, because
he could get no one to work more
than eight hours, and said he could
not get sufficient help for two shifts.
There were six dining places in
the town. Each one was doing the
same thing. Some claimed they were
closed because of shortage of points,
but you do not need points for
| orange juice, eggs and coffee.
Local citizens said the restau-
rants were all making so much
money with two meals, they all
just lazily decided two were
| enough to serve the public. My
! friend went 20 miles before he
got his breakfast.
Some new businesses are
opening, with good service, try
ing to establish themselves with
popular support; and many old
ones particularly those dealing
in autos, gasoline, drugs, etc.,,
have greatly improved their
service.
It all seems to depend on COM
petition. If there is competition In
a business, you get fair price and
good service; if not, the consumer
is soaked.
know landlord, for instance
renting third floor walk-up office
for 500 a month. He asked that the
lease omit the usual obligation tt
furnish janitor service, as during
the help shortage, he was not sure
n