Evening star., 1946-03-24

cial security program, an increased
minimum wage, adequate housing
. further development OF our nat
ural resources, and above all, q
strong and progressive America now
and for all time.
Period of Transition.
Today America Is in q period of
transition. The aftermath OF war
has brought new and pressing prob
lens.
Without question, one OF the most
serious of these problems is the
danger Of disastrous imitation and
subsequent depression In our coun-
try.
Unless we can keep prices and
rents under control until we have
normal production flowing from our
factories. our economic stability is
IN peril. But we Americans have
every right to be confident of our
ability to check imitation and to get
production going full blast. During
the war, in spite of the greatest in
natlonary pressures in our history,
we learned that the cost of living
could be kept in line. We must do
as well in time of peace.
Our progress toward that goal has
been delayed by the technical bot
tlenecks that must be expected in
reconverting our gigantic industrial
machine from war to peacetime pro-
duction.
But 1t Is also being delayed, even
more seriously, by doubt, fear and,
In some cases, just plain selfishness.
To break both the technical and
psychological bottlenecks, your ad-
m1nistration announced last month
a new policy concerning wages and
prices. That plan is now going into
operation. am confident that it
Will pave the way for the greatest
outpouring of consumer goods that
the world has ever seen. It gives
all OF us-businessmen, workers and
MISUNDERSTANDING that wage and
price adjustments will be made
quickly when needed. With the
knowledge that all groups in the
country are assured a fair and
equitable return, We can expedite
our vast production Job, and still
hold the line against runaway rents,
soaring prices and prohibitive busi-
ness costs.
National Interests Come First,
Whenever conflicts between selfish
and national interests arise, our
country must come first. We will
never permit our national welfare
to be wrecked upon the rock of spe-
cial privilege. Only by dedicating
ourselves to the principle of national
unity can we keep America strong
and free.
And this same basic principle ap-
plies to the Democratic party. As
N the Nation at large, there is di-
Versity Of opinion among us. but
the fundamental principles Of the
Democratic party bind us together
N unity Of purpose-an infiexible
determination that our party shall
advance to new and greater
In order to accomplish this, we
must keep faith with the American
people. They have given us grave
responsibilities. And we Democrats
must continue to merit the conf
dence Of our people. This admin
stration will not be found wanting
Under our party system, political
responsibility must rest with the
President and with the majority in
The Congress. To meet this re-
.ponsibility. all our members in the
Congress must cooperate whole
neartedly and help carry out our
party platform. Unless this is done.
,he party program is delayed. Il
,annot make too strong my plea for
party unity and party responsibility!
Under our Democratic leadership
ve have set goal Of 100000 new
homes by the end Of 1947 - the
|reatest home construction program