Evening star., 1947-07-26
The Political Mill
Traveller Finds Americans
Worried Over High Prices
State and NatioAal Politics to Be
Swayed by Grumbling
By Gould Lincoln


By Gould Lincoln
CHICAGO-A traveller across the United
States is hit in the eye by facts and factors
which. though economic in character and in
their impress on American life have important
bearings on State and national politics.
First, there is huge employment. Second.
there is great production. Third. wages and
profits are at an all-time high. Ordinarily
these conditions would assure the political
continuance of control. The Democratic ad-
ministration in Washington should be able to
count on reelection in next years contest for
Chief Executive. and probably on regaining
control OF Congress. But that's not the whole
story
The coast-to-coast traveller is also hit in the
eye by high prices everywhere he turns. A hot
dog that used to retail for nickel brings 20
cents, and breakfast of ham and eggs and a
bit of fruit costs more than full-scale dinner
did not so long ago. In addition, the traveller
hears complaints of high taxes, State, local and
Federal all of which lowers the take-home pay
of the worker-particularly the Federal taxes
which are extracted from his pay envelope be-
fore he ever gets it. The same high taxes bite
into the profits of the producers, the middlemen
and the retailers, whether they deal in manu-
factured goods or in agricultural products.
Irritating Shortages.
Nor are these factors all that cause grum-
bling. Despite the great production now under
way there are tremendously irritating short
ages-the most important of which is housing.
From train window, it is possible to see huge
trailer camps and f1imsy structures housing
thousands of ms
is grumbling, too, because of certain shortages
of foods-shortages that help to increase prices.
In many respects traveller finds conditions
easier and travelling less difficult than in 1916
and much better than in 1914 and 1945, when
the war was under way full blast 1t is pos
sble to get three meals day, and good meals,
aboard the trains going across the continent
and up and down the long stretches of the
Pacific Coast-instead of only the breakfast and
dinner which was served in wartmes. Metro
politan hotels take the laundry of their guests
and return it to them the same day, when it
used to require three or four days or even a
week. All these services make life more pleas
ant-for the traveller as we'll as for the resident.
But they cost money-more money.
How is this all to balance up for and against
the Truman administration when it goes to the
polls next year and asks to be continued In
office? The Democrats have for year, nearly.
been trying to place the responsibility for higher
prices on the shoulders of the Republicans. The
Republicans, they assert, killed the OPA and
its price controls However, in view Of the de-
mands made by Democrats in the last Congress
for relief from these controls, and in view
of the votes cast by Democrats for elimination
of controls, it is going to be difficult to make
the charge stick Further, the Democratic ad-
ministration greatly encouraged labor's demand
for increased wages in the last two years, and
the increases in labor costs were bound to bring
increases in prices of finished products. Nor
can the Democrats dodge responsibility for
loans and credits to Europe and for the tre-
mendous exports of food and all kinds of sup
plies to the war devastated peoples of Europe
and Asia.
Argument on Taxes.
More recently the Democratic President Mr..
Truman, single handed prevented material re-
duction in the Federal income taxes. Not once
but twice he vetoed tax reduction bills, which
would have lowered income taxes by from 80 to
10.5 per cent, with the lower income groups re-
ceiving the greatest percentage reductions
The argument advanced by the President was
that it was not the time for tax reduction, nor
the right kind of reduction. The taxpayers,
however, are WIFI ldCI llldI IIley
received no tax reduction this year, and that in
all probability they will have no reduction next
year-because of Mr.. Truman You find this
grippe in Utah and California, in Missouri and
Illinois, as we'll as in Ohio and Pennsylvania
From coast to coast, the traveller finds. the
American people are worried over the reiterated
warnings, which come from high Government
officials, that there is danger of WARMTH Rus
sia-and over the increased demands on the
United States to pour out billions of dollars to
help rehabilitate Europe They are disturbed
particularly at time when they want-and
expected-peace
1t is impossible to forecast exactly what the
economic conditions of this country and the
people will be next year at this time, when the
political campaign will be under way, with the
candidates of both major parties nominated.
But even if they are as favorable as they are
today there is grave doubt that the Democrats
can win in November 1948. If they deteriorate,
Republican victory seems assured