The Nome nugget., 1947-05-02
Now Is The Time
Friday. May 2. ls47

THIS COUNTRIES chances of escaping a ot strikes in big industries have improved remarkably n the last few days.
 Thanks to the CIO Electrical Workers barganej agreements with General Motors and Westinghouse and l947 Wagerise pattern fixed at about 15 cent an hour The CIO Steel Workers have settled with U S. Steel on much the basis. The CIO Auto Workers probably will agree to something like that.
 Of course, there's always John L. Lewis. Nobo3, knows what he may try to do when the coal mines SC back private July But if the Republicans n Congress will stop their transparent Scheming to put President Truman in political hole they send him
 fair labor bill containing justification for veto anC giving the government adequate authority to deal with Mr. Lewis
 Uncertainty to the wage future has been obsta- ce to price cuts manufactured goods Much of ths uncertainty is being cleared away. Industrial wages going up but not far CIO talked of driving them
 The wage rises will lower the present high level of profits In many though, think there still will be margin for price reductions, and hope these WI quickly.
 If major strikes avoided-and that steel agreement nsures steady supply of see-a lot of in dustries maintain hgh-volume production as firm basis for reasonable profits.
 It's true that farm and food prices have risen much further than manufacturing prices and have much to do with the cost of living which hit high March 15
 But it's also true that contrary to the usual trend this time of year. food prices dropped slightly between mdMarch and md-April Their tendency to fall would be encouraged by industrial price reductions.
 Some industries, and concerns within industries, honestly unable to cut prices The large profits evenly distributed But everybody who possibly let any natonary gas out of the price balloon had better do that fast before it bursts in the stratosphere and dumps cargo and passengers with dull sckening thud
 Every company should be it's judge of whether it afford to lover prices and how much However the almost unanimous economic warnings that the coun- try is in peril of painful recession suggest that the real question facing great many companies is whether they afford not to lower prices now.
 THE NEWBURYPORT IDEA-the plan of merchants in small Massachusetts city to cut all prices 10 percent for 10 days-iS spreading the country.
 Wisely managed, it do much good in the present situation. Merchants who find that lower prices mean sales at a sacrifice of immediate profits will put pressure obbers and wholesalers to reduce prices Jobbers and wholesalers will put more pressure of manufacturers All along the line there will be keener realization that prices must down. just for 10 days but to stay if trade is to continue brisk and fac tories stay busy.
 But the price-cuttng must be genuine Taking $2 shirt that marked up to 435 and offering $3 99 as great example of compliance with President Tru- mans appeal for lower prices-that isn't going help Customers getting pretty smart these days More and of them paying attention to values learn ing to recognize real bargains, shopping around and making comparisons. Don't try to kid them.