Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-07-09
What's
New?
DJ
EdWdrd ].
Duck,
Assistant
Director,
National
Auto-Lne
Division

ninety percent of the clubs,
cafes, and just plain beer
joints are practically empty
most of the time? ?
Goebels say they sold "a
million more bottles of beer
in al than AS. You can bet
it was due to home consump-
ton.
In New York and Holly
wood the ritzy spots have
been closing at fast clip for
quite some time, and the epi-
demic will reach a new peak
shortly, you may be sure.
What has this to do with
US?
Plenty. 1t is indicative of
something. 1t is proof con-
elusive that people just can't
keep up with the cost of liv-
ing. Unless a person is can
idate for Alcoholic Anony-
nous, he just doesn't buy
bread, butter and shoes. But
give the average guy a decent
wage under halfway-decent
price conditions, and he'll en-
JOY getting relief from the
workday pressure by some
means or another. 1t is unden-
liable that the average indus
trial worker likes to sip bot
tie of beer or a highball oc-
casionally.
Of course, it's true that the
cafe owners are driving peo-
pie away by charging too high
price for their liquor, and in
some cases beer and sand
wiches. That's their problem,
and it's not up to the automo-
bile workers representatives
to criticize them. Let them go
broke, if they're dumb enough
to price themselves out of
business. Truth is that most
people just don't have the
kind of dough it costs to spend
a few hours in revelry of any
kind these days, and the few
who have it because they are
to smart to give it away over
the bar when they can get
three-for-t price -of-one by
taking 1t home where they
won't get in a fight or get
talked about.
Now this isn't intended as a
discourse on the merits or
evils of the demon rum, nor as
a criticism against cafe pro-
prietors. Our purpose is to
point out that the average
wage Garner just doesn't have
money left over after buying
food and paying rent, to af-
ford entertainment or luxu-
ries. We might have used
other examples instead of the
mite club. but quick peek
into most any tavern will
prove the case ebyond ques-
ion.
Paper money raises will not
solve our problem. Real wager
can come about only by an in
crease in purchasing power,
and this requires drastic re-
ductions in everyday items,
We shall continue to pound on
this subject until a general
awakening takes place. To do
would be to neglect
our duty as representatives of
the working people.
In the next edition of the
National Auto Lite news
paper, THE UNITED AUTO
MOBILE WORKER, the last
page will present a compari-
son of food prices which
shows clearly how food costs
rose from 800 to 500 percent
In less than eight years. For
example, at the A & p super
market you could buy a
pound OF sirloin steak for zoe,
4 pound of butter for thirty,
-wo dozen oranges for a quar-
.er, and pork roast for IA
,ents a pound. (Sept. 26,
Ia40).
This will give you an idea
Why the people can't afford
20 indulge in luxuries of any
,ort without depriving them
of life's necessities.
Despite the thirteen-cent raise
md all the other raises, the
'ood monopolies have sue
,eeded in lowering the stand
lrd of living for the Ameri-
AN consuming public.
We suggest that If you are
interested in restor-
ng your buying power, you
attend the open meeting of
he Toledo Consumers Co.
operative Association next
Wednesday. II will be held at
he former DeSales College,
s15 Superior Street, at 7;30
}. m, Everyone is welcome,
whether housewife, union
member, educator, clergyman,
public official. or what-have
you! 1t is time to get going on
his most important project,
he establishment of real con-
stores and pro-