Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-06-15

anyCnlng from Lnat? NOT q thing
Here they are again giving Us
the same old song and dance
Take off price controls and every
thing will be just dandy.
Wrong Before, Wrong Now.
These people were wrong be-
fore. and they are wrong now
In fact, the danger of price
increases today is much worse
than it was in 1916 and the situa-
ton Is much different. What
ever difference of opinion there
may have been about the need
for controls then, there is nc
possible doubt that controls are
needed now.
Now, we are in great mo-
bilization effort requiring 20 pei
cent of our national production
for defense. Now, our men are
fighting in Korea. This is nc
time to yield to selfish interests
who scorn equality of sacrifice
Fortunately, most businessmen
especially small businessmen
do not agree with the NAM. Most
OF them know that their future
prosperity and the prosperity Of
the country depend upon good
strong price controls at this time
Small businessmen. like work
ing people and consumers, know
what this country is up against
They know we must have con-
trolls that bite down hard If we
are to succeed.
Your Government is getting
ready to met the inf1ationary wave
that is coming this fall
The Office of Price Stabi'iza-
ton has put controls on the prices
Of most commodities. It Is now
working out dollar and cents cell.
ings to pe posted in retail stores
Posters are going UP at every
meat counter showing the lega.
price for beef. The OPS will soon
have lot more food prices posted
in grocery stores. and more ano
more goods of other kinds are
going to be tagged with the legal
price.
All along the line. we are work
ing to tighten UP our controls sys-
tenn and get it in shape to meet
the big test ahead. That's wha.
Charlie Wilson and Eric john
ston and Mike Disable and the
others are doing. And l am keep
ing after them to keep on i'm
proving their operations.
Are Getting Results.
We are getting results now
good results. You can buy work
shoes in Philadelphia now fol
the same or less than you hao
to pay last January, when the
price freeze was ordered You car
buy cotton house dresses in Los
Angeles Tor less than they COS,
five months ago. You can buy
those little Jars of oaby food In
Boston or Chicago for less than
they cost last winter. s.
This is not perfect-a lot OF
these prices were high to start
Without 1t is real progress.
All of this will be wasted if we
don't get the right kind of contro,
law from the Congress. II we gel
no law. or if we get the wrong kline
of law. we will not be able to keer
prices from running wild.
suppose a lot of people think
it's sure thing that the Congress
will agree to the right kind of law
But we just can't take that fol
granted. After the representative:
of the administration testified Ii
favor of a good, strong law, thu
congressional committees heare
some 1874 witnesses. representing
all sorts of private organizations
And do you know how many Of
them came out for the bill? Only
20. All the rest were against thu
whole anti-inf1ation program, Of
they opposed very important part.
of it, or they were trying to get
special exemptions for themselves
Burdens Put ON All.
At a time like this, when mer
are fighting and dying for ou
country and the peace of tn,
world, it is wrong for any of us tt
place private interests above TIT
national interest.
Price controls put some burden.