Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1951-12-14
THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
SHAPES lip

the presidency as experienced observers
have seen since the early Roosevelt cam
palgnS," writes Doris FleeSOn in one of her
Washington columns. "The senator's atti-
tude shows that he believes what his man.
ayers contend: That he is far out in front of
ms rivals for the Republican nomination and
that the Truman administration, largely be-
cause of the tax scandals, is in real trouble"
The Ohio sOlOns' faith in his own destiny,
at least so far as gaining the nomination is
concerned, is certainly justified. No other
candidate, actual or potential, has anything
remotely resembling Tafts efficient and DO
htlcally-aStute organization. No one else has
done so much solid groundwork, or has made
himself so clear on the major issues which
will dominate the next campaign. And no
one else has so formidable an array of back
ers who will control state delegations at the
COP convention.
That General Eisenhower has been a dis
appointment to his followers, goes without
saying. To quote Miss FleesOn again, $50
far the Eisenhower campaign is not off the
ground; perhaps it cannot get off until the
general makes some overt move to encour-
age his supporters. Right now it has pro-
duced more personal publicity for it's man.
ayers than anything else; something is lack
ing to give it momentum and bite" The gen
erals position grows more and more euui-
vocal as time goes on. He has steadfastly
refused to commit himself politically, which
is certainly understandable in the light of his
present position. Yet his statements have
been so phrased that his hackers still have
logical grounds to hope that he will be avail
able for the race after all. In any event, it
is clear that he cannot wait much longer if
ne wants to be summoned; before much more
time passes Taft could be in control of
enough votes to make an Eisenhower NOM
inatiOn unlikely.
The formal entry of Governor Warren
into the tuSSle was not unexpected The gov
ernOr has been a tremendous vote-getter in
his own State of Californian the last cam
paign he won so handily as to make it vir-
tually no contest. He is a middle of the road
er = what some call a "New Deal Republi-
can" He is strongly opposed to Taft, and
his declaration is in part based on "StOp
Taft" philosophy. At the same time, he
could very well be tapped for the candidacy
II the Taft and Eisenhower forces deadlock
ed and prevented the nomination of either
man. This isn't likely now, but it's far cry
from impossible
Once more, reports are making the
rounds that President Truman has definitely
decided not to run, and will so state around
the first of the year. His choice for the Dem
Ocratic nomination, the reports continue is
is that many influential Democrats are very
cold to the VinsOn idea. Another fly is that
Justice VinSOn may be Well-satisfied with his
lifetime position as chief of the highest tri-
bunal in the land, and so may not want to
take the unpredctable political wars.
5000
CAN'T BE DONE
The Defense Production Act contains an
amendment, known as the HerlOng Amend
ment, which is all important to American
retailing. This provision guarantees a per-
centage margin approach to price control
In other words, under it the retailer is al
lowed to add a moderate percentage to his
costs to determine the price at which an
article may be sold, which is the traditional
way of doing business.
Certain price control officials have been
bitter In their opposition to the HerlOng
Amendment. They want to get rid of it and
replace it with a system whereby inhexible
dollar-and-centS ceilings would be imposed
upon all retailers. That means that they
wish the power to force retailers to absorb
wholesale and other costs which are totally
beyond retailing's control.
According to retail experts, the effect
OF this would be SCATTERING 1t would pose
the most serious sort of survival problem
for the chains and other big stOres-and it
would undoubtedly force great many small
stores to close. In all probability, the ulti-
mate result would be to make it legally OBJ
hgatOry for retailers to sell commodities at
no profit, and perhaps at loss. For, in our
competitive economy, retailing'S profit is
very small--a penny to four or five pennies
on each dollar received in sales, depending
on the character of goods involved. There
is simply no margin to make possible the
absorption OF further increases in cOmmod-
ity costs or other expense.
The consumer naturally wants the low
prices-but also wants and needs progress
siVe, highly efficient retailing. In the long
run, ne would suffer most of all if our fine
retailing system were disrupted
HOLD YOUR HATS, BOYS!
President Trumans budget message is
pretty certain to ask higher taxes without
substantial cutbacks in government spend
ing. This despite the fact that Federal spend
ing this fiscal year is at the record peace
time rate of at least ST. SOC. 100000