Milford chronicle., 1951-05-18
WE MUST KEEP COMPETITION

WE MUST KEEP COMPETITION
The scare buying which was so much in
the headlines some months ago has vanished
almost completely. And the fact is that 1t
made no sense in the first place. This cOun-
try has not encountered shortages OF any
thing essential. Consumer goods output, de-
snite the demands so far made by the defense
program, is running well ahead of last year.
Even at the peak which is now planned Tor
the armament effort military needs Will take
less than 20 per cent of our total production
This is a tribute to the strength and stature
of American enterprise in every line OF en-
deavor Our production potential now is
greater than it ever was. Our factories can
speW forth goods of all kinds in an almost
limitless stream. And production does not
tell the whole story The consumer does not
90 to a factory or a farm to buy what he
needs, save in rare cases. Someone must pro-
vide a bridge between the producer and the
user. That bridge is retailing. 1t has grown
just as productive enterprise has grown. 1t
has improved, just as productive industry
has improved. 1t serves us better thar ever.
There is one fact we must not forget. 1t is
simply this: the high efficiency of our fac
tories and our stores is the result of cOmpe-
titiOn If one producer charges more for
similar product than another producer, he
Immediately risks loss of orders. If one
retailer arbitrarily charges more for an item
than the retailer down the street, he will lose
customers. There is a grave danger that
we will have so much government cOntrol
that this competitive factor will be under
mined. That would be economic tragedy for
America.
EARS STOPPED UP WITH PORK
Memories are short, and facts and figures
are easily forgotten. The chances are that
most Americans have only haZy idea of
just how much the cost of their government
has risen in the.past 10 years. So some fig
ures compiled by the National Small Busi-
ness Association should come as a high-volt-
age shock.
In 1910, it cost little more than S75,-
100000 to run the Department OF Commerce
lin 1850 the bill was 1858, 100000.
In 1910, the Department of the Interior
lived on budget Of about $1,385,O0O. Last
years bill was close to $56S, 100000.
In 1940 the State Department worried
along on less than $21OOO 600. In 1850 it
managed to get rid of more than 1851, 100000.
In 1910, the taxpayers supported the De-
partment of Labor to the tune of some ,S1S,-
100000. Last year the assessment was $257,-
100000.
In 1910, it must be remembered, the late
President Roosevelt had been in Office for
two terms, and the government had been
greatly expanded Yet now the cost of rum
ming the major departments make the 1910
budgets look like peanuts
If the American people have any political
intelligence or any sense of their own self
interest, they will demand an end to the
colossal extravaganza of the Federal govern
ment that is threatening to bankrupt this
country. The demand must grow in volume
and insistence until it will finally be heard by
those legislators and bureaucrats who hith-
erto have had their ears stopped up with
pork.
NEED FOR GOVERNMENT ECONOMY
The need for government. economy is
clear. Our tremendous productive machine,
running at full tilt, is still incapable Of meet
ing al the demands that are placed upon it..
We shall all have to do without things we
want, things to which we feel entitled and
for which we would be willing to pay
High taxes and credit controls are inn
posed to compel rs, as individuals and busi-
nesses, to restrain our expenditures; we are
exhorted to recognize our responsibility as
citizens to save. it is intOlerable that the
Federal government, which next year will
spend about One-fOurth of the national in
come, should not share in the general belt
tlghtenings (federal state and local ex-
penditures viii account for about One-third
of the national incOme!)
IN fact the governments responsibility
is greater than even its large percentage
share would indicate. The government is In
8 position Of leadership. The extent to which
lt demonstrates seif-restraint viii have a
great influence upon the willingnesses Of the
public to accept the taxes and other restraints
necessary to our economic and political
strength.