WASHINGTON
WEEKLY COLUMN
All la Same Boat
Rep. Robert Ramsay (D., W.
Va.) points out the peopla are
behind the demands of trad* un
ionists for • democratic defense
program.
"Labor ... is not asking too
much,” Ramsay told the House
March 20. "I find its program
not very much different than the
demands of aU the people, judg
ing from the letters I receive from
sny constituents.
• '‘Labor, in the field of waffS
control, wants a formula which
will assure economic justice. That
is pretty much what my contin
ents want. Labor wants a more
realistic price control program
' rather than one full of loopholes.
p . . That is just about what my
constituents want.
"Labor wants a tax program
that is more equitable than the
monstrosity we passed in Decem
ber which falsely carries the label
of excess profits tax. Labor wants
loopholes plugged in our tax bills.
That is just about what my con
stituents demanded. . . .
“I have referred to the things
labor asks and the thing my con
stituents ask. I doubt if my Con
stituency is much different from
any other.”
Stopping Speculators
Housing Expediter Tighe Woods
mats Congress to damp down on
hooting speculators.
Woods said March 20 the Gov
ernment must be able to eontrd
rents in new defense or mUftaiy
areas just as soon as a new camp
or plant is announced.
Here’s what’s happening now:
As soon as the Government says
it is going to build a camp or
plant, rent gougers and housing
gamblers get set for a killing.
Servicemen and defense workers
are stabbed in the back.
Rents shoot op and house prices
increase before a single service
man or defense worker is on the
scene.
Byrd “Economy”
The machine controlled by Sen.
Harry Byrd (D.) runs state and
local government in Virginia
Byrd is a loud shouter for “econ
omy."
Last year the number of state
and local government employes in
Virginia increased by 3,800—or
5 per cent. The government pay
rolls rose by $13.6 million—or
more than 8 per cent.
What’s that about “economy,"
Senator?
Ireland Adopts Government
Boosing Program
\ Socialism has come to Ireland.
“Impossible!” you say? Read
on—
The Irish Government is now
sponsoring -~M housing program
similar to the middle-income plan
in the United States.
And everybody knows middle
income housing is Socialistic. The
National Association of Real Es
tate Boards (NAREB), the Na
tional Association of Home Build
ers (NAHB), Sen. Kenneth Wher
ry <R., Nebr). and other stand
patters say so.
Whoever thought the Irish
would turn Socialistic?
SMALL BUSINES8 GETS
RUNAROUND FROM WILSON
“White small firms have been
left out in the cold, the giant
corporations have been sapping
up all the gravy in defense sub
sidies. Already the big com
panies, such as U. S. Steel, have
been granted more than $2 bil
lion in tax subsidies for defense
expansion.
“Yet at the same time applica
tions from small firms and new
comers ar» gathering dust in -gov
ernment offices . . . The truth is
that small business is getting a
worse deal than labor from Mo
bilisation Boas Charlie WUsoa ”
It.
Organized Labor’s Program for Action
Sixteen million trade unionists
ere united behind e six-point pro
gram to brine democracy to the
defense program.
The six-point plan of action
ires adopted unanimously by 704
representatives of the AFL, CIO
and Railroad Brotherhoods at I
meeting March 1 in Washington
called by the United Labor Pol*
icy Committee.
The program stresses the im
portant fact that unorganised, as
well as organised workers, house
wives, fanners, small business
men and pensioned old folks must
work together to get a fair de
fense program.
The most important objective
is Congressional passage of a
workable Defense Production Act.
The present law—cornerstone of
the defense program—ends June
The plan of action calls for the
formation of local consumer com
mittees, wide distribution of vot
in* records of Congressmen on de
fense bids, visits to Senators end
Representatives, meetings through
out the country. end wide use of
ell methods of publicity.
Here Is the six-point program:
1. Mist co-operation in sap
pert ef this anti-inflation pro
gram from all community organi
sations which support oar demo
cratic Institutions and are devoted
to the anti-totalitarian objectives
ef Asasrlca’s defense program.
2. Promote public meetings, ra
I dio and television programs,
speeches before community groups
and other appropriate means of
alerting every citizen to the need
for improved defense mobilisation
and anti-inflation policios.
3. Forward letters, telegrams,
petitions and memorials to Pres
ident Truman and Members of
Congress in support of the prin
ciple of equal sacrifice and fair
play in the mobilisation program.
Our first objective is the improve
meat of the Defense Production
Act.
4. Help establish loeal consum
er committee* through which the
people amp he fully adriaed of
the developments in Washington,
violations of price regulations
may be publicised, and to co
operate with public-spirited mer
chants for local anti-inflation pro
grams.
6. Encourage authorised dele
gations from labor and other
group# to seek appointments with
Senators and Congressmen during
the forthcoming Easter recess to
sat forth the problems of the con
sumer.
6: Secure the widest publicity
through the labor press and, if
necessary, through the purchase
of local radio time and newspaper
space, for the voting record of
Senators and Congressmen on
major bills affecting tbe fight
against inflation and for a better
defense mobilization program.
BI6 PACKERS, FOOD,
KIVESTMSIT, STEEL
CZARS RUN DEFENSE
Wherever you look in the de
fense program you find Big Busi
nessmen seated behind the im
portant desks. Take the Office
of Priee Stabilization (OPS). It
runs the phony price control pro
gram.
;.^On March 18 the OPS an
nounced appointment of tS men
to top positions in the agency.
Who are they?
Their names aren’t important,
'but their background is. Almost
1 all of them are from, the ranks
jof big business. Here are some
| of the companies these men
: worked for:
Mosinee Paper Hills, Head
Sales Co. Inc., North Pacific Hill
I packers), Premier Foods, H. J.
! Heinz Co., Green Giant Co. (food
| processors), Youngstown Steel A
' Alloy Co., Manhattan Shirt Co.,
j International Shoe Co., Hearn’s
! Department Stores Inc., Ameri
| can Telephone A Telegraph Co.,
1 Commercial Investment Trust
i Corp, and Pittsburgh Consolidated
Coal Co.
The list shows Big Business is
well represented in the OPS.
But what about the people? They
have quite a stake in price con
Itrol.
FACTORY WORKERS
REAL PROGRESS
1. In 1939: The average wage
! was $24.88 per straight time 40*;
j hour week. *
2. Living coat rises have added
[$19.78 weekly to worker’s living j
costs.
3. Taxes have increased by
$8.42 weekly for unmarried work*
er.
4. At end of 1950: Worker
needed $53.08 weekly to live as
well as in 1939.
5. Productivity: Normal rise
adds $6.89 per week at 2 1-4 per
cent yer year (11 years).
6. To keep pace with progress
requires $59.97 weekly purchasing
power.
7. Workers actual wage, end
of I960, $58.80 per straight time,
40-hour week.
8. DEFICIT: $1.17 per week,
$60.84 per year.
DEFENSE LOSES
“With the rejection by the
House of Representatives of con
' sideration of the Administration’s
defense housing bill the national
defense program is set back .in its
effort to assure decent housing
I and community facilities in areas
affected by the developments of
defense production facilities and
military installations . . .-—The
Now York times, March 18.
Wilson Draws Huge Pension
WASHINGTON. — Record* of
the Securities and Exchange Com
mission show that Charles A.
Wilson, the nations’ defense mo
bilization czar, is drawing a pen
sion of $66,000 a year from Gen
eral Electric Company, which he
headed as president until he re
tired to take his present post.
As Defense Mobilisation Ad
ililfstrator' with full and final
terials sad manpower, ha draws
1M,IWI annual salary.
Mr. Wilson told a news confer
ence on March 27 (the first time
he had met the press in more
than three months since he be
came the top U. S. official) that:
*T am from big business re
signed. When I came into gov
ernment I became a bureaucrat.
I ceased to be big business."
CIO Secretary-Treasurer James
B. Carey, who is also president
of the CIO International Union
of Electrical Workers, said in a
letter to The Washington Eve ■
ning Star that:
“You mention Mr. Wilson's
personal financial sacrifice in com
ing to Washington. It should be
made known to your readers that
in leaving GE, Mr. Wilson takes'
with him a life pension amount
ing to *«e.000 a year. He will
also get his government salary
of $22,500 a year. In addition
he will receive $$$,000 • year in
dividends, from hft GS holdings.
Hi will have V*capital gain of
more than $1$0,000 as a result
of a 37 per cent increase in the
value of his GE stock in the last
year. The actual truth, therefore,
is that Mr. Wilson will certainty
not have to engage in any per
sonal austerity in his govern
ment post.”
Mr. Wilson originally insisted
that any labor union leader ap
pointed to be his adviser must
resign his presidency.
These facts are published so
that Mr.. Wilson’s claims may be
seen in their true light and the
people can determine who is serv
ing who.
WILSON BRINGS IN
MININCf LOBBYIST
AS HIRED ADVISER
A lobbyist for foreign mining
interests is one of Defense Czar
Charles E. Wilson’s trusted ad
visers. Drew Pearson’s Washing
ton Merry-Go-Round column,
March 20 reports:
“It is almost unbelievable, but
Mobiliasr Charles Wilson is get
tin r his advice on minerals from
a lobbyist for foreign mining in
terests,
“Wilson's top mining consult-1
ant is Fred Searls, Jr., who used
to lobby on Capitol Hill against
domestic mining programs but
now does his lobbying from the
inside. ... He had been hired to
advise what the government’s
policy should be on securing min
erals for defense.
“Yet, at the same time, he is
president of Newmont Mining Co.,
which has a rich stake in South
African mines. This is another
shocking example of how private
interests have infiltrated into the
defense agencies to grind their
own axes.’’
FIGHT FOR ALL
“This is not the fight for labor
altae—this is the struggle of all
the American people. . . .
"We invite every civic and con
sumer group to unite with or
ganized labor in every community
to make the protest of free men
heard in Washington. . . .
“United, the plain people of
America are mightier than any
:RPP ef profiteers or polticians.”
From the Declaration of Prnici
pies issued March 21 by repre
■ilstim of Id r^r* trade un»
Farmers Worse Off
Now Than In 1945
A report by the Senate Agricul
ture Committee shows that farm
ers aren’t getting rich.
“As a result of rapid increases
in production costs since 1945.
farm operator’s net farm income
in 1950 was no higher than in
1945 before the general post-war
increase in living costs and price
levels”, says the report issued
March SI.
“In terms of dollars with a
1945 purchasing power equivalent,
farmers in 1950 had a net income
-of only $8.5 billion as compared
with $12.8 billion live years earli
er. The net income of farm ope
rators in 1950 would buy only
two-thirds as much goods used
by farm families for living pur
poses as in 1945.”
In other words, farmers are
much worse off today than in
1945. '
Since 1947, the income of the
average person living on a farm
has gone down 12 per cent, and
the income of the average non
farm person has gone up 12 per
cent.
Th e Bureau of Agricultural
Economies reported March 23
farmers’ average income dropped
from $922 to $804 between 1947
and 1950. But average income
for non-farmer* increased from
$1,383 to $1,548.
Which proves again the high
cost of food is due to bigger
profits of packers wholesalers
processors.
Declare y
buying
hj
▼
All Wage Earners Have
Bis Stake In Stabilization
Mrs. Chut Gaia# Woodhoue.
Forster Member of Congrats.
Cites Need For Understanding
And Bsppsrt Of Ondrols.
WASHINGTON—“The wives sad
other members of the families ot
America’s wage cantors, at all
levels, have a very real stoke in
price controls and their * success
ful operation,” Mrs. Chase Going
Woodhouse, former Congress wo
man from Connecticut, declared
here in an interview secured for
use of labor publications. MIt
would,” she continued, “be of mu
tual help if all of them would
try sincerely better to understand
and actively to support the price,
regulations so necessary for our
mutual well being.”
Mrs. Woodhouse has an im
pressive record of service in edu
cation and in the Held of econom
ics, along with two terms as a
Member of Congress, and is now
a consultant in the Office of Price
Stabilisation, ESA. Mrs. Wood
louse explained further:
“Research reveals that wives
spend an average of 55 per cent
of the family income, children are
sent out for about 11 per cent
of the family purchases, while
the husband and wife together
make about 14 per cent of tho
family expenditures.
“The need for commodity pnee
stabilisation must he better un
derstood by women. They should
know that run-away prises have
Just the same effect as 'a cut in
the family Income and they re
sult in a lowering of living stand
ards. They should aise remember
that high prices mega fewer
bombs, fewer planes, for the de
fense dollar.
“Hera is where each woman
can help lick inflation. Every
time she refuses to purchase out
of-line items, refuses to pay more
than fair ceiling prices, every
time she encourages and co-ope
rates with her local merchants
in helping to keep prices within
hounds, she is, forwarding tb* de
fense program, she is support
ing the national effort to control
inflation and to stabilize our econ
omy, and at the same time she
is helping to make tier own fam
ily dollar buy more.
“In short, by paying only legiti
mate prices, she is serving her
own best interests snd, even more
important, she is rendering ef
fective sid to our nation in our
great task of making ourselves
strong enough to maintain peace.”
60ING DOWII |
BUYING POWER
"The buying power of the av
erage worker has fallen tremen
dously while business has made
record profits.
“Wages have not increased tnj
proportion to runaway prices . . . I
For the average housewife, feed-;
ing her family today is ji heart
breaking and discouraging under
taking."
In those words, Rep. Isidore
Dollinger (D., N. Y.) told the
House February 28 what’s wrong
with the defense program.
“Within a few days after the
Korean war began, food prices
were increased. Yhey continued
to spiral upward," Dollinger said.
"There was no justification for
pueh increases. Shelves and stor
age places were piled high with
every commodity. The price in
creases did not stem from a sud
den shortage of consumer goods
but from speculation and an op
portunity to profiteer.
"Instead of rolling back prices
to at least the beginning of hos
tilities, which would have been
the only fair and equitable ruling,
prices were froseu at top levels."
Local 42, Bakery and Confec
tionery Workers, Atlanta, Ga.,
has obtained a pay increase for
800 employes of Gordon Foods.
FREE ENTERPRISE?
WELL, SOMETIMES
The Readers’ Digest and H»
Saturday Evening Port wart the
government to help them.
Honest! These fearless cham
pions of free enterprise are on
their knees crying for more Gov
ernment subsidies. These oppo
nents of Government aid for the
people are yelling because their
own subsdies are in danger.
The business manager of The
Readers’ Digest and the board
chairman of the board of The
Saturday Evening Post testified
on March 16 before the House
Post Office and Civil Service
Committee, wliich is considering
raising postal rates.
In the past 10 years, btg maga
zines like the Digest and the Post
have received $2 billion in Gov
u’nment subsidies. That’s because
they get such iow .postal rates.
Now the Government wants to
end subsidies to the rich maga
zines that can pay, their own way
easily.
So the Digest and the Post are
squealing: We want our subsidy!
We want our subsidy!
PRESS StLElifABOUt
FASCIST MOVEMENT
“The public press has dons a
magnificent job expooing^aa<|
against communism in this coun
try.
“However, the press has been
strangely silent on tne recent
rise of the Fascist movement and
the efforts made by strong influ
ential people to make fascism the
only alternative for communism
as occurred in both Germany and
Italy.
“It is important that we not
only crush communism but that
we also ke«P an eye on and crush
the other devastating enemy ap
proaching us from the other di
rection in the form of fascism.”
—Rep. Wright batman (D., Tex.)
in a House speech on March 7.
PORK TO COME UNDER
SPECIFIC DOLLARS
AND CENTS CONTROLS
WASHINGTON. — The Office
of Price Stabilization, ESA, has
let it be known that specific dol
lars and cents ceiling prices are
to be established soon on dressed
hogs, pork and pork products. ,
Although prices of live hogs
and other live animals were not
covered ip the genera] price
freeze, ceiling prices on live hogs
are also expected. Prices of
dressed hogs, pork and pork prod
ucts have been frozen at the high
est level between December IB, j
T960, and January 25, 1951.
OPS officials have already dis- j
cussed terms of a tentative pric-1
ing regulation with forty repre- j
resentatives of all branches of(
the industry. Written opinions1
and proposals submitted up to
March 15 are also being consid
ered.
It is stated the new price reg
ulation covering hogs, pork and
pork products is designed to per
mit the industry to return as
nearly as possible to its tradi
tion pricing practices and still
maintain rigid price controls.
MANUFACTURERS’ PRICE
REGULATION COMING
WASHINGTON—A representa
tive group of industrialists re
sponded to an invitation of Mi
chael V. DiSalle, Director of Price
Stabilization, to meet in Wash
ington with OPS officials to dis
cuss a proposed manufacturers’
price regulation. Mr. DiSalle said
that, through the new regulation,
OPS hopes to aid industries
which avoided price increases in
the national interest and to re
quire reductions by those who
have advanced prices unnecessar
ily.
Headlines la Daily Newspaper*
Back Up United Labor’s Charges
Tkat Defense Setup Brings Na
tionwide Chaos.
WASHINGTON. — Headlines
in the daily newspapers back op
in foil the United Labor Policy
Committee charges that the De
fense Mobilization program at
presently run has brought nation
wide chaos.
An a change from statements
of the United Labor Committee,
the story is unfolded by quota
tions from newspapers ' which
generally are minimizing or blank
ing ont .^organised labor's fight
for workable mobilisation setup.
“President Truman was warned
[by a top adviser that it will bo
impossible to control wages ef
| fectively until the government
takes strong steps to curb rising
prices end profits.” — James Y.
Newton, Washington, D. C., Star,
March 28.
“In some sources it was said
that the Entire stabilisation pro
! gram was in peril of collapse;
the situation calls for drastic
| measures, they said.”—Joseph A.
i Loftus, New York Times, March
28.
“Cost of Living Rises 1.3 Pet,
to Record High."—Headline The
Chicago Tribune, March 24.
“The government announced
that the cost of living jumped
U P*r cant between January IS
and February 15 to another all
time high. The increase brought
retail price levels to S per cent
above those immediately before
the Korean war started fat Juno
of last year and to 9:S per cent
#• » m* M°- Ths gsvern
£ent impose^ its S>-pries
fmte January M. The rise
moans that under a contract ne
gotiated March 1 at ths Whits
House, and praised by President
Truman himself, 1,000,000 rail
road shop and terminal workers
are to get a 6-cents-an-hour pay
raise which would pierce ths
government’s own 10 per cent
ceiling on pay increases.” Ray
mond J. Blair, New York Herald
Tribune, March 24.
“. ... But Johnson Is Oppos
ed.”—Wall Street JouraaL
“Enforcement of government
controls during the present
emergency has been much more
gentle than tha policy followed
during World War II, a survey
by the Journal of Commerce indi
eates- Tbs policy of leniency has
been carried to the point where
some businessmen believe that
non-compliance is increasing rap
idly, particularly in the materials
.controls issued by the National
Production Authority and in tha
price controls issued by the Of
fice of Price Stabilization. Thus
far, 6 months after the controls
begin to be issued in Washington,
prosecution is virtually nil.”
Sidney Fish, New York Journal
of Commerce, March 26.
REIT BILL HELPFUL
OILY UNTIL JUNE 30
The House passed a weak rent
control extension hill March If
which will protect tenants in con*
trolled areas only until. June 30.
The Senate approved the measure
March 18.
But the extension isn't strong
enough and the real estate lobby
already is Aghting every effort to
defeat a strong rent bill after
June 30.
Congressional action will keep
controls on where they already
exist. But towns and cities cap
take them off between now and
June 30. There will not be con
trols where they do not now ex
ist. So if controls are lifted in
any city, they cannot be put back
on—no matter how high rents
climb.
Speeding The Parting Gaeat •
You’ve got a pretty place,
Frank,” said the departing guest.
“But it looks a bit bare yet."
“Oh.” explained Frank, “it's
because the trees are rather
| young. I hope they’ll I
to a good sise before
again.