Show W Wash Washington as h- h I Ington I n t n Whirligig Wh- Wh Ir B 1919 g g By Correspondent Telegrams Telegram's Ray Tucker Washington WASHINGTON John L. L Lewis warmed the hearts of his worshipers with untold tales of his political prowess as they sat around United Mine Mie Workers Workers' Workers Workers' Work Work- Workers Workers' ers' ers campfires here But the saga which sent the delegates home chanting his cheers related related re re- related re- re how he wrung important concessions from those princes of high politics and finance Franklin D. D Roosevelt and J.P. J J. P. P p During the captive mine negotiations negotiations negotiations last year John L. L L erupted erupt erupt- ed with the angry assertion that thata a certain financier in New York could settle the dispute overnight overnight overnight over over- night if he would give orders to his puppets in U. U S. S Steel Few days later Myron C C. Taylor and Lewis shut themselves in a Washington hotel room for an day all-day confab They talked over many questions besides the points at issue in the strike including in including in- in including relations involving unions unions unions un un- un- un ions and capi capital al and govern govern- mentI ment I will cooperate with the president said Mr Lewis in effect but only on an open and aboveboard basis I will nevertie never nevertie nevertie tie our organization to to hisor his hisor hisor or any other administration I will not stand for his trying to undermine labor labor-as labor as an independent independent independent dent organization nor for his using Sidney Hillman to disrupt us I will work with Mr Roosevelt Roosevelt Roosevelt Roose Roose- velt as a free spokesman of millions millions millions mil mil- lions of American workingmen Mr Taylor then contacted F D R according to the Lewis version and the three thre subsequently subsequently subsequently met metat at the White House Basing his action on the Lewis pledge the president offered the post of secretary of labor to his erstwhile friend but momentary enemy The latter declined the honor because having backed Wendell Willkie he felt that acceptance acceptance acceptance ac ac- ac- ac would place him in the embarrassing position of selling seIling out for a cabinet job He recommended recommended recommended mended the appointment of Philip Murray C CIO I 0 president as a means of giving official recognition to organized toilers Murray however refused to ac ac- ac- ac While the aye average rage American t housewife and small dealer face priorities curtailments shortages shortages shortages short short- ages and rationing of every-day every items the sum of manufacturing ing wholesale and retail inventories inventories inventories tories has reached an time all-time peak of Supplies on the shelves in warehouses or orIn orin orin In the processing stage were never more more mor bountiful than inthis inthis in inthis this hour of apparent scarcity The new total represents an increase of over the January 1941 figure and more than we had when the Japs struck at Pearl Harbor The excess is distributed as follows follows' Manufacturing 16 16 worth wholesale retail Higher prices account for only third one-third of the addition addi addi- tion In several fields the bulge includes articles which the consumer consumer con con- sumer has to fight to obtain The store of household appliances appliances appliances ances for instance is percent per percent percent cent greater than a year ago Hosiery and home furniture in increases increases in- in increases creases amounted to 87 and 47 per cent respectively Even such things as dresses coats suits furs and shoes are more plentiful by from 6 to 20 per cent Three e peculiar factors alarm the experts The largest growth was found in raw materials and goods The first indicates that advance buying was motivated by a desire to escape es escape es- es escape cape price ceilings The second suggests that factories have rushed partial fabrication of stocks so that they cannot be seized for other purposes by Uncle Uncle Uncle Un Un- cle Sam Still a third disturbing feature is the advantage which chains and big companies have enjoyed in the race In numerous numerous numerous numer numer- ous lines especially drugs and clothing the financially stronger corporations have built up twice and three times as great a reserve reserve re reserve re- re serve as the little fellows Price Administrator Leon Leo L e o n Henderson attacked this problem problem problem lem several weeks ago in a series of confidential conferences with his closest advisers But their plan to check further inventory building and to redistribute existing existing ex ex- surpluses provoked such protest that it was hurriedly scrapped by Donald M. M Nelson Privately deprecating the drastic scheme the war production chairman explained explained ex ex- explained that the up check-up and reallocation would be confined to materials necessary in the making of weapons weapon Their fresh study convinces the economists that they must appeal to the White House and have Nelson overruled They contend that the labor machinery money and transportation facilities needed to support idle goods should be converted to the war effort They also point out that releasing the excessive stocks into consumption channels would act as a e. safeguard against inflation in in- in Either solution will place Mr Roosevelt in a difficult position The politicians will demand that he oppose any project which threatens shortages and will argue for Mr Nelsons Nelson's milder arrangement In a sense they will have weighty considerations on their side But the out all-out warn that our program program program pro pro- pro pro- gram of military expansion cannot cannot cannot can can- not be fulfilled on an Ian inventory- inventory bigger tha than ever ever And the customers will holler no matter what the president decides and does Jim Preston has been the grand old man on Capitol Hill for more than 40 years As superintendent superintendent su su- of the senate press gallery he was the friend of con con- congressmen presidents the confidant of congressmen con con- gressmen and the patron of cub reporters W When h hen e n Hollywood wanted advice on Mr Smith Goes to Washington it was he they took to the studios Now another James Preston Prestone Is making trouble for our Jim Somebody is using the name as nom de plume over a column in the clipsheet issued by the National Na Na- National Association of More than slightly re reactionary reactionary re- re it assails the senate and house the administration the new dealers labor etc Copyright 1942 McClure Syndicate |