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Show SCANNING THE WEEK'S NEWS 0 Main Street and the World Truman Says He Knows 1952 Plans; Research Group Urges Higher Taxes CONFIDENT HARRY-Harry S. Truman, appearing "fat and lassy", as the home town folks would put it, was back In Washington after his three-week vacation In Florida for -a round of activities which Included greeting President Vincent Auriol of France, and a speech before Latin-American foreign ministers, meeting in Washington to discuss dis-cuss topics concerning western hemisphere peace and security. But it wasn't confident Harry's speech making and social whirl that made the biggest headlines in the nation's press. It was his statement that he knew whether or not he would seek re-election in 1952 that threw Main Street voters into a surge of speculation. Mr. Truman told them blandly that he had made up his mind and he would tell "all in due time." The statement also caused considerable considera-ble speculation among professional politicians throughout the country, with the majority believing he won't run again. Remembering that Truman is no amateur politician himself, average Main Street voters were about equally divided in their speculation. One government official, however, backed his belief with a public statement. state-ment. Michael J. Galvln, undersecretary of labor, said Truman will run and will be re-elected by 58 per cent of the popular popu-lar vote. CONSUMER SPENDING- " the Committee for Economic Development, a businessmen's private research group, had its way the people of the home Confident Harry towns of the nation would race a $iu tell mil in due time. billion tax increase next year. The grdup recently proposed increasing federal taxes by that amount, Including a federal sales tax. The program was frankly tailored to restraining consumer spending by the sales tax and higher excise taxes, a surtax on individual Incomes, tight restrictions on bank credits, and encouragement of private savings. According to the C.E.D. the small town income group must pay because be-cause "it is these Incomes that provide the largest part of consumption consump-tion expenditures." TWO YEARS OF DRIVE Charles E. Wilson, top man of the administration's ad-ministration's mobilization effort, in his first report said with two more years of drive and unity, the U. S. should be strong enough to give "reasonable safety against aggression" and a high-level civilian economy econo-my at the same time. For the average American In the home towns of the nation, Wilson listed these necessary efforts: (1) Virtually every qualified young man, upon reaching a certain age, will have to serve in the armed forces; (2) everyone will have to pay more taxes; (J) people wm nave 10 wan for some of the things they want to buy new housing and automobiles; (4) there will be dislocations In the economy and some production cutbacks cut-backs and unemployment; (3) the technological and social progress of the nation will be slowed down. Upon one point he was insistent: Inflation In-flation must be stopped and the economy controlled. In this category is farming, on which the Main Street of America directly di-rectly or indirectly depends. He said careful attention must be given to changing the farm-price provisions of the Defense Production Act "in such a way as to accomplish a greater degr.ee of stability in food prices and at the came tune treat farmers equitably in relation to the other elements of the economy." As for present price controls, he said: "There is no doubt that, if price controls bad not been put on, prices would have risen much farther and faster since Moblllier Wilson January than they actually have." Two years of work still ahead. BRANNAN'S PLAN The people of the great midwest farm belt where pondering the abrupt shake-up In the department of agriculture by Secretary Brannan. The speculation began when Brannan suddenly announced the replacement of Ralph S. Trigg and Frank K. Woolley in the powerful production and marketing administration. The people of America's bread basket were wondering if the shake-up shake-up may mark the start of another campaign to sell the nation on the Brannan plan. The average midwest farmer has not been enthusiastic about the secretary's proposed program. NEW SYSTEM On April 30 grocery items comprising more than 60 per cent of the $32 billion spent annually for food in this country will go under rigid margin controls at wholesale and retail levels. Michael V. DISalle, director of price stabilization, who announced the new controls, reported the immediate "impact of these regulations will be to reduce prices," but he warned the Main Street housewife not to expect big reductions. Among the major foods covered In the new regulations are butter, packaged cheese, baby foods, cocoa, breakfast cereals, coffee and tea, flour, flour mixes, canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, jams and Jellies, lard, mayonnaise and salad dressings, shortenings, canned meats and canned fish. Items not covered are fresh milk and cream, fresh meats, bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, sugar, ice lWMH"'lislyiW)yylllsK'aililM cream, soft drinks and candy, along with many less important foods and "specialty" items. JAPANESE TREATY The 14 na- tlons concerned with a peace treaty with Japan have received the American version worked out by Ambassador John Foster Dulles. Generally regarded as a liberal document, docu-ment, the treaty appears in for considerable consider-able difficulties before being accepted by the 14 nations concerned. The Soviet Union has taken the position that it does not even want to discuss the matter. "Chortling" Smith Unexpected British opposition has al ready been encountered with Great Sam . Smith looked aloft Britain wanting a shipping limitation and chortled with happiness written Into the treaty. The U. S. is op-as op-as a downpour of ratn posei to any such clause. drenched his land in San As for Soviet Union the u. S. ha! Antonio's Belgian garden indicated it will negotiate a treaty district. Rain which began on whether the Russians participate or not taster Sunday and continued through Monday was a bless- CLAY RESIGNS Th e resignation ing to the parched land and of Gen. Lucius D. Clay ar special as-plagutd as-plagutd farmers and ranches sistant to Charles E. Wilson, directoj of tie area. of the office of defense mobilization, was viewed by many observers as another move on the government's part to bring organized labor back into the mobilization program. The way is now open for Wilson to name a representative of labor to a post of equal Importance with that of the general to act as liaison between the mobilization director's office and organized labor. |