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Show IQ VOL. XXIII JULY 29, 1950. NO. 40 News and Features of Interest to Residents of Davis County. LAYTON. DAVIS COUNTY, UTAH GG InnJ Immediately upon the heels of the outbreak of war in Korea there ensued a rush upon markets in the United States by panicky buyers intent upon laying away stocks of goods that were hard to get during the last war. Food items, nylon hosiery, automobile tires, and other items were purchased in ridiculous and extraordinary quantities by onrushing consumers, fearful of being caught short. Actually no justification exists for a rush on the market. Aside from the fact that it is a deplorable type of reaction to a national crisis, there is the fact that there is no shortage, nor is there any imminent shortage. of arfy commodity. Despite this fact, the tidal wave of buying over-ra- n the markets, and the result was that some shelves were depleted of their stocks on the retail level. When dealers, unprepared for the rush on their goods, were forced to spread their hands and say "no more left" new force'and impetus was given to the rampant belief that .real shortages existed or were in the offing. The buying spree continued with new and startling vigor. Actually at the present time there is no national shortage of any commodity. The nation's stockpile of critical items is at its highest point in history. As an example, take the case of one, of the items hit hardsugar, est by the fever, of and stocking. buying There is enough sugar stored away in warehouses to provide more .than a hundred pounds for every man, woman and child in the nation. Where shortages have occurred on c jam items, it has been on a local level, a ecause dealers have not been able to s ock fast to keep up with the uni enough Pected volume of sales. It is natural that where a sudden and nantioipated wave of buying .occurs, a e ailer may find his own stocks suddenly semi-hysteric- al . exhausted but there is plenty more where that came from. "Hoarder" is the term that is applied to those people whose reaction to the national emergency has been to rush out and buy up unreasonable quantities of goods, in fear that they are threatened with restrictions. "Hoarder" is an extremely polite and restrained term in these circumstances. This particular species of "patriot" fortunately comprises only a very small minority of the populace but with their selfish acts they can do great harm to the nation's economy. They quake and tremble in the thought that their's may be the great "sacrifice" of doing without a little extra sugar, or a spare pair . , of nylons. It is difficult to understand the type of reasoning that motivates the hoarder in his actions. In his feverish anxiety to avoid a thing, he resorts in haste to the very action that is best calculated to bring on the thing he fears. He is the person who fears shortages and rationing most, yet it is he who is doing most to bring forth its existence. The buying panic speaks ill of the nation's ability to absorb a crisis in its stride. If a groundless rumor, unsupported by fact, can touch off a wave of panic buying; if the mere threat, however untrue, of having to get by with a little less sugar, or fewer nylon hose, can send some people into a mild manifestation of hysteria what then might happen when, and if, the nation is confronted with a more deadly and serious crisis. If the wave of panic buying may be a basis for judging, what degree pf order can be expected should enemy planes begin to bomb our cities. With every person buying only according to his needs, there is little likelihood that rationing will become necessary; should the practice of buying for hoarding purposes continue rationing is already as good as here. The hoarder is only hurting himself, his neighbors and his country. . --- . ' . |