These .were. pew. and disliked programs for the American people, schooled
in a land ‘of surpluses and freedom of action, It iwaa: niewoinit i onary to

face price control and rationing.

“5 For two years. these programs have been carried on, Everyone has
felt their effects, .Programs, While initiated in Washingtom, have .been

carried out. localiy.by volunteers, mt "4

\

The Board Members are volunteers - the Price Panels and their

qssistents wt ousenes of others who have helped,

The Washington office and,.each of the eight Regional, Offices have an
average of less than 5,000 paid employees each, There are over 50,000
‘volunteer ‘board members and over 50,000 other full or part-time volunteers,

Thesé volunteers have made these programs possible, They have given the

lie to Hitler and Tojo that Democracy can't func tfor as a whole in wartime,

This is not the place to discuss the details of Price Control and Ration-
ing, There are differences of opinion on the various details of these pro-

grams - but all thinking people realize the necessity of certain war controls,

Compared to World War I the results’ of price control have been star-
tling, We were in War I less than 19 months, We are now in the 26th month

of War Il,, Already we have used over three times the materials,

Yet ‘pricés, instead of being three times higher than in War I, are only
1/3 as high! Had uncontrolled War I prices prevailed, this war would have
cost your: Government 80 billion dollars more already. Had proportionate
prices prevailed this time the cost to date would have been probably 200

billions more. %

mene. men we. are honomtnd today are a few of he thousands of

volunteers who have made these possible,

They have sacrificed their own time - many have sacrificed their

health, their friends, and their business.

But ‘tits desig shown that a Democracy can function,

They have given us hope that in the difficult’ problems: Wirich lie
ahead, they and other citizens like them will’ successfully handle and

solve ie problems,

They... are proof that our. cara Way" is itis the. dees ten We salute
them for the unselfish work they have performed,.~ the democratic way of
life which they have exemplified,

KREKKEKERK