Sprung Rationing

When Leon Henderson headed the Office of Price Administration, he fought hard against sprung rationing--rationing of a single commodity announced overnight without suitable preparation of the public. Last week, as buyers smarting under the sudden shoe rationing order rushed to buy clothes for fear of an unexpected new order by the Government, the wisdom of Leon Henderson's position became apparent.

In some areas throughout the country, sales of clothes were up 200% or more over 1942 sales in the same period, and the textile market, already short because of huge Army and Lend-Lease buying, was the tightest since the war started. Both Price Administrator Brown and WPB's Donald Nelson issued reassurances that clothes rationing would not be necessary--an assurance contradicted by the fact that a week before Nelson had told the Senate Military Affairs Committee that by fall it might be necessary. Biggest runs were on higher priced, well-made women's clothing--indicating that although the country has huge clothing stocks on hand, people still expect the worst.

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