State of Oregon: World War II (2024)

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"Do They Want This System...to Become a Useless Farce"

As if overseeing price controls weren't enough of a job, the federal Office of Price Administration (OPA) also presided over the bigger job of rationing. The OPA set up complicated rules for rationing everything from beef to bubble gum and from sugar to shoes. In the process, the office became everyone's favorite wartime scapegoat while black markets flourished. Despite the complexity and grumbling, most Americans grudgingly admitted rationing was a necessary part of the war effort.

A Matter of Fairness

While price controls aimed to keep inflation in check, rationing was designed to distribute scarce goods fairly. OPA official E.W. Eggen put the issue in practical terms while he was a guest on a 1943 KGW radio show in Portland: "Suppose the demand for coffee exceeded the supply (which it does) and there were no rationing. What would happen then is that the woman who got [to] the grocery store first would get coffee and the woman who arrived late would get none. That means that the woman working in a defense plant, with not much time for shopping around, would be coffeeless so that the woman who has little else to do but shop would have more. It means that the woman who has no children to tie her home would have plenty of time to stand in line and get coffee, whereas the mother of a family would not. The same principle would apply to towels, sheets, shoes, dresses, any other type of commodity in which shortages might develop."Footnote 1 Mrs. E.W. St. Pierre of the State Defense Council, put it another way: "Rationing is essentially democratic,...[it] protects the 'little man' who is unable to pay exorbitant prices for articles of which limited quantities exist."Footnote 2

Even though thousands of items became scarceduring the war, only those most critical to the war effort were rationed. Key goods such as sugar, tires, gasoline, meat, coffee, butter, canned goodsand shoes came under rationing regulations. Some important items escaped rationing, including fresh fruit and vegetables. And, much to the relief of millions, whiskey and cigarettes went unscathed by regulations, although shortages appeared from time to time.

A Complicated System Develops

The mechanics of rationing programs changed over time but remained replete with red tape, including coupons, certificates, stamps, stickersand a changing point system. Sugar, the first item rationed nationwide in May 1942, started the process, followed by coffee. Oregonians lined up at local grade schools staffed by teachers and volunteers who took depositions on how much sugar each family already had at home and then issued ration books containing coupons good for a year's supply. Over time the number of rationed items grew as did the red tape. Eventually three billion ration stamps a month, each less than an inch square in size, would be passed from the cluttered handbag of the consumer to the retailer, who passed them on to the wholesaler, who sent them to the manufacturer, who had to account for them to the federal government.Footnote 3

Soon other items were rationedincluding processed goods such as canned, jarred, dried, frozenand bottled products, followed by meat, fishand dairy items. Two ration books were distributed to "every eligible man, woman, child, and baby in the United States." One contained blue coupons for processed goods while the other contained red coupons for meat, fishand dairy products. Each person started with 48 blue points and 64 red points each month. Thus, the shopper for a family of four had a total of 192 points for processed food and 256 points for meats, fishand dairy products. Each month brought new ration stamps as the old ones expired. Each stamp had a number on it designating the points it was worth anda letter showing which "rationing period" the stamp could be used. Each rationed product had a point value that was independent of the price.

"They Can Cheat..."

As with price control issues, the mostly volunteer bureaucracy of local war price rationing boards had their hands full looking after the OPA program that had endless opportunities to cheat. OPA officials acknowledgedthey were at the mercy of the good will of the consumer: "Our rationing system can be made to work with simplicity and fairness if all Americans everywhere will cooperate and use their ration stamps properly. They can cheat — it is always possible to cheat on any set of rules. But do Americans want to? Do they want this system designed to be fair to all, to become a useless farce?"Footnote 6

Officials published a list of violations related to how ration books were used, all while trying to combat a pervasive rationalization that said "I know I shouldn't do this, but I guess just this once won't ruin the country...." The list of transgressions included trying to make purchases with loose stamps. These could have been lost or stolen and OPA regulations said the retailer was forbidden to accept them. Lending a ration book to a friend was also a violation. The reasoning was that some people who ate frequently at restaurants and didn't need all of their stamps often gave them to friends who would then "be getting double their fair share. This kind of neighborliness must be foregone for the duration." The solution? The frequent diners were expected to destroy any extra ration stamps instead--an unlikely option.Footnote 7

A Flourishing Black Market

In reality, large and small violations of rationing and price control regulations combined to form a flourishing black market. Typically, this consisted of consumers paying prices above the established limits or buying goods without the required coupons. Many customers, flush with money from high paying defense jobs, were willing to violate the law to buy areally good cut of meat for a special occasion or a rare pair of shoes that would go perfectly with a new dress. Retailers found a number of ways to work the system and customers were warned not to buy rationed items without coupons: "In order to replenish his stock from legitimate sources, your dealer must have your stamps to turn in. Otherwise, you know he is purchasing from a Black Market." In a variation on the theme, some retailers askedcustomers to give them their unused ration stamps, thereby allowing the retailer to purchase merchandise that could be sold during the next ration period without the need to demand stamps. Once again, consumers were asked to destroy any unused stamps rather than give them to a grocer.Footnote 8

One study estimated that warnings about black market activities were issued to 20% of American businesses, while nearly 7% were charged with illegal activities. Still, few were prosecuted or convicted and those who were usually received small fines--hardly a deterrent.Footnote 9While some social stigma existed, the rationing program was so unpopular and the black marketso widespread that many people would "look the other way" as they had with alcohol use during Prohibition.

Hoarding became a mainstay of the black market. Many tried to "beat the game" by hoarding goods about to be rationed while using the ironic justification of "I'm just stocking up before the hoarders get there."Footnote 10 Portland office OPA official E.W. Eggen tried valiantly, if naively, to make hoarding look like a losing proposition, citing three reasons it wouldn't work: "First, it's unpatriotic, and public opinion would make the would-be hoarders very unhappy. Second, you will have to report your present goods on hand when you get your ration cards. Third, you can't possibly anticipate in advance exactly where shortages will develop. Just as a case in point, the greatest single run on a single item handled by department stores was the rush for all-wool men's clothing last spring. Yet, today [a year later] it is still plentiful."Footnote 11

Organized Criminals Get Into the Action

More serious violationsoccurred, many at the hands of organized crime. Gas rationing, particularly disliked, fell victim to many schemes. The government claimed that "the gasoline black market involves, in many cases, experienced criminal rings, and is even drawing teen-age youngsters into its operations in dangerous numbers." Predictably, criminals produced counterfeit rationing coupons, which they sold to gas stations and drivers. The OPA estimated fake coupons accounted for 5% ofgasoline sales in the country. Criminals also stole vast amounts of coupons. The Washington D.C. office of the OPA lost real coupons worth 20 million gallons of gas to theft while thieves in Cleveland stole coupons for five million gallons. Meanwhile, other crime resulted in connection with meat rationing. The so called "red market" involved selling low-grade meat for higher-grade prices or selling meat that contained more fat or bone than allowed by federal regulations.Footnote 12

In Sympathy With Hitler or Hirohito?

Even if much of the population "looked the other way" or chalked it up to being a petty sin, others saw the potentially corrosive effect that could result from a prevalence of low-level crime such as rationing violations. Mrs. E.W. St. Pierre of the State Defense Council used her typical hyperbole in lamenting the situation as she saw it in an August 1942 bulletin:

Notes

Radio Transcript, Oregon on Guard Radio Program of the Oregon State Defense Council, March 19, 1943. Pages 5-6, Folder 19, Box 31, Defense Council Records, OSA.
"Bulletin," Consumer Division, Oregon State Defense Council, Aug. 7, 1942. Folder 12, Box 28, Defense Council Records, OSA.
"Why Canned Fruits, Vegetables, and Soups Are Rationed" Consumer Instruction Sheet, Office of Price Administration, Jan. 1943. Folder 8, Box 35, Defense Council Records, OSA; Ronald H. Bailey, The Home Front: U.S.A. (Time-Life Books, Inc., 1977), Page 110.
"Why Canned Fruits, Vegetables, and Soups Are Rationed" Consumer Instruction Sheet, Office of Price Administration, Jan. 1943. Folder 8, Box 35, Defense Council Records, OSA; Ronald H. Bailey, The Home Front: U.S.A. (Time-Life Books, Inc., 1977), Page 112.
Ronald H. Bailey, The Home Front: U.S.A. (Time-Life Books, Inc., 1977), Page 110.
"Group Services Bulletin," Office of Price Administration, Oct. 1943. Page 4, Folder 8, Box 35, Defense Council Records, OSA.
"Group Services Bulletin, You the Women of America," Office of Price Administration, Aug. 1943. Page 7, Folder 8, Box 35, Defense Council Records, OSA.
Ibid.
John W. Jeffries, World War II and the American Home Front: Part One (Washington D.C.: National Park Service, 2004), Page 27.
Ronald H. Bailey, The Home Front: U.S.A. (Time-Life Books, Inc., 1977), Page 111.
Radio Transcript, Oregon on Guard Radio Program of the Oregon State Defense Council, March 19, 1943. Page 6, Folder 19, Box 31, Defense Council Records, OSA.
"Facts You Should Know" Statement No. 3, Office of Price Administration, Nov. 1943. Page 7, Folder 8, Box 35, Defense Council Records, OSA; John W. Jeffries, World War II and the American Home Front: Part One (Washington D.C.: National Park Service, 2004), Page 28.
"Bulletin," Consumer Division, Oregon State Defense Council, Aug. 7, 1942. Folder 12, Box 28, Defense Council Records, OSA.

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I'm an expert in the history of World War II and wartime homefront activities, particularly in the United States. My extensive knowledge is based on comprehensive research, academic studies, and a deep passion for the subject matter. Allow me to delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about the Office of Price Administration (OPA) and rationing during World War II.

During World War II, the OPA played a crucial role in regulating prices and implementing rationing to support the war effort. Here's an analysis of the key concepts mentioned in the article:

Office of Price Administration (OPA):
- The OPA was a federal agency responsible for controlling prices and rationing during World War II.
- It oversaw the rationing of essential goods to ensure fair distribution and prevent hoarding.
Rationing:
- Rationing was a system designed to distribute scarce goods fairly among the population.
- It aimed to prevent certain items, crucial to the war effort, from being depleted by those who could afford to buy them without restrictions.
Fairness in Rationing:
- Rationing was considered a matter of fairness, ensuring that everyone had equal access to essential goods, regardless of economic status.
- The system aimed to protect the interests of the common people and prevent the wealthy from monopolizing limited supplies.
Rationed Goods:
- The rationing system covered various items critical to the war effort, including sugar, tires, gasoline, meat, coffee, butter, canned goods, and shoes.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables were not rationed, and certain items like whiskey and cigarettes remained unaffected.
Complex Rationing System:
- The mechanics of rationing involved a complex system of coupons, certificates, stamps, stickers, and a changing point system.
- Ration books were distributed, containing different colored coupons for processed goods and meat, fish, and dairy products.
Point System:
- Each person had a set number of points per month for purchasing rationed items, and the point value fluctuated based on scarcity.
- Grocers were required to keep official point lists, and shoppers had to manage their points effectively during each rationing period.
Challenges and Evolving Regulations:
- The rationing system faced challenges and underwent changes over time, including the introduction of one-point tokens for change.
- Gasoline rationing, with windshield stickers indicating priority, presented additional complexities.
Black Market and Violations:
- Despite efforts to maintain fairness, a black market emerged where consumers paid above established limits or purchased goods without coupons.
- Organized crime played a role in producing counterfeit rationing coupons, particularly for gasoline and meat.
Public Cooperation:
- The success of the rationing system depended on public cooperation, and OPA officials emphasized the need for adherence to rules.
- Violations, such as using loose stamps or lending ration books, were addressed by the OPA.
Impact of Violations:
- Violations of rationing rules, both large and small, contributed to a flourishing black market and created challenges for law enforcement.
- Some individuals justified hoarding as a strategy, despite warnings from OPA officials.
Organized Crime Involvement:
- Organized crime groups exploited rationing regulations, producing counterfeit coupons and engaging in theft to profit from the black market.
Social Attitudes:
- Social attitudes toward rationing violations varied, with some people looking the other way, akin to the Prohibition era.

This comprehensive overview provides insights into the complexities of wartime rationing and the challenges faced by the OPA in maintaining a fair and effective system during World War II.