Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08

The following is the full text of Sen
ator La Follette's radio speech, delivered
last night in the National Radio Forum
arranged by The Washington Star ano
broadcast over a Nationwide hook-ur
of the Columbia Broadcasting System
Congress has adjourned, leaving the
vital problems that confront an over.
whelming majority of the American
people unsolved. These great problems
must be faced and solutions must bt
found, if the great majority of the
people are to achieve that happiness
which can only come from a certainty
of economic security in the present, ano
from assured protection against eco
nomic insecurity in the future.
We have suffered for nearly 10 months
from a severe economic depression. Ir
industrial centers, in country villages
and on farms hundreds of thousands
of our fellow citizens have lacked food
clothing, shelter and warmth. Other
millions have been forced to debase
their standards of living.
Privation exists in the midst OF
plenty The machinery in our factories
is as efficient as it was 13 months ago
There is ample motive power to keep
factory wheels going. Even taking into
account the burdenSome drought which
in extensive agricultural areas, the
country has had available plenty of
food to feed every one and enough raw
materials to supply our industries
While a part of the people have been
hungry, the Farm Board has been I'M
able to dispose Of growing accumula-
ton of wheat.
We have failed to manage our pro-
ductive machinery well enough to sup
ply goods to those who are in need
1t Is an obvious conclusion that such
a situation could not exist If the Ma
ton had effective political and eco
nomic leadership.
Emphasis on Production.
Industrial leaders have concentrated
during the last decade upon enlarge
ment of the means of production. They
have been strikingly successful In what
they have undertaken, but they have
neglected the really basic problem
the problem of enabling consumers to
buy the enlarged output of our in
creaSingly efficient factories and farms
The labor saving machinery responsible
in part for the increase in industrial
productive capacity has thrown large
numbers of workers out of jobs, and left
them without means of buying the goods
produced by the machines. We cannot
continuously expand our productive ma
chinery unless those who need the nee
essaries of life can be given the pur-
chasing power to buy the SURPRISES OF
farm and factory. Those who cannot
earn, cannot buy.
The only solution of our difficulties
advanced by most industrialistS are
mergers and reduction of wages. Their
program means permanent unemploy-
ment and lower purchasing power
Stripped of verbiage, it is a bald pro-
poSal to make the wage Garner pay
the cost of deflation. It means a lower
ed standard of living and degradation
of citizenship.
The depression of 1920-21 resulted in
def1ation of agriculture. It has been
estimated that the policy of making the
farmers bear the brunt of that defiatioH
cost agriculture fifteen billion dollars.
The disastrous effect of the agricultural
def1ation upon our present economic
structure Is still evident in the lowest
farm prices in years and in the inn
paired purchasing power of the farmers.
1t is imperative that we do not make
the mistake in 1881 that we made in
1880. 1t is essential that the agricul-
tural industry be rehabilitated and the
wage standards maintained if the pur-
chasing power of our. people is to be
kept at level where it can consume
the output Of the farm and factory.
Vision In Leadership.
1t has been the custom not to expect
industrialists and business men to look
beyond their own plants and businesses
For the most part they have been con-
tent to seek profits and expand their
plants without regard to the economic
consequences to the Nation. Few Of
them have attempted to display en-
lightened leadership. Every intelligent
effort to solve these problems should
meet with the sympathetic support OF
business men. for IL we find 1t impos-
sible to keep our economic machinery
functioning well, their own profits and
their stockholders will suffer together
with the great masses Of the people.
The President of the United States
as Chief Executive, is charged by the
Constitution with high degree of re-
sponsibility for the country's economic
and political welfare. 1t is his duty tc
advise Congress from time to time o!
''the state of the Union" and to recon-
mend such corrective and remedial
measures as, in his judgment, may be
advisable. But during the past Ii
months the Chief Executive has no'
only failed to discharge this high func-
ton, but has used the authority of his
Office as sanction for misleading state
ments of economic conditions and as q
means of preventing the prompt enact.
ment Of remedial legislation.
This failure Of leadership on the par
of business and financial leaders anC
the Chief Executive has thrown an in
creased burden on the men who are
elected to represent the people of th'
Nation in Congress, and who-if they
are true representatives Of their con-