Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-26
Sugar Manufacturer Says
WeIIbeing of People Now
in Jeopardy.
SAYS PRESENT POLICY
S0CIALISTIC IN TREND
Wants Government to Put End to
Present Destructive Tactics"
of Industry.
BY JOHN r. SINCLAIR.

RudoIph SpreckelS, sugar manufacturer
and banker, thinks the well-being OF
the people of the United States-rich
and poor-is in danger IF the Gov
eminent continues a drifting policy"
Mr.. Spreckles believes in the prin-
ciple of fighting fire with fire. He says
he would like to have the American
Government assume fuller control and
regulation of industry. and thus give
industry chance to live instead of al
lowing it to kin itself by modern cut
throat competi ton.
The present chaotic, haphazard and
unorganized methods OF doing business,
according to Ntr. Spreckels, are doing
more to prorjote Specialization Of our
industries then all the socialistic and
Soviet Propaganda could accomplish
in the next hundred years"
Mr.. Spreckels' position is so unusual
that it is worth a review. Although a
successful banker and industrialist him.
self, he has never been orthodox. He
is hattle% Scared veteran Of many an
industrial and political fight.
Wants u. S.-'tO Take Hand.
In commenting on the present bust
ness chaos, Mr.. Spreckels said:
Il have told you that believe that
matters wi Il become increasingly bad in
the Unitet States unless the Govern
ment of1d ials step in and require in
A'ustrial ,aders to discontinue their
do Structive tactics
asked him what part, In his opin-
ion, the Government should play in
restoring n roSperity.
THE NJ ltional Government should
not ignore the destructive tactics pur-
sued by ma ny industrial concerns in the.
present ped cd of depression and wide
spread uuen lployment," he replied. The
desire on q lie part of some industrial
leaders to 81 cure the lions share of the
greatly deem eased volume OF trade has
resulted i'm demoralizing price wars.
And that is why many commodities are
selling below the cost Of their proSuc-
ton.
Now mark. my words, If this destruc.
tive policy ia permitted to continue.
wages will bek radically reduced, much
vested capital will be destroyed and the
number of una mployed will be greatly
increased. Tina taxes collected by the
Government on corporation and indi-
vidual incomes will be sharply reduced
and make it ned essary for Congress to
increase tax rata :"
do you beiA we the Government
should take a 50 'onger stand than it
has up to date?" asked.
Chaos Is Threatened.
Absolutely! tn need for govern
mental supervision / and direction of all
commercial activitia Is more essential
in the present crisis, than 1t was during
the World War. IA lie situation today
affects not only the u 1illions out OF en-
ployment but threaA ms to plunge the
country into stated chaos War with
a foreign nation insl Tres all. people to
cooperate with thei Z government In
the common cause, whereas internal
conflict of interests hvldeS the people
and embitterS those ' pho suffer priva-
ton. In these circum hanceS, the Gov
eminent is in duty be Gnd to represent
all the people and to prevent discrimi-
nation, destructive con petition and in
justice"
us there a real nee i for a national
plan for industry, Su Pported by the
Governments" I asked.
THE emergency of : the situation
must be apparent to ev Bryone. Yet the
recognized leaders in American public
and private life have ut brought forth
constructive program !. The existing
problems cannot be hlved until and
unless the interests of lau elements in
the country realize tn 1T they are in
terdependent and that all should work
in harmony in order 10 preserve that
which is best in our c. Kilization."
But the Goyernmel ut Is expanding
large sums Of money on non-incone
producing Government projects-does
this not help to meet tie Situation?" I
ventured.
Temporary I.elief.
Billions of public honey expended
on non-inconle produo q lg Government
projects will bring only temporary en-
ployment for a, certain \ lumber OF those
out of work" SIr. Sp reckels replied.
And it will also Alcreu ie taxes to pay
interest on such eSa'eIi litureS and re-
tire the principal. Wioal is most need
ed in the United States is sterilization
of agricultural and othel industries on
a profitable basis. so tia It employment
of all labor may be reaEc nably assured.
Production should be rel ;ulated in ac-
cordance with demand 1 nd fairly al
located between competitu IS, thus over
coming the tendency Of some to sell
below cost in order to II lcrease their
own volume regardless OF the loss to
others"
DO you believe that un der. such a
plan both capital and lah n could be
profitably employed at this time?"
Capital and labor must b probably
employed and American d yricultural
interests must be put on a 81 Dund basis
without delay" was his quick, rejoinder
Otherwise, disastrous corr sequences
may result and undermine | the very
upon which natiN 1nal Sc
curity rests All individual S = lfishness
must be promptly curbed by II he Gov
Why? Because 1t is Z he only
agency having the power to compel
obedience to fair and constructive rules
Of conduct by all elements in then coun-.
try"
I'm word, what you are aftt a is
strong, vigorous and determined Gov
which will bring about indie
pendent coordination of prodl Gtion.
and distributions that right?"
Needs Central Direction.
1.-THE United States needs a Gel tral
directing force to ring
about. coordination, because most In.
iividuals. appear TO be unwilling to Rts.
,ept the leadership Of any one of tn ir
own group. Nor is 1t likely that t. ae
departments will perm IL
members Of any group to agree ups in
obviously economic methods of bu H.
ness conduct even though the Peep! et .
interest would be served thereby.
\ Let us hope that the country n nay
Don come out of the state Of deliri I'M ;.
Fhich seems to have paralyzed int hi.
ent. action"
lRopyright, 1891. by the North Amer ksr
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