The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-03
BY DANIEL M. KIDNEY
Times staff Correspondent

FRENCH LICK, Ind, June s.
Electrified by dynamic discussion
of such dynamite" topics as power
control, unemployment, government
ownership of utilities and prohibi-
ton, Governors attending their
twenty-third annual conference here s..
today let down a bit for their final
session.
Today'S program includes tour
of the Indiana limestone quarries
and the final event-the state din
ner-tonight at the French Lick
Springs hotel.
The stage was set for the climax
Of the conference Tuesday after
noon, when Governor Albert c.
Ritchie of Maryland took the gavel,
following a fiery public utilities
speech by Governor Clifford Pinchot
Of Pennsylvania.
Flags Utility Ring
Pinchot had f1ayed the great pub
lie utilities combinations and urged
national control as the only check
to high rates.
Ritchie commented on the oppo-
sition that had arisen to Pinchots
talk on public utilities, since the
printed program had assigned him
a reforestatic,l topic.
IF I were to offer any criticism
Of these annual conferences, ii
would be that we strive too hard to
keep controversial subjects out of
our discussions" Governor Richie
declared.
Turns to Unemployment
1.-THE states are the governmental
laboratories Of the nation. They are
the agencies for political trial and
experiment. Yet. we, the representa-
tives of the states, refrain from de-
batting those questions which are the
realities of our national life.
For instance, if any one thing
is clear, it is that the people are be-
coming tired of the old conjure
words in American politics as such
as 'inaiienible rights and founding
fathers and are concerned instead
about getting or keeping their jobs.
you can not have from five to
eight million people wanting work
and unable to get it without know
ing that this constitutes a challenge
to our social order, and that it is
the strongest argument for Com
munism unless it is solved.
II agree with those who believe
that government should keep it's
hands out of business and off bust
ness, except so far as may be neces-
sary TO assure fair and honest prac-
tees and an equal chance for all,
but the dollars which are the profits
of industry, which build up its re-
serves and its surplus and its I'M
divided profits, are not made alone
by the brains and the enterprise of
those who own or direct American
business. They are no less due to
the toll and the sweat Of the work
ing men.
Labor Needs Help
IF industry enjoys these profits
and creates these accumulationS
when times are good, in order to
have that to fall back on for in
terest and dividend and upkeep
when times are hard, should it not
make some provisions also for its
labor instead of turning labor adrift
when adversely comes, and bidding
it look to citizens relief committees
for the necessities Of life?
This is the fundamental eco
nonic question in America 1t is
reflected in every state. Every Gov
ernor here is concerned about it
and alarmed about it.
at means far more to the people
than any subject or than all the
subjects we possibly could discuss.
Yet it has no place on our program.
The effort to change American
law from its age-old purpose Of
protecting life, liberty, and property
into a scheme Of social control to
regulate the personal conduct of us
all, and the fast vanishing right Of
the sovereign states to be supreme
in their local affairs, are other mod
ern tendencies Of government which
vitality affects everybody.
Perhaps the outstanding iIlustra-
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