Evening star., 1932-03-15

country, we are seeking to conserve and
transmit to our children the most
fundamental ideals of America"
Same View by Senator.
Senator La Follette's address:
IT agree with what Phil has said OF
the underlying causes OF our national
economic breakdown and the problems
which it creates for the people and their
Government. I hope I may be par
doned for expressing pride in him, not
only because he is my brother, but be-
cause of the courage and ability which
he and the Progressives In Wisconsin
are dealing with the problems that be-
set us.
THE conflicting theories Of govern
ment and economics which are being
| put to the test are better understood
when we survey the conditions existing
throughout the country.
Industrial production Is down As per
cent from the 1929 level. Freight car
loadings have dropped 38 per cent;
manufacturing employment Is 33H3 per
cent lower; construction is down so per
cent: residential building Is of 30 per
cent.
give hundred and fifty great indus
trial corporations had a net income in
Q net income of approximately 81, ,100,-
| 100000.
1T is conservatively estimated that
100000 men and women are trudging
the streets looking for work and unable
! to find it. At least another 1000, 900
are working part time and for greatly
reduced wages.
"Six million farmers in the United
States have been fighting losing eco
nomic battle ever since 1920. The in
dustrial and financial depression of the
last three years has served merely to
| intensity the defiation which agricul-
ture has experienced for the last IL
years.
1.-The wage and salary loss of the un-
employed, it is estimated, reaches the
staggering total of $40, 900, 900 900. The
purchasing power of $4,000, 900 people
dependent upon wages and of 10000
900 people dependent upon agriculture
has been withdrawn from the market.
This Is one of the prime reasons why
the depression, now in its third Winter.
has extended without recovery from
1929 to 1882.
Nom n-Tnterference Policy.
"For years preceding this depression
the Federal Government pursued pol
icy of non-interference, looking on with
complacency while there grew UP sys-
TEN Of irresponsible and speculative
control Of industry and finance. This
resulted in the concentration of wealth
in the hands Of relatively small group.
While this system was being created,
in Wisconsin and at Washington Pro-
gressives fought, as they are fighting
today, to prevent domination and con-
troll of our economic life by concen-
trated wealth.
"As one corrective step I have pro-
posed a national economic council, to
be composed of men thoroughly trained
and equipped to consider problems OF
labor, agriculture, industry, finance,
transportation and scientific manage
ment as related to changes which will
continue to come in the development
of our highly mechanical system OF
production. 1t is not proposed in the
bill now pending that the council shall
have power to coerce any industry by
curtailing production, fixing prices or
by any similar device.
But such q council could do much
by intelligent economic planning to
guard against violent swings In the
business cycle.
"The Federal Government may be
unable to prevent depressions, but when
depression Is OBVIOUSLY approaching IL
is the duty of those in authority at
Washington to put up storm signals.
And when a depression Is here the Fed
eral Government, equally with the cities
and States, should share the burden Of
saving human victims of economic
calamities and governmental mistakes.
up to this time not dollar of Fed
eral funds has been made available for
this purpose to supplement funds raised
for the most part by taxation on real
estate in the several States. A bfparti-
san combination in the Senate last
month defeated the bill to assist cities,
counties and States in meeting the
problem Of unemployment relief. I still
believe that Congress will not adjourn
without passing such legislation.
Unless the Federal Government does
its share In this emergency, the social
progress we have made in raising the
standard of living in this country will
be lost. For years to come we shall be
paying the price in the breakdown of
health, sturted and undernourished
children and disintegration of the
moral fiber of millions Of our citizens