Evening star., 1933-10-08
ROOSEVELT SCORES
n. R. A. OBJECTIONS
Asks "UnseIfish Patriotism"
in Address Defeating
Memorial to Gompers.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt yesterday pub
licly asSailed the N. r. A. "objectors"
who are handicapping his recovery pro-
gram. and asserted this was no time
Ito seek special privilege, undue advan-
tage or personal gain, because We face
today a crisis
Before entering a conference at the
White House to urge steel manufac-
turerS to see if they could not settle the
soft coal strike in their mine in West
ern Pennsylvania. Mr.. Roosevelt told
the American Federation Of Labor that
"unselfish patriotism" must come first
in the economic rehabilitation effort.
His address was delivered in dedicat-
ing a huge bronze memorial to Samuel
Gompers. who served 38 years as presi-
dent of the federation before he died in
Mexico in 1924.
The President said there were hot
heads" in workers ranks who think
that results can be obtained by noise
and violence" and some employers who
prefer government by privileged class
instead of by majority rule"
Big Majority Declared Loyal.
But it is clear" he asserted. that
the sum of the objectors on both sides
cuts a very small figure in the total Of
employers and employees alike, men and
women. who are going along whole
heartedly in the war against depreS-
sion"
He said the federation which had
halted its annual convention here for
the dedication, must settle its juriSdic-
tional and other disputes If the recoV-
cry program was to go ahead full speed
Mr. Roosevelt added the 'overwhelm-
ing ma jorty' of workers and employers
were cooperating in the share-work
drive. But he likened the few recall
citrants to kicking horses that would
have to be lassoed and put in corral y
Praising the trade union organization
work of Gompers. the President empha-
sized the progress of the last % years
bv saying he and Gompers. Senator
Wagner of New York and Alfred E.
Smith were labeled dangerous raoi-
Gals" when they obtained passage OF
bill in the New York Legislature
limiting the work of women in industry
to 81 hours week.
Large Crowd Gathers.
The great crowd gathered around the
monument at Tenth street and Massa-
chusetts avenue, applauded this state
ment. as we'll as the assertion that
these early struggles for social better
ment," largely initiated by Gompers.
have met with growing success with
every passing year"
Il like to think" the President con-
tinued, that Samuel Gompers is to-
day, and at this moment aware of the
fact that through the quick and prac-
tical action of the national recovery
act, child labor in the United States
has at last come to an end"
The Executive said President William
Green and his associates in the fedora
ton were working with my administra-
tion toward the attainment of our ma
tional purposes.
In speech after the President had
Green pledged the co-opera-
ton of the federation to the Govern
ment and said it was no exaggeration
to say that many of Gompers' ideas
ARE embodied in principle in the ma
tional recovery act" He added:
The principles of collective bargain
ing, of cooperation, increased purchas-
ing power through high wages, the lin
itation of the hours of employment
suitable to the manufacturing and eco
nomic needs of industry. though re-
garded as revolutionary when first pro-
claimed during the early period of Mr.
Gompers' career. are now accepted as
fixed part Of our governmental policies"