Evening star., 1933-07-25
The Covenant.

Inc VOVcUdut.
President Roosevelt last night de-
hvered an appeal to the American people
10 sign a common covenant" with him
and to sign it in the name Of patrt-
otism and humanity" Millions OF his
countrymen and countrywomen heard
the appeal and millions Of them Will
answer 1t. They will answer it in the
name of both humanity and patriotism.
They will answer it because his proposal
for q common drive to wipe out the
depression by the creation of greater
purchasing power among the people ap-
peals to their common sense as well as
to their hearts. The time has come
when selfish desire for gain must give
way to the desire for gain for all. II 1t
does not, then there will be gain for
none. The President has warned those
who, because of short vision which goes
not beyond their own pocketbooks, may
be inclined to balk or to delay
The Nation, the President has said,
Unless steps are taken to remedy the
situation, the country may be all
broke The program of the President,
as explained by him in remarkably
convincing address over the radio last
night, Is clear enough. To use his own
words, 1t is:
II all employers will act together to
shorten hours and raise wages we can
put people back to work. No employer
will suffer. because the relative level
of competitive cost will advance by the
same amount for ALL But If any con-
siderable group should lag or shirk, this
great opportunity will pass us by and
we will go into another desperate Win
ter. This must not happen.
This must not happen. If through
selfshness a considerable number Of
employers, or a considerable number of
workers, or both. should fail now to
join In this forward movement, en-
ployer and worker alike may enter upon
q period Of suffering to which the years
Of the depression may appear like
prosperity.
President Roosevelt Is not casting
overheard the so-called economic laws.
He is not abandoning the rule Of sup
ply and demand. What he Is doing is
to make 1t as reasonably certain as
possible that the demand shall keep
pace with the supply. The demand,
here, means the ability to purchase the
commodities Of the farm and factory,
to have food enough and clothes enough
and shelter enough for all the people.
His plan, as exemplified by the blanket
code Of fair competition to which he
has asked the employers Of the country
to subscribe, calls for wider distribu-
ton Of earnings. 1t is perfectly sim
pie proposition to demonstrate that
with the great mass Of earnings in the
hands Of comparatively few people
earnings from factory and mill and
mine and all kinds of business-the
ability Of the people as a whole to con-
sumo the products Of the country is
greatly reduced It is equally easy
to demonstrate that with the mass of
earnings In the hands Of a great ma
jority Of the people the problem Of
consumption becomes a simple one.
Already since the Inauguration Of the
Industrial recovery program a miracle
has come about, to which the President
referred last night. Child labor has
been thrown overheard. This has been
done because the employers in one
single industry, the cotton textile indus
try, agreed that 1t should go. And
once that agreement was made all other
industries have been willing to follow
suit. The country will rub its eyes and
wonder, if it was all as simple as that,
why such steps had not been taken be-
fore. Here Is a great and tangible gain
to the American people at the very out
set of the Presidents experiment.
The President has said that he cam
not guarantee the success of this Nation
wide plan. He added quickly: But the
people Of this country can guarantee its
success" The people owe it to them
selves to give the plan thorough trial.
Employer and worker both must do
their share. Many Of the workers are
themselves employers in turn. And
when increased purchasing power is de-
veloped 1t must be used. Undoubtedly
1t will be used. The President and his
advisers have adopted plan. an in
sigma, to keep the members Of the
recovery army informed. The time is
here to close up the ranks and keep
step.