The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-08-25
National Topics Interpreted

privileged tn e
sHe Amt Coin other day to
TO Fool Wild EN-" witness the start
Of new stage
In the national drive for economic re-
! covery. 1t is unfortunate there were
only those few persons able to witness
| that which I am convinced Is going
down in history as an event worthy of
/ recollection. It is unfortunate that
more persons were unable to see the
spectacle Of Gen. Hugh S. johnson, the
recovery administrator, in that moment
of determination, his eyes glazing, his
jaws set. It was decisive.
The incident to which l refer was
when General Johnson, at one Of his
regular conferences with newspaper
correspondents, announced that the
time was near, If, indeed, it had not
already arrived when somebody is
going to take one Of those blue eagles
off the window Of some business
house" because that business house
failed to live up to it's pledges in the
code.
"And," General johnson added with
all of the grim determination of the
army officer that he was, when that
happens it is going to be an economic
death sentence. That outfit will be
nearly through"
He leveled a finger at the CORE
spondents that, under the atmosphere
created by his earlier remarks, seemed
for all the world to me like it might
60 off. There was no braggadocio 1t
was a positive declaration, this asser-
tion that some Of those who promised
to do their part would try to cheat.
And the added remark that such
business house was economically SEN
fenced to death when their pet blue
eagle insignia was taken down was
as sternly said as though it had been
an actual sentence Of death from the
lips of jurist. I repeat, it was i'm
pressive.
do not know how effective this
threat will be. No one does, because
it never has been done in peace time
in this country. But make no mistake
about it: the individual who attempts
to -balk General Johnson is going to
have both hands full. To employ a
favorite expression Of colored boy
whom know: "He amt goin' to fool
wild 'em."
General Johnson's remarks on that
occasion illustrate better than other
words available to me the develop
ments thus far in the great campaign
to lift this country out of the economic
depression. Heretofore, and it still con-
tinues, the effort was to get businesses
into line, into agreement to stand unit
ed and work for the common good.
Those agreements among the individ-
ual businesses were, and are, agree
ments with and promises to the Presi-
dent of the United States that each
will make the necessary sacrifices, the
required concessions, that given re-
suit may be attained. Everyone hopes
for better times. That is the end
sought, and the signing of codes, in
Guiding the promises of individuals
who buy things to deal only where the
blue eagle is displayed, was just the
preliminary work.
Now, however, the national recovery
administration has reached the point
where the enterprise must either sue
coed or fail. There are to be no more
soft words. The decisive moment has
come. General Johnson's determine
ton that she amt goin' to fool wild
'em," has placed the entire power of
a sovereign nation behind that which
has been done.
This blue eagle insignia is power
full weapon. 1t may later fall into dis
repute, but, however
PoUerfut that may be, the dis
Weapon play of that poster
now Is having an
enormous effect. For instance, Cen
eral Johnson's attention was called to
the status of public utilities operating
wholly within state, unit unto It.
self and not subject to the jurisdiction
Of the federal government. He re-
piled that the blue eagle knows no
state lines.
"This blue eagle doesn't know any
thing about interstate or intrastate
commerce." he said. "If the recovery
act fails to reach such corporations,
the blue eagle will reach them"
And so the stage is set for the drive
to encourage people to buy now and
to buy only from those displaying the
blue eagle.
Let us look into this program. The
call to buy now represents move to
get people to let loose of money they
have been holding back on account of
uncertainty (if they have had such
money! and thus to provide the dis
tribution agencies such as retail stores
with business and, of course, profit
If the retailer sells, he must buy from
his source, which is the wholesaler or
the jobber, and when they have dis
posed of their stock they must seek
requirements from the manufacturer.
He, in turn, if he is going to remain