The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-08-04
National Topics Interpreted

stirring days Of 1917, leaders in the
nation are calling for
RdlLying patriotic support.
eor M,,r LUx. speakers are abroad
in the land with a
call for united effort, posters flap from
the walls Of public places, all in
new war. But this war being conduct
ed by our government and its people is
a war to release the country from the
bondage of an economic enemy, a
final gigantic drive to restore people
to the plane where happiness can re-
place restitution, where steady en-
ployment can replace idle time and
where profits will appear instead of
bankruptcy.
The government, through President
Roosevelt, is calling upon all and
sundry to stand together again just
as firmly as they did just about this
time of the summer of 1917. Instead
of the draft Of men, however, the gov
eminent is asking only that employers
of labor, those who manufacture
things to sell. those who engage in
business Of any kind, conform to GER
tain rules. Those who buy the things
that are produced by labor are asked
to help in the cause by refusing to
deal with the individuals who do not
cooperate and agree to the rules from
which the President expects so much
good to come.
And so we have national code, q
national agreement, a set of rules Of
conduct. While the farm relief legis-
lation is getting under way, and it Is
well under way, that farm prices may
be increased, the government has at
tackled the other phase of the prob
lem, namely, relief for the millions
whose lot it is to live and work In
the cities. For them he is promising
shorter hours Of work, retention, If
not an actual increase. in pay. OF
the manufacturers and the wholesalers
and the retailers. the government is
asking that prices be not raised be-
yond the necessities resulting from
increased cost Of raw materials and
wages. In other words, the govern
ment has asked that there be no
profiteering, just as 1t demanded dur
ing the World war that some consid-
Grafton be given the consumer.
No one can predict with what sue
cess this new drive will be attended.
It is new in character. 1t is described
BY Gen. Hugh S. Johnson, the ma
tional recovery administrator. as an
appeal to the conscience and opinion
of the people and to their good in
stincts. quote the general further:
"After four years Of hopeless and
seemingly helpless suffering and mac
ton it would be unforgiveable not to
open to the country the chance it now
has under this law to unite once more
and overcome and maybe to defeat
the depression. This is test of pa
triotism. 1t is the time to demonstrate
the faith of our fathers and our be-
lief in ourselves.
ave are a people disciplined by
democracy to lf-control-sufficien
to unite our purchasing power-our
labor power-0ur management power
to carry out this great national COW
enant with vigor, with determination,
but with the calm composure and fair
play which always mark the American
way"
And true to the thought, the philos.
ophy, of that last sentence, the govern.
ment is seeking to obtain the co-opera-
ton of all of the people who must
make concessions by having them
make agreements with the President
voluntarily. The President said when
he signed the historical document that
there would be no coercion. 1t is the
American way.
In brief, the government is propos-
ing that actual agreements will be
signed by the thou
The sands who are being
Nof;onaIC Code asked to make con-
cessions. The mail
carriers have delivered blanks to all
Of them. Each blank carries state
ment of fourteen points to which the
employer Of labor. the manufacturer
of commodities for trade, the retailer
or other dealer, Is being asked to sub
scribe. They constitute the national
CODE 1t is to be effective from August
1 to December 81. By that time, it is
hoped that individual industries of all
kinds will have had an opportunity to
work out codes, acceptable to General
Johnson, that will serve as rules of
principles and practice for that par
ticular industry, whether it be for the
makers of glue. molders of pottery or
the manufacturer in the heavy in
dustry such as steel. The national
code is stop-gap, bridge for the
recovery machinery to use while
permanent passage way to prosperity
is being erected on firm foundation.
Industry must pledge itself not to
circumvent the agreement in any way.
Labor must pledge itself to avoid dis
turbances resulting from its use of
the strike as weapon. State boards
are being set up-they have been
named in most states-to help out the
national administration. Child labor