Evening star., 1933-08-27
n. r. A. NEARS CRUCIAL
TEST in CODE DRIVE
Observers Expect Clearer Judgment
OH Fate of Program to Crystalline
After Labor Day.
BY JOHN SNURE.

Hugh S. johnson as commander
Is expected to come early in Septem-
Der Washington observers believe that
1t will not be long after Labor day be-
fore a reasonably accurate judgment
can be formed as to whether the ma
tional recovery program is going to
succeed.
While vast amount of work has al
ready been done by Gen. johnson and
his staff, it has been almost entirely
of preliminary nature. There has
been as yet no fair trial of the indus
trial control plan. nor of the other
leading factors in the administration
program for recovery. The month OF
August, under the strategy which Gen.
johnson has in mind, is regarded as a
period of intensive preparation for the
drive to shorten hours. increase wages
and bring about a new deal in industry,
Of which orderly planning in the public
interest is the primary feature.
The last week in August, the week
before Labor day. is looked on in the
N. r. A. organization as marking the
climax Of the movement to get the Ma
tion organized. community by communi
ty for the purpose of lining up en-
ployers. employees and the consuming
public in support of Unemployment and
the recovery effort. After Labor day, it
is the purpose of the Government to
put increasing pressure on those who
either refuse to subscribe to the theories
of the N. r. A. advocates. or who. hav-
ing availed themselves of the insignia
and benefits of the Blue Eagle, fail to
live up to its spirit
Ready to Apply Pressure.
Gen. johnson has repeatedly indi-
Gated he did not look on what he has
in mind as a boycott but there is no
doubt it will be just as effective. AS far
as possible the prestige and force of the
Government is to be put back of an
attempt to have the public refuse to
patronize concerns that are not COM
plying with the blanket code Of the
administration or some one of the per-
manent or modified codes which the
recovery administration has sanctioned.
The Federal Trade Commission and the
Department Of Justice are to be utilized
Tor the punishment of those who refuse
TO enlist in the Blue Eagle legions. Of
tenders who have gained the insignia
and then have violated it will expose
themselves to attack from Washington
through methods OF publicity.
In fact. what Gen. Johnson is relying
on to mobilize the whole Nation under
the colors of the Blue Eagle is that most
potCilG VI 1OICtS. puDllC opinion. II
was public opinion. ably organized. that
gave the Government such tremendous
backing for its plans in the dark days
OF 1917 and 1918. Gen. johnson be-
lieves that in the present emergency
pubic opinion can be mustered and or
ganlzed In much the same manner and
that after all. this. rather than the ma
chlnery OF Government. will bring about
and maintain country wide compliance
with the N. r. A. codes
Appeals to Women.
Since he recognizes that public opin-
Ion must be modified and that it is the
only real compelling force that can
make the N. R. A. success. Gen
johnson is appealing especially to the
women of America to back up the re-
covery campaign He is having a great
Speaking program organized with a view
TO arouSing the housewives of the land
to buy only from stores and establish
ments that display the Blue Eagle. The
recent st. Louis speech of Gen. John
son indicated the Importance OF the
women Of the land as a factor in the
success of the recovery plan For in
stance, he said
There is one sure reason for success
This is a move to bring happiness back
to homes. and homes are the peculiar
province of our wives and sisters and
mothers. 1t is they who have borne
the brunt Of this four-year blight on
oecency in living. And they are the
purchasing agents Of America. It is
said that women do 80 per cent of the
buying. 1t is more accurate to say
they do or in some measure control
100 per cent Of our buying. This whole
venture is in the hands of our women
l. is they who can put the Blue Eagle
on everything that stands or moves in
trade or commerce"
Asks Organized Buying.
Gen. Johnson declared the women
should insist on a display of the Blue
Eagle by every supplier of their home
necessities, but that. going beyond this.
they should help organize their COM
munities and help to marshal the
great army of woman buyers in this
country behind the Blue Eagle"
Up to this time in the discussion
OF the N. r. A. in the press and other
wise. more attention has been given to
the details Of codes, to hearings of rep
resentatives of various industries on
codes and to details of the blanket code
tran to the organization plans Never
theleSS, the work of organizing the coun-
try by communities to bring about en-
forcement has been proceeding steadily
for weeks and by the end of this month,
/. is expected, the task will have been.
IN large measure. completed The daily
and weekly reports to Gen. JohnsonS
office show the progress which is being
made in this direction. Such reports
make 1t possible. in the case of COM
munlties which are slow, to bring pres
hoUo
other machinery set d B.
On the whole. the evidence which is
coming into N. r. A. headquarters and
to the White House makes it clear that
industrial control. as conceived by Gen
johnson, along with his advisers, has
made remarkable headway The re-
sponse to the Blue Eagle campaign has
been striking and of proportions that
many regarded as inconceivable before
1t was begun. 1t is not without reason
that Gen. Johnson has repeatedly pre-
dlcted millions of unemployed would be
back on pay rolls by Labor day
He has put this number at 5000 900.
figure which is regarded in some well
informed quarters as excessive. although
it is evident the present tendency Is to
augment largely the number of the en-
ployed. A figure which has lately been
current as to the number of employees
to be benefited by the codes is 10. .00O, 900
This. Of course, does not mean the
number Of men and women who are to
be added to pay rolls. but the aggregate
OF those to be helped by shortened hours
or increased pay, or both.
Many Obstacles Remain.
But. taking the most favorable and
optimistic calculations as well founded
it cannot be concealed that there are
still great obstacles in the way of N.
r. A. assurance of success. The high
est hurdles are yet to be taken.
Whether those obstacles are going to
be Surmounted, no one can foretell.
Perhaps the strongest inpelling force
Is to be found in the fact that the pub
lie az a whnle is anYin.ls To xee the