Evening star., 1933-10-14
BY SIR PERCIvAL PHILLIPS.

LONDON, October IA (N.AN.A)-
Chicago's attitude to the national re-
covery movement, like that OF SO many
of her sister cities, Is friendly-but
critical.
Her citizens give it lip-service pub
licly, while inclined in private to damn
1t with faint praise"
Nine-tenths of the industries and
business firms are operating under the
codes drawn up under the national re-
covery act, but the results are SO far
short of anticipations that a definite
reaction has set In.
Federal and State relief organizations
show less strain, and Unemployment
figures register an upward movement.
Pay Rolls Are Increased.
Pay rolls have increased here and
there, but many are stationary. al
though hours of labor have been re-
duced.
The packers (who put up and supply
timed goods are trying to find work
for as many o,d hands as possible. but
for every 10 taken on there have been
a thousand applicants.
The authorities of the big depart.
ment stores are inclined to sit tight
on present stocks rather than replenist
them. until they see whittier the dollar
Is tending.
There is very definite resentment
against the methods Of President Roose-
velt's experts for arbitrarily forcing
their theories on the country.
Packers Oppose Move.
Some system Of operation under wage
and labor codes has long been consider.
ed advisable by number Of leading
business men, who had gladly prepared
their own schemes before being ordered
to do so by Washington-only to have
them rejected and others imposed. The
packers code was thrown aside, and
their good faith impugned in q
memorandum sent to the President
which accused the big Five" Of the
industry of exploiting and abusing the
community in the industrys interests
The administration officials demand
access to their books to determine
whether the present rise in prices is
justified. The packers are opposing this
strongly.
Bankers point out that an enormous
volume of credit available through the
Federal Reserve Bank and the Recon.
struction Finance Corporation Is not
being employed. because of a fear oi
imitation.
have also talked to members ol
leading firms, vino denied that the
N. R. A. has been wholly responsible
for the improvement shown recently ir
some lines. One of them said to me:
The stagnation which followed the
first response to the Washington prop
t. fr0v,r fh<
artificially high prices Of Midsummer
They have gone too high. we think, ano
must drop again.
I'VE see the machinery of the N r. A
developing faults everywhere in the
country.
The people are no longer keyed up
The first serious mistake made by Gen
johnson and his staff was to promise
that 100000 unemployed would soor
be absorbed. The country believed 1t
but when fewer than 10000 were
given work a reaction began.
TOO late the administration realized
that it had been raising the hopes oi
the country perilously high. and 1t Is
now trying to rectify the mistake by
counseling patience and fortitude.
Trust President Roosevelt.
1.-THE opinion Is gaining ground that
only President Roosevelt himself car
prevent the collapse Of the N. r. A
campaign.
1T must show more satisfactory re-
suits by the end of the year-a fact
which he undoubtedly realizes-other-
wise Congress, If convinced that he has
lost ground, will intervene, and we shall
be back where we were. The country
still looks to him for salvation"
Other views of the situation have
been given to me in the form Of anec-
dotes
One industrialist said he could say
nothing for publication" but the Sit
uation reminded one Of the old story
of the provincial Judge, who listened
patiently to long-winded argument OF
counsel, involving the review Of laws
passed nearly century ago. Having
led the judge slowly over q period Of
many years, counsel asked, DO you fol-
low me?"
II follow you," said the Judge, but
If I knew the way back, I would take
it,"
'Stin Full Of Hope"
Something of this kind is running
through many minds today. I asked
the aged station master at little Ohio
town, where I changed trains. what he
thought Of the N. r. A. He polished
his glasses as he replied thoughtfully:
II do not know where we are going,
but we are on our way. We are still
full of hope. but for hcw long cannot
tell you"
One interesting development in this
revolution of industry and commerce is
the creation of what is called the '1ei-
sured mass" instead Of the old "leisured
class" A new profession has emerged
for educating people to employ the waste
time they enjoy under the code giving
them shortened working hours.
Experts in Social engineering" are
devising "uplift" schemes, and some COL
leges have already broadened the scope
of education, so as to train students to
utilize their leisure prcfitably by read
ing, physical activities and the creative
arts. One Chicago firm, which an
that it is teaching its employees
how to work in playtime, Is forming
classes, basket ball. tennis and
teams, and even an orchestra
and a brass band.
But what the "leisured masses" want
most at the present time is greater
spending power, when they have paid
the heavy debts incurred during the
long depression.
(Copyright. 1933 BY North American News
paper Alliance: Inc