The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-07-26


ONCE the act was passed, the
~ work of organizing and codi-
flying began. The assumption was
that a better organized industry.
which by code had eliminated
wasteful competitive costs, would
be able to pay higher wages for
shorter hours.
This assumption has not been
abandoned. but the experience of
the last thirty days has shown. as
the President put 1t. that 1T takes
good deal of organizing and a
great many hearings and many
months to get these codes perfect
ed and signed
1t could not have been other
wise Formulation of new body OF
industrial law can not be done in
few weeks.
The discovery that it could not be
done made it impossible to give en-
ployers those advantages of COM
bination quickly enough to induce
them. for economic reasons alone,
TO shorten hours and raise wages
Hence the present appeal to their
patriotism.
They are asked, in effect, TO dis
count the future advantage of COM
bination and to shorten hours and
raise wages at the expense of imme-
date profit.
1t is safe to say that the crucial
section Of the blanket code. the
most difficult to operate and yet
the most essential part of it, is
Section 8, which limits the increase
of prices.
The whole scheme depends upon
the willingness and the ability of
employers to increase their costs
at the expense of profits and re-
serve, rather than by raising prices.
Because they are asked TO do a
thing which is contrary to the es-
tablished habits of business con-
Quoted for profit, it is necessary to
appeal to their patriotism, to their
higher emotions, and also to their
fear of a boycott and other forms
of public pressure.
MO human mind can, I should
~ suppose. estimate the practical
effects of a campaign of this sort
But clearly it will be easier to bring
in the large corporate employers
than the small employers in the
smaller towns.
The President recognized this III
his radio address by pointing out
that the great basic industries have
come forward willingly . and . d.
accept the principles leading to mass
complement, but TO the smaller
employers the President knew that
he still had to make his case.
This is not difficult to understand.
/ The great corporations have re-
serves which they can draw upon.
They are by and large highly mech
anized so that wages are rela-
lively smaller part of their costs.
They have much to gain by the
relaxation of the antitrust laws,
and have many reasons for cultivat-
ing the good will of Washington
The small employers are in a
rather different position. They do
not, in general, have any great
margin of reserves to draw upon.
Labor costs are often decisive for
them.
They have less to gain in any
reasonable time from the new lib
erty to combine And they are less
sensitive to national opinion.
IF Washington is relying upon
4 propaganda and boycotts to force
the enormous number Of small en-
ployers into line, it is greatly to be
hoped that it will think twice be-
fore using such dangerous weapons
carelessly.
II is one thing to use the pres
sure of national opinion 70 compel
great anonymous corporations. It
is quite another thing 10 set people
against each other who must go on
living together as neighbors
For my part I do not like THAI
kind Of coercion. I do not like to
hear the administration using
scornful epithets to browbeat men
whose difficulties no one in Wash
ington can conceivably have under
stood.
do not like government prop
uganda which may in a thousand
communities incite discord and
jealousy and hysteria and fear
among the people.
A government should govern by
the use of its lawful powers and not
by unloosing popular emotions.
So. I venture TO say, be careful
Be very careful not to carry moral
coercion too far. Be on guard
against those who love the excite
ment and enjoy coercion for its
own sake 1t will be easier to call
them forth than 10 restrain them
later 1t is easier to touch off hys-
terra and rancor than o quell il.
Copyright. 1881
J. P. M'NURLEN JOINS