Evening star., 1933-10-24
Menace to Recovery
Seen in Selfshness
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
There Is no escape from the con-
clusion that the N. r.. A. program has
reached q very critical stage. one call
ing for definite and positive action.
With some Of our outstanding men
denying the force and efficacy Of the
program to interfere with their opera
that something positive and definite
must be done or the whole program will
soon become helplessly begged down.
1t Is said by these men that they
are working hours and paying wages
well within those prescribed by the
codes Of fair competition, which may
be true. However, the philosophy Of
the n. r. A. program, as I understand
it, Is that of war; that the ravakes Of
the depression through which we have
oeen passing for the past four years
equal, If they do not surpass, those Of
war; hence they must be met and over.
come by warlike measures. II that be
true, there Is no basis for the conten.
ton that any one Is exempt from the
operation Of the established codes. War
and RECOMMENDATION mean unison and
concert OF movement, that the fast may
be stepped back and the slow stepped
up. II there are some who are ahead,
they may be restrained and brought in
line, just as the little fellow may be
made to quicken his pace to that Of the
movement of the regiment. Nothing
less than this will maintain the morale
OF the army, and the leadership that
does not look out for the morale Of its
army Is soon going to experience gen
eral revolt and desertion.
Now, Mr. Mathew Woll, vice president
OF the A. F. Of L. is far out Of line with
the philosophy of the N. r. A. Un-
fortunately. the impression has been
spead among the laboring class that the
N. X. A. program was set up for its
peculiar benefit, which is nowise the
case. The right to bargain collectively
Is right generally recognized. How
ever, we might as we'll recognize the
correlative rights Of industry and COM
merce, and especially the rights Of the
general public. The shop union is too
weak to be effective, while the hori-
zontal union, into which are scrambled
all elements OF labor irrespective Of any
mutualtty of needs and interests, Is too
Dig and strong to be safeN And to per-
NIT the N. r. A. to be used to that
eno would be calamity Of the first
magnitude. The vertical or industry
union Will give labor adequate bargain
Ing power and at the same time not
put all labor at the whim and caprice
OF a single leadership.
BUT the contention, as made by Mr..
Woll, that there must be no word or
rule that limits the right Of men and
women to cease work for any reason
or no reason" is in direct contrayention
OF the whole philosophy underlying the
national recovery act. This sort M
egrument. when applied differently,
means that the employer has the rirft
10 close his plant for any reason or
no reason at all. and throw his en-
pioyes back upon the public as q public
charge. This Is the law Of the ilInrle
not OF a civilized society, and IL ia fhe
TACT that men in high position in the
councils OF labor in a time like this
actually give expression to such ideas
that fills me with apprehension at ths
thought that labor NAV become .oro
"t1Tu T,S uhoer single leadership.
This country is not out Of its djfBc,,,.
Ties by long sight. was of the univ
ION IN the early Spring that We h. a
learned our lesson and that there WOULD
De real united effort to get out HOW
ever. there now appears to be a rever.
SION to the old form. with its contention
and strife. This Government has ~.
resources sufficient to withstand snv
economic strain, if those resources ar
hteillgently employed. But strife snd
Se!nsnness Will inevitably lead to dis
aster. mo W TTcTH ~ Us