Evening star., 1933-12-12
N. R. A. CUTS LIST
\ Of CLEANERS CITED
Converts Mainly Little Ones.
!, Big Operators Stick to
Opposition.
Continued From First Page.J

OuQClalS showed Clearly CIleH TeCOSllI-
ton that this was critical passage for
N, R. A. The court-like session followed
hours of protests against schedules set
by the code authority ranging from IS
to 95 cents. Many objectorS were small
1ndividualiStS, but the bulk were linked
in an association of cash and carry
cleaners who wanted to keep Accent
price.
The authority charged this was a
fraud" behind which they charged
much higher figures. They accused
these men of being the cut-throats, the
labor sweaters and pirates" of the in
tdustry.
Not a defendant but argued stoutly
shat he was for the code, obeying its
every word except prices. And most
.of them favored a fixed price, so long
as it was theirs.
Arthur D. Whiteside, division admin
istrator. promised N. R. A would rule
by Friday, if possible, whether to alter
the schedules More testimony on this
was to be heard today. Whiteside had
indicated that, in view of what had been
heard, there would be little attempt at
punitive measures now, but this proved
wrong.
Pleads for Law Compliance.
There were moving bits as w. H.
Davis, big, red-faced, touSle-headed
Sdirector of compliance, pleaded with
tsome Of the younger men not to let
themselves be claSSed as lawbreakerS,
tbut to put their faith in NJ r. A. to give
them square deal and obey the code.
A slender, bronzed Floridian, Charles
F. johnson of Jacksonville, who earlier
in the day made vigorous defense of his
own low prices, asked for another day
to think it over, but was refused. He
left protesting bitterly:
Il didn't know there was law to
prevent me making an honest living.
I'll have to lock up the place and leave
st."
N. A. Fink of Chicago, boldly stepped
up and said: I've been placed in very
embarrassing position, and in view OF
the attitude shown me, prefer to appear
before the Federal Trade Commission"
Isidore Paul of New York, leader of
a national movement among cash and
carry cleaners to buck the prices, argued
that they had not been fairly set, refus-
ed to advise the members of his group
to abide by the code, was told that the
evidence in his case would be given to
Federal attorneys for court action and
walked away with curt: Thank YOU
He was applauded by a siZable group
of followers.
Refuses to Ask Compliance.
An attorney for several Chicago firms
including Sterling Cleaners, was asked
If he would not advise his clients to
comply, and replied: II cannot do it
and 1 refuse to do it."
Then E. H McCorkle of Charlotte,
N. c., who protested that neither he
nor many others had had say in fix
ing their prices, was argued with by
Davis. McCorkle pleaded to be allowed
to carry on at his present prices and
then turned on the official:
When prohibition came along, did
you sacrifice your right to drink"
NO" replied Davis, but I wasn't
for the damn thing"
We'll, don't favor price fixing"
'All right, do you set yourself against
the N. R. A. in the same sense I set
myself against prohibition?"
Yes, in a sense
Well" Davis replied, "Ill make a
prediction to you. The people are be-
hind this. 1t is not like prohibition
No law can be enforced if the people
are against it. When they see how this
is being fairly enforced they will con-
tinue to be for it and the fellow who
opposes it will get squeezed"
On Wrong Side of Fence.
McCorkle- read a telegram he had
sent to Hugh S. johnson, protesting
without result against the 85 cents
fixed as base minimum price for his
area, and Davis tried to persuade him
that if he obeyed code terms his plea
would have force.
When laWbreaker makes plea it
has no force with me, or with Gen.
johnson, because nobody here is afraid
Low -1z,~1o o1-x.. i
on the wrong side of the fence"
Il do believe in the code. I'm really
sincere"
We'll, you're fool if you don't obey
in this. You're crazy. You are risk
ing your whole future, you are betting
more than you can afford to lose.
Why don't you put the prices up to-
morrow"
Il firmly believe that if I do, by Sat-
lurday night I won't be able to pay my
help. And who will pay them for me?"
You'll have to ask Harry Hopkins
(Federal relief director about that"
Il don't believe your stand on that IS
fair. You tell me: Ed McCorkle, you
can't pay $500 fine, so I threaten you
with the full power Of the United States
Government
There are no threats at all. I have
a duty to do. I have no other course.
i am not q prosecutor"
Will Go to Prison First.
'Well, with all fear Of the law and re-
}spect for it, I'll say this: I'm Scotch
land I'm proud. Before I go to the As
lsociated Charities or any Government
agency for my food, and my wife's and
my dogs, I'll receive it in the Federal
penitentiary"
There were several like that. There
was an elderly attorney speaking for
group in Tulsa, most of whom were now
complying, but not Mrs. Wilson: Mrs.
Wilson feels as though it would put her
out of business. I've talked to her. She
just feels like she'll nave to close the
door. She has scruple about it, she
feels as though it wouldn't be right to
charge that much for the class of Serv-
ice she has"
Davis was moved by that and said
he'd just ask the Trade Commission
men to look into the circumstances.
Along came a colored man named
Hicks from Norfolk, who said he'd been
told so many different things he didn't
know what he was supposed to do, and
then came F. r. Scott, also colored,
from the same city. His was the same
plea, but:
Tonight realized it's all so simple.
I want to do what's right with the
Government. want to be 100 Der cent
American So I'll do like you said and
wire to change the price"
Anti-climax at the end was furnished
by o. B. Rust of Charles Town, w. Va.
He'd been summoned for violating the
minimum and there was no price fixed
for his territory. Davis apologized.