Evening star., 1933-07-21
The Army of Recovery.

Il The Army of Recovery.
President Roosevelt has called for
volunteers in the Nations war with de-
uression and unemployment. To the
estimated 100000 employers in this
country he has squarely put the ques-
tion of doing their bit, each and every
one. He has called on them to shorten
hours of labor SO as TO bring about the
employment of more workers. He has
called ON them to pay higher wages
The whole object of the Presidents
drive Is to increase the consuming
power, the purchasing power. rather,
Of the American people SO that they
may be able to make use Of the vast
volume Of goods that are produced. The
President has at the same time de-
manded that prices be increased no
more than is made essential by In
creased costs of labor and taxes.
Never before in the history of this
country or any other has this same
kind of appeal been made by the head
a RONSlIlulCilI. ~ 40 oSAAANsA@AAo ~A~ -"
=, In leadership. In times of war the
people have been aroused to patriotic
efforts, giving their all for the defense
Of their country. Today they are called
upon to abandon selfishness and to CO.
operate not only for the benefit OF their
fellow Americans. but for their own
benefit. 1t is clear that all classes
must advance together in this war on
the depression. Men and women OF
property-even great property-have
had their holdings wiped out and have
become paupers during the last few
years, Men and women who work in
factory and field have lost their en-
ployment and been dependent on
charity. This war which the President
is waging is not in the interest OF any
one group or class. 1t is in the inter-
est of all.
The section of the industrial recovery
act under which the President has
called on the employers of the coun-
try to cooperate in this war on de-
preston provides for voluntary agree
ments. The country will await with
confidence the response to the appeal
of the Chief Executive. Americans
have never BEEN shown lacking In
patriotism In the past.
This is no time for slackers. or for
slickers. The people themselves have
a way of attending to such cattle.
And the President has in his pro-
posed blanket code or agreement pro-
vided the weapon which may be used
against the slackers. Each volunteer
employer will be given and may wear
the insignia IN. R. A." indicating
membership in the great army to fight
the depression. Furthermore, the
proposed agreement contains para
graph pledging the members OF the
IN. R. Al Ito support and patronize'
those establishments which have
signed the agreement and become mem-
bers. Therein lies the threat OF
boycott of employers who fail to do
their part in this movement.
The proposed code or agreement pro-
vides that employers shall not work any
of the "white-collar employees more
than forty hours week nor at wage
less than Sl4 to SIS a week, depending
on the size Of the population of the city
in which they are employed. 1t is pro-
yided that employers shall not work any
mechanical or factory worker or artisan
more than thirty-five hours week nor
pay him or her less than forty cents an
hour unless the wage in July, 1929, was
less, and in that event, not less than
thirty cents all hour. 1t Is provided,
too. that the wages for the shorter
week shall not be less than they are
now for the longer week. And there Is
q definite prohibition against the en-
ployment OF child labor-no person un-
der sixteen years of age is to be EN-
ployed.
This blanket code is not to supercede
codes of fair competition already set up
and approved for industries. Further
more, the industries are expected to
frame and have approved as rapidly as
possible their individual codes, which
so far as those industries are concerned
will supplant the present blanket code.
The President has acted quickly in
order to check a situation that seemed
to be threatening the real and perlna-
nent revival of employment and business
in this country. Mass production in
many OF the industries has already been
begun. Prices have started upward.
Unless the purchasing power OF the
people is made equal to the task OF
consuming this production another de-
preston and worse condition viii con-
front the American people. This call
upon the employers of the country for
patriotic and unselfish service is no idle
gesture. It should and must bear fruit.
Predictions are Sreely ventured that
the eighteenth amendment will be