The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-05-05
PAY INCREASES
ARE ADVOCATED
BY ROOSEVELT
Wages Must Keep Pace
With Rising Cost of Liv-
ing, Says Roosevelt.
Continued From Page One)

your willingness to cooperate with
your government.
I'm almost every industry, an ov-
erwhelming majority of the units
of the industry are wholly willing
to work together to prevent over
production, to prevent unfair
wages, to eliminate improper work
ing conditions.
I'm the past, success in attain
ing these detectives has been pre-
vented by small minority of units
in many industries.
Pledges U. S. Cooperation
II can assure you that you will
have the cooperation of your gov
eminent in bringing these minorities
to understand that their unfair
practices are contrary to a sound
public policy"
The first important speech by
chief executive since the Harding
administration which was not
broadcast, Mr.. Roosevelt's address
was short and pithy. He wasted no
time in presenting his fortnight
appeal for wage increase to begin
now and not later"
Noting that commodity prices
have risen in recent weeks and that
wages cuStomarily lag behind in
creasing prices, the President de-
clard:
That result in the past has i'm
posed upon those who labor an I'M
fair burden; has prevented their lust
and equitable share in the profits
of industry, and has limited the
purchasing power Of the overwhelm-
ing majority of our population.
Asks Wage Cut Halt
1, therefore, ask you, who repre-
sent in all probability the majority
OF the employers of the nation, to
refrain from further reduction in
the wages of your employees and I
ask you also to increase your wage
scale in conformity with and stimuli
taneous with the rise of the level of
commodity prices in so far as this
lies within your power.
1T is simple fact that the aver
age OF the wage scale of the nation
has gone down during the last four
years more rapidly than the cost of
living. 1t is essential, as a matter
OF national justice, that the wage
scale should be brought back to
meet the cost of living and that this
process should begin now and MT
later"
After streSSing the necessity of
ending unfair industrial practices.
the President turned to a broader
appeal for subordination of indi-
Vldual interests and general CO.
operation for the welfare of all.
Asks End to SeIfishness
ut is human nature" he said.
TO view a problem in terms of the
particular existence and interest of
the company or the business with
which one personally is associated
1t is, therefore, not unnatural that
the various industries of the coun-
try should apply this same point of
view to themselves.
And yet I call your attention
to what must be clear to all of us
That each and all of you, in your
own units and your own industries
are but an integral part of a great
whole, and that our national econ
omy must be expressed in terms of
the whole rather than in terms of
the unit.
1T is ultimately of little avail to
any of you to be temporarily pros
porous while others are depressed
permanent. I ask that you translate
your welfare into the welfare of
the whole, that you view recovery
IN terms of the nation rather than
in terms of particular industry,
that you have the vision to lay aside
special and selfish interests, to
think of and act for a well-rounded
national recovery"