The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-08-24

41C f1Ht 4Ona Utltf u ~
TO Fool Wild EN-" witness the start
of a new stage
In the national drive for economic re-
covery. 1t is unfortunate there were
only those few persons able to witness
that which | am convinced Is gong
down in history as an event worthy oil
recollection. 1t Is unfortunate uat
more persons were unable to see the
spectacle of Gen. Hugh S. johnson, the
recovery administrator. In that moment
of determination. his eyes glaring, MS
jaws set. 1t was decisive.
The incident to which ! refer was
when General Johnson. at one OF MS
regular conferences with newspaper
correspondents, announced that the
time was near. IT, indeed, II had not
already arrived when somebody IS
going to take one of those blue eagles
off the. window OF some business
house" because that business house
failed to live up to It's pledges In the
code.
And General Johnson added with
all of the grim determination OF the
army officer that he was, when that
happens, It Is going to be an economic
death sentence. That outfit Will be
nearly through" ta
He leveled finger at the CORE
spondents that, under the atmosphere
created by his earlier remarks, seemed
for all the world to me like 1t might
20 of. There was no braggadocio. 1t
was a positive declaration, this asser-
ton that some of those who promised
to do their part would try to cheat
And the added remark that such
business house was economically SEN
fenced to death when their pet blue
eagle insignia was taken down was
as sternly said as though 1t had been
I'm actual sentence OF death from the
lips of jurist. ! repeat, 1t was I'M
pressive.
/ do not know how effective this
threat will be. No one does. because
IT never has been done In peace time
In this country. But make no mistake
about 1t the Individual who attempts
to balk General Johnson Is going to
have both hands full. To employ q
favorite expression of q coiored boy
whom / know: HE Amt goIn' to fool
wild EN-"
General Inhnson's remarks On TINT
occasion Illustrate better than other
words available to me the develop
ments thus far In the great campaign
to lift this country out of the economic
depression. Heretofore. andyit still con
tinues, the effort was to get businesses
into line, into agreement to stand unit
ed and work for the common good.
Those agreements among the indvid-
ual businesses were, and are, agree
ments with and promises to the Preai
dent of the United States that each
will make the necessary sacrifices, the
required concessions, that given re
suit may be attained Everyone hopes
for better times. That Is the end
sought, and the signing OF codes, IN
Guiding the promises of individuals
who buy things to deal only where the
blue eagle Is displayed, was just the
preliminary work.
Now, however. the national recovery
administration has reached the point
where the enterprise must either sue
coed or fail. There are to be no more
soft words. The decisive moment has
come. General Johnsons determine
tion that "he amt goin' to fool wild
EN- has placed the entire power OF
a sovereign nation behind that which
has been done.
This blue eagle insignia Is q power.
full weapon. Ii may later fall into dis.
repute, but, however
P0Uerfui that may be- the dis.
Weapon play of that poster
now is having ar
enormous effect. For instance, Gen.
eral Johnson's attention was called tt
the status of public utilities operating
wholly within state, unit unto 1t
self and not subject to the jurisdiction
Of the federal government. He re
piled that the blue eagle knows ne
state lines
This blue eagle doesn't know any
thing about interstate or intrastatt
commerce" he said. IF the recovery
act fails to reach such corporations
the blue eagle will reach them"
And so the stage is set for the driy,
to encourage people to buy now ane
to buy only from those displaying TIL,
blue eagle
Let us look into this program. Ths
call to buy now represents A move I.
get people to let loose Of money the,
have been holding back on account o
uncertainty Of they have had sucl
money! and thus to provide the dis
tribution agencies such as retail store
with business and. of course, profit
II the retailer SELLS he must buy from
his source, which ls the wholesaler o
the jobber, and when they have dis
posed Of their stock they must seel
requirements from the manufactures
He, In turn, II he is going to remai
in business must manufacture replace
ments, and thus the cycle has been sc
In motion.