Evening star., 1933-06-28
president MAY
DIRECT CONTROL
Roosevelt Expected to Bring
Harmony in Industrial
Program.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

In getting the Government mecha-
nism for control Of industry under way,
frictions have arisen. The prompt pub
lie disavowal of them is genuine
enough, for most Of them have act
ually been smoothed out for the time
being. The opportunity for disagree
ment continues to exist because of un-
certainty about the relations between
the individual administrator, retired
Army Gen. Hugh johnson, and the
Industrial Recovery Board, composed
mainly of cabinet members. In setting
up the two authorities, President Roose-
welt seemed to give equal authority to
each. What will probably happen is
that so soon as President Roosevelt re-
turns to Washington he will assume the
whole responsibility and that Gen.
johnson will be responsible to him. The
only experience the country has had in
this field, the wartime one, and sound
administrative principles, all suggest
that this kind of authority be vested
not in board but in an individual.
Among the members of the Cabinet
Committee for Industrial Control are
two groups. To one Of the groups is at
tributed, whether justly or not, philos-
ophy which would make fundamental
and permanent changes in the Amer
ican social system. That this reputa-
tion, whether fair or not, would impair
their prestige in exercising control over
all American industry goes without say
ing.
Political Status.
The other group Of members within
the Cabinet Committee includes men
whose status in life Is largely political
in the sense that they are and have
been active in organized politics. To
considerable extent, politics has been
their careers. That a background of
politics constitutes a handicap for the
function of controlling the country's
industries goes without saying. 1t is
certain that from the start there will
De pleas by local industries and by
individuals for immunities from the
many rules that must be set up.
Persons or corporations seeking special
consideration are sure to go to their
Congressman, and Congressman are
sure to go in the usual way to the
cabinet members with whom this sort
OF political contact is the familiar way
OF getting things done or not done.
Moreover, any one active in politics
would be under suspicion of seeing in
this situation the opportunity of put
ting individuals and businesses under
obligations to be repaid later on in the
form OF favor to the party in power
In short, political control of this vast
movement for industrial recovery, or
even the faintest and least justified
suspicion Of political control, would
be fatal.
From all this sort Of thing the bluff
Gen. johnson is utterly free. He asks
no political favors, gives none. is not
in politics, never was in politics, has
disdain for the methods of politics.
Neither has he any theories for reor-
ganizing society. All he has in mind
is a giant step for this emergency SIM
liar to organization for recovery from a
Mississippi flood. That the business
men of the country should have this
type of man to deal with and rely on
is indispensable to the spirit and the
practical working Of the organization
for recovery.
Public Opinion Guide.
The movement really hangs by
quite slender thread. Its success as
whole and in detail depends funda-
mentally on public opinion, and many
of the steps about to be taken make
large drafts on public tolerance Of dras-
tic departures. One formidable section
of opinion, in Congress and out, es-
pecially strong in the Democratic party.
has distaste for the measure because
of its suspension Of the antitrust laws.
eAnother section dislikes it for its subjec-
ton Of industry to Government control.
II the bill, instead Of being initiated
in April, had waited until today, 1t
would hardly have been started ana
almost certainly would not have passed
the Senate.
All that made the early momentum
of depression existing at that time. That
at once frightened Democrats into ac-
cepting suspension Of the antitrust
laws and frightened heads OF industry
into acceptance of regulation. The re-
covery in business that has so FAR taken
place has modified the moods, OF both
groups. Potential distaste for the
measure will increase as increasing
prosperity brings diminution OF the
need for it. One Of the most powerful
Progressives in the Senate, sympathetic
with the Democratic administration.
seriously believes that in the Congress
will be menaced by the uprising OF
public opinion, then normal and con-
fident, against the suspension OF the
antitrust laws.
The sum Of all is that the whole
movement could readily be wrecked by
even a slight fault in administration.
It could be wrecked by outcry against
suspension Of the antitrust laws or
by resistance Of industries to the dis
cipline upon willing submission to
which the movement depends. For sue
cess there is one certain model. Dur
ing the war. authority over industry
was vested in one man. Bernard M.
Baruch Mr.. Baruch had the complete
confidence and backing Of President
Wilson. That formula, plus Mr.. Ba-
ruch's wisdom in choosing his lieuten-
ants, made success One of the prin-
cipal lieutenants was Gen. Johnson
From that experience, the general
kpovs how tn do II