Evening star., 1933-11-05
R|CHBERG SCORES
/. ENEMIES OF n. R. A.
General Counsel Denounces
"Misguiders of Public
Opinion"
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, November A.
Scoring "misguiders of public opinion,
Donald R. Richberg, general counse
for the National Recovery Administra-
justification for assuming" that the
ing industry
There will be no attempt to license
newspapers" he said, adding that thoSt
licensed are simply creating a hob
goblin and then screaming at it."
Richberg described the American
Newspaper Publishers Association ano
the National Association of Manufac-
turers as among the outstanding group:
opposing the N. r. A. program.
Lists Opponents.
Saying at will be interesting to cal
the roll of the opponents when they
emerge from the cyclone cellars" Rich
berg continued:
TT is evident that the roll is likely
to include most of the discredited ano
incompetent leaders who guided the
American people down into the depths
of depression while they worked fever
ishly to save their private fortunes
Addressing the Democratic Woman's
Luncheon Club. he identified stars il
the "Follies of 1929" as big tax evaders
who Wiggled out Of supporting their Gov.
eminent: big bank wreckers. who ruined
their depositors; big investment cour-
sellors, who misled their customers; bie
public utility operators. who b!cG Their
stockholders and the public at the same
time"
He also included big industrialists
who wasted billions in expanding their
plants while they helped to destroy
their customers; big professional gam
blers OF the stock and grain markets
who did not even play the game fairly
with their own associates, and who
infected legitimate business operations
with the deadly fever of speculation.
Hits "Misguiders."
Richberg predicted that coming to
the support of these precious big men
will be heard again the voices of the
professional misguiders of public opin-
ion-the subsidized economists. Stats
ticians. financial writer's and high
power publicistS, who make a business
of creating public opinion contrary to
public interest.
These are the men who today have
the audacity TO tell the American peo-
pie that the recovery program Of the
President has not aided, but has re-
tarded business
These are the same men who ex-
horted the people for more than three
years to continue suffering patiently be-
cause prosperity was just around the
corner. These are the same men who
never could produce plan to stop the
downward spiral of the depression"
Speaking of criticism that the N. r.
A. endangers freedom of the press,
Richberg asserted there has not been
a single action taken or contemplated
to create such a situation.
There has been no disposition evil
denced to use the licensing provision
and the N. R. A. has consistently op-
posed every suggestion that it might be
used" he said. The idea that any
effort would be made to apply this pro-
vision to newspapers and to license
their publication is preposterous.
Quite obviously the President him
self would not give it a moment OF
serious consideration.
In a word, there is not and there
never will be the slightest interference
with the constitutionally-gu
freedom Of the press by the N r. A