Evening star., 1933-06-14
WAGNER EXPLAINS
INDUSTRY CONTROL
Senator, in Forum, Outlines
Step to Give Every One
Chance to Earn.

Outlining the scope of the new indus
trial control legislation, Senator Wag-
ner. Democrat, of New York, last night
told the Nation that its single objec-
tive is ito give every deserving person
permanent opportunity to earn q
comfortable living"
The New York Senator, who pilcted
this measure with its correlated public
works program through Congress, spoke
in the National Radio Forum, arranged
by The Star. and broadcast through
WRC over a coast-to-coast network of
the National Broadcasting Co.
Senator Wagner emphasized that the
underlying principle of this unprece-
dented step is to bring about planned
production, through modification OF
the antitrust laws which will be
guarded against abuse by trade codes.
| Needed by Small business.
"This law" he said, "is not a meas
tlre designed to turn the country over
TO the giants of industry. 1t is true that
the 200 great corporations need this
law. But it is needed still more by the
small business man and the laborer,
who for the first time are given voice
In industrial government, with all the
force CT the United States Government
to support them when they are correct.
Ut is needed still more by the consumer,
whose interests will be adequately pro-
tected under presidential supervision
of the codes of fair competition"
As for the $4,000, 600, 900 public works
program, Senator Wagner said it would
provide employment for about 5000. 900
men and women.
Senator's Address in Full.
Senator Wagner's address follows:
Less than three weeks ago I had the
pleasure of discussing with you the de-
Eails of the national industrial recov-
cry bill. Since then the bill has been
passed by the Senate and the House
and will become law in a few days when
the President signs it. Tonight I want
DO emphasize the general philosophy of
the measure and the prospects which
1t offers to the American people.
The single objective of the bill Is to
give every deserving person permanent
opportunity to earn a comfortable liv-
ing. In order to accomplish this pur-
pose we have enacted twentieth century
Jaw to help solve twentieth century So
Eial and economic problems. I believe
that the depression occurred and has
been unduly prolonged because we were
trying to meet new issues with outworn
remedies, with devices that served well
in their day, but could not last forever
Let us make a brief excursion into
history. During the nineteenth century
our primary economic job was to ex-
plore the continent and uncover its
natural wealth. This could not be done
comparatively, nor according to any
well-thought-out plan. 1t had to be
done by pioneers, by hard hitting, free
1oTaPfr1o xryIn 81 &a-S oil
across vast plains and built small, iso-
lated places of shelter at widely sepa-
rated spots. The need for this kind
pf work encouraged a philosophy of
Fevery man for himself" of extreme in
dtvidualism and reckless daring. Such
fndividualism worked well when our
whole society was on a local basis and
Fhen business was done on a small
Scale. Each town was more or less
self-suff1cient and it did not make much
difference to one part of the country
What was happening in another part.
Every one had to swim by himself or
tink
= The second economic job during the
past century was to improve our ma
chinery and technical methods SO as to
produce more goods on the farm and
tn the factory. In this we succeeded as
admirably as in the task of conquering
the continent, and soon came to lead
The world In the production of goods.
Now we are IN the twentieth century,
And we face a great riddle-Why is
there so much poverty in the face of
such great progress? Why have not our
mastery OF the continent and of ma
ehines brought any assurance of eco
homic welfare? I am firmly convinced
that it is because pioneer individualism
end mechanical progress alone, impor-
PANT though they are, cannot solve the
economic problems of today.
+ Industrial Phases Changed.
Industries are no longer on a local
basis. Many of them have become sc
large that they cover the entire coun-
try. In other instances, due to speciali-
cation, the entire national supply o1
particular products is grown or manu-
factured in single locality or section
I'm still other cases the separate part,
OF single product are made by many
different businesses which are not under
d unified management. AS result, oul
whole economic system has become 81
tnterconnected that it functions as 6
Single delicate mechanism. Every par
must work in perfect coordination. i
pne part weakens, the disorder spread.
Immediately to the whole machine.
Under such circumstances it is dis
bstrous for lis to cling to the pionee
methods Of rs years ago, for us to en-
courage business men to work in tn,
dark at cross purposes. And it j
Equally disastrous for us to keep empha
sizing improvements in the technique o
production without considering how Il
plan nationwide production so that thi
various parts of the machine will oper
Rte uniformly, continuously and for tn
public welfare.
The recovery bill represents con
ktructive attempt to bring the law int
sine with present conditions The frs
step involves modification of tn
antitrust laws. Those laws embodied
nineteenth century philosophy, and the
made it impossible for a group of busi
ness men to get together and formulat
a plan of action. It was believed tina
co-operation of any sort would lead
restraint of trade Today We hav
learned that enforced planlessness dis
organizes and even wrecks trade an
commerce. The new law will perm
members of any trade or industry
formulate a code of fair competition
sncluding a list of the practices an
methods which, in the judgment {
business men, will be most likely
establish industrial order and restol
employment When such code gair
the approval of the President OF tt