Evening star., 1933-06-28
Pathfndinp. q.

and the consuming public, with the
officers Of the Federal Government as
umpires, are meeting to draft the first
code Of fair competition under the in
dustrial recovery act. The industry in
volved is that of cotton textiles, with its
mills stretching from New England far
into the South. The proposed code,
worked out by the leaders in the indus
try and subscribed to by the great ma
jority of the units in that industry, was
the first to reach the administration of
the recovery act. 1t had, as matter of
fact, been drafted even before the re-
covery act was sent to the White House
for President Roosevelt's signature. 1t
has been described by Gen. Hugh s.
johnson, administrator, as a beautiful
piece Of work." although when he made
the comment Gen. Johnson added that
1t might be changed before 1t was
finally adopted.
The submission Of the code, reflect
ing the ideas Of a majority Of the cot
ton textile mill operators, is in itself
a triumph. Many differences of opinion
had to be ironed out before it could be
drafted. Many differences Of opinion
between the mill owners and the rep
resentatives of labor and Of the con-
suming public still remain to be ad-
justed before the final seal Of approval
is given by the Government. That an
agreement will be reached, with COM
promises here and there to make 1t
possible, is not doubted. This great
experiment, designed to aid in recov-
cry Of business and the elimination Of
unemployment, will not be allowed to
lag, either by industry or by labor.
Already in their code the textile mill
operators have made great changes In
the system which governs today. From
a work week that runs to fifty hours
and more there has been a reduction
to forty hours. Minimum wages Of $40
for operatives in the southern mills and
S11 for operatives in those Of the North
have been proposed, which represent
increases, it is said, Of twenty-seven to
thirty per cent. Furthermore, 1t Is
made clear that these minimum rates
are to be for the most poorly paid and
inexperienced labor In the industry,
with rates running higher for the more
skillful.
It l. not to be supposed that repre-
sentatives Of labor at the present hear
ing will agree to all the terms Of the
code submitted by the employers. They
VIII demand still fewer hours Of labor
and a higher minimum wage. Reason
must prevail No matter how beneficial
or how wise changes in industrial condi-
tions may be, too drastic changes may
work to the injury not only of the in
dustry, but Of labor. Here is a case
where there must be cooperation and
q forward movement OF employer and
worker.
The hearing in connection with the
code Of fair competition for the cotton
textile industry is a pathfinder. 1t is
momentous. Undoubtedly 1t will serve
as a guide for procedure and for de-
cision with regard to codes for many
other industries which are still to have
their day in court. A minimum OF bick-
ering, spirit of willingness to cooper
ate on the part Of all parties involved
will 60 far toward bringing success TO
this experiment in industry. The code
now proposed for the cotton textile in
dustry is expected to put 900 opera
tives back to work Immediately, with
every prospect Of much greater employ
ment as the purchasing power of the
workers in this and other industries
widens.
The Congress and the President have
acted to draft the law. The industries
and labor have given their approval
very largely to the effort which is to be
made to bring recovery to industry In
this country. To falter now, to allow
selfish interests to block the movement
would be the supremest folly. No such
blockade is expected. nor will public
op,i1ton tolerate 1t.
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