Evening star., 1933-07-12


expanding national business. the chal
lenges of invention and vast industry
organization.
We are met now, crucial point. by
the challenge of flaws in our economic
mechanism that threaten its disin-
tegration Hence-hesitation-h
downward plunge Thus a new chal-
lenge appears-the need for industrial
reorganization and control for the ber-
eft of all of our people. We have
accepted that challenge and are now
'at grips" employing as our sword and
buckler title one and title two of the
national recovery act.
BY some few persons who may be
out of sympathy with the basic princi-
Piles of this law, the national indus
trial recovery act has been called
drastic" fantastic 'perilous,' and
even revolutionary" 1t is not, 1t is
concrete manifestation of the ire
sHtible processes of change. 1t is
response to the irresistible demand of
the conditions of our time. Benjamin
Disraeli. that far-seeing statesman CT
Great Britain and brilliant and pene-
trative student of the social order
said: Change is inevitable in a pro-
gressive country; change is constant"
Disraeh meant that progress is the re-
suit of change Change, in turn, is
the inevitable effect of conditions.
Lauds Craftsmanship.
The industrial recovery act was con-
ceived in sound craftsmanship. What
is the essential of craftsmanship? Ed
mund Burke attempted to answer by
saying: "A disposition to preserve, and
an ability to imprOve-taken together
would be my standard of statesman"
Certainly the recovery act represents
q happy combination of the virtues OF
preservation and improvement. 1t is
no evidence of wisdom or discernment
to call this act "a move in the direc
ton of collectivism" or step to Rus
sianize industry On the contrary, this
sort of comment evidences an unfor-
tunately superficial knowledge.
No, this law does not partake in
principle or in application of the point
OF view of collectivism or State regl-
mentation" On the contrary, it em-
bodies a typically American method OF
hearty teamwork.
It represents no visionary motives
II was not enacted with the fantastic
idea of "reconstituting society or
bringing in the millennium 1t IS
practical 1t is pragmatic. 1t affords
a sturdy means of getting an i'm
mediate and necessary job done. Those
concerned with its administration are
keeping their eyes intently upon this
plain objective, without distraction or
irrelevancy.
brief word now about the penalty
provisions of the law. We nope ana
have reason to believe that there Will
be little occasion to invoke these pro-
visions First. we know that the law
permits industry to put into effect
ethics and practices that the best ele-
ments in each industry have long
desired. believing them essential to the
safe and decent conduct Of business.
Under this new law. it will be the
duty of the Government to see that
such ethics and practices as are ap-
proved in their codes are adhered to
believe little official policing will be
necessary. We shall have the CO.
operation Of the vast majority in each
industry who realize that the preserVa-
ton of their we'll being depends
largely upon seeing that the code Tor
the industry is respected, and the pres
sure they will bring en- their own err
ing members will be force to De
reckoned with.
We prefer to rely upon the patriotism
and inherent decency Of the members OF
each industry rather than upon threats
of penalties or secret policing. Beyond
industry itself is the enormous force OF
public opinion than any reg
ulation-stronger than any law. Once
the rules are generally adopted and the
open game started, We believe the
American ideal of fair play and good
craftsmanship will preserve its IN
tegrity. Should events prove us wrong
in this belief. the strictly statutory
penalty provisions can then be called
into operation. Certainly not before
should they be invoked.
Points to Cotton Code.
An event of striking significance for
industrial recovery took place at the
White House at 730 pm. July 9. 1t
was then that the President touched
the button through his signature that
rut into operation the cotton teXtlle
code. Thus the procession from de-
pression to more prosperous conditions
I'm industry was started. In this frst
step the following are significant:
The code represents about II per cent
of the industry, leaving only % per
cent to be heard and incorporated into
the great achievement, cooperation,
mutual understanding and goodwill
described by the President in his state
ment.
Child labor is abolished in this in
6uStry, an dCnleNeHleut SOusllt 4O1
many years. but which could not be
accomplished by the lndustrlallsts
separately and live in competition.
The number of hours of work in this
industry has been fixed at 40 for in
dividuals and so for machines per week.
The average pay for the employees will
be raised by about % per cent on a
minimum wage schedule of Sl2 in
Southern mills and $l3 in Northern
mills, and some 10000 additional
people provided with work.
Nest remarkable Of all is the TACT
that after the fullest examination, dis
cussion and exchange of views, this
agreement had the unanimous indorse-
ment of every labor leader and every
industrial leader on our advisory
boards
Let's all get behind the movement for
a 100 per cent processicn now. There
are two strong and urgent reasons why
We should move swiftly. positive rea-
son and a negative reason. The pos!-
tive reason is the main objective OF the
law. namely. of putting people to work
at fair wages and thus relieving human
distress The negative reason is that
every effort should be made to prevent
distortion of existing conditions by
. speculation.
This speculation may take either OF
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