The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-08-03
No False Security
(rThe Texas Weekly

The presidents program is of such
far-reaching character, and so much
Of it still remains to be put definitely
into operation, that it is only i'm
perfectly understood by the great
mass of our people. Especially is it
true that the experimental character
Of many of its features Is not fully
appreciated, nor is it widely under
stood that to a very great extent it is
going to be necessary for the admin
istration to explore uncharted areas
and to advance in directions from
which it may later become advisable
to retreat. It is this very circum-
stance which makes feeling Of false
security at this stage of the game
especially dangerous. Temporary fail
ure In any direction would be bound
to jolt this feeling considerably, and
might easily tend toward bringing
about reaction away from the whole
program. 1t is for this reason that
we express our concern about the
danger Of runaway prices. We are
certain that President Roosevelt and
his advisers are fully awake to this
danger. But we are equally as Ger
tain that the great majority of those
who are calling most loudly for
everybody to support the President"
are not aware of it at all. Another
danger is that the leaders of industry
generally, or a considerable percen-
tage Of them, will lose sight of the
most important feature of the pro-
gram contemplated under the Re-
covery Act, which Is that of greatly
increasing employment in all indus
tries by means Of thorough-going re-
duction OF the hours of labor OF those
already employed. We are decidedly
Of the opinion that II by this time
next year, let us say, there has not
been brought about great increase
in employment in industry, quite
apart from that directly traceable to
the public works program, there will
be widespread reaction among the
mass OF the people against the Ma
tlonal Recovery Act and all of its
provisions. The question no longer
Is whether the program contemplated
under that act is the proper one to
pursue. That question was put out OF
court once the act was enacted into
law. The fact now is that it Is ar
essential part Of the whole of the adj
ministrations program to achieve re-
covery and it must be given the full
est trial If that program is not to be
crippled or defeated. It cannot bt
abandoned now. without abandoning
all collective effort to achieve recov-
cry. Our formula of recognizing that
the responsibility is the president.
and resolving doubts on that basis
applies here very decidedly. The
president has attempted to invoke 8
war mood" among the people, ano
among the leaders of industry, 6
mood that would justify every sacri.
lice on the ground that we are ir
the midst OF struggle to conquer
the depression, a struggle no less vita
than war with foreign enemy woule
be. 1t cannot be said he has beer
! altogether successful in this, and i
may even be said that the moot
which IS making Roadway just nov
Is mood of carnival It is noot
OF happy days are here again." an,
II 1t should become entirely dolninan
1t might easily defeat the effort t,
attain the goal for which it pre-
maturely rejoices. If a genuine IVA
mood" is not possible, we might a
least have a general recognition o
the fact that we are far from bein
out OF danger and that In the mean
time the only safe thing to do is t
follow the leadership of those who's
responsibility it is to conduct u
beyond danger. They may not sue
coed even with the fullest suppor
and confidence. And without tn
fullest support and confidence tn
chances of success will certainly nc
be increased.