The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-19
Is Successful,
Critic Says After
NQtiOtl-W Wide Sfudu

Gus section OF the Recovery Act Is
the center Of controversy.
It contains seeds that we'll may
change the whole future OF labor
in this country. In general, section
IA provides to all employees freedom
to join or not to Join any kind Of or
ganization or union they choose, With
out prejudice to their Jobs.
There is not the slightest question
that both capital and labor have abus-
ed this section. There are unquestion-
ed cases in which employers have In
fluenced. by threats or otherwise, their
employees.
Union organizers have also abused
it. telling employees they must Join
union to get the benefits Of the Re-
covery Act. sometimes threatening
them II they did not join their par
t;cular union.
Every complaint I hear from
labor leaders that they were get
ting the short end Of the MIRA
stick was at least balanced by
equally bitter complaints Of EN-
ployers that the government had
handed over their businesses, lock,
stock, and barrel. to labor.
The Farmers
The agricultural act benefits have
pleased farmers almost In exact pro-
portion to the amount Of money re-
ceived. In the south, where the cot
ton money was distributed literally
and promptly, they were crazy about
1t.
AS you move north, where the gravy
was not quite so thick and was served
later. it was less popular.
The agricultural problem runs
straight on problem just like (Which
came first. the hen or the egg?" Ev-
cry farm leader will tell you that II the
farmer has purchasing power first,
then he will buy the city's products
and industrial prosperity follows.
Labor leaders insist that only when
the city worker first has money can he
buy the farmers products and thus
keep up their price.
It would seem to me that this team
must be driven. not in tandem. but In
eouble harness. What happened Of
course, was that the MIRA put the in
dustrial horse jump ahead, and the
wagon Of advancing industrial prices
gave the farm horse bad humping.
Up to now. it seems to me that cut
ting the acreage in cotton, wheat. and
to less extent in corn and tobacco,
has been pretty successful. II this
goes ahead until overhanging carry
overs are removed, then we shall see
what we shall see. That will be new
problem.
The Money Problem
The money question reveals q trust
In the president that Is astonishing
and even a little pathetic. believe
the average man. stuffed to the ears
with harangues pro and con on dollar
devaluation, silver, sterilization, and
the gold standard. largely has ADAM
doned any effort to make anything Of
it, and simply puts his faith in Presi-
dent Roosevelt that he will not allow
us to take the awful slide into the
abyss OF paper money initiation.
think the number who conscious
" want paper money initiation is small.
Even among bankers, the instinct to
trust the president Is widespread.
While know there are a few bank
lers las in Boston, who demand . quick
and uncompromising return to the old
gold standard, believe the majority
Of bankers and business men are re-
signed to devaluation as great as 50
per cent If some degree of stabiliza-
ton could be had with 1t.
The Building Question
Despite the general feeling among
business men that great building and
expansion projects await only q stable
collar to go ahead, I was unable to
find specific examples, though I In
quired in every city.
Undoubtedly there are some: no.
body knows how many. think that In
general, business Is getting used to
monetary uncertainty as the only Ger
tainty, and proceeding on that basis.
In every city you visit, you find IN
overbuilt downtown section with emp.
tv offices and lofts. There Is on con-
struction job going on in almost every
l.clty-the new Federal Building.
I could find little evidence Of wan.
ing support of the president. One
business man In Detroit told me he
could not be reelected tomorrow
That stood out, unique.
I was impressed BY the trust In
Franklin D. Roosevelt that h held
by all kinds Of people, high and
low. Democratic and Republican.
Opposition? OF course. But be-
lieye there is less right now than there
was in 1882 when, don't forget, 49,
COO 900 people voted for Hoover. be-
lieye criticism Of the Brain Trust. Of
Secretary Wallace, Of General John.
son, have left the president almost
untouched.
The 'Doles''
The CWA caused the first qualms
for many In their view Of the New
Deal. No question about 1t, much Of
the work" done has been sheer LOST
motion, especially In communities
which were ill-prepared for the sud
den call.
It's getting better Is authorities
have more time to plan worthy pro-
jects. The cleaned and renovated
school buildings, the enlarged and i'm.
proved airports. the widened and
cleared roadways and the improved
parks that are coming out Of this an
social gain.
The average person, I believe
shrugs and says, well, It's better thar
| the dole"
More thoughtful people are asking
"How long will the treasury stand thil
strain?" What will happen when 4
won't stand 1t any longer and thesl
1000 900 have to be turned loose?"
The graft, the political favoritism
the competition with industries pay
ing code wages, these are details tha'
will be Strengthened out.
The fact remains that e,oooyoo
people now are on the federal
payroll, one In every - IN the