Evening star., 1934-09-06
R|CHbERG URGES
PUBLIC SUPPORT
Denies Rift With Johnson
and Answers Hoover
in Radio Address.
Continued From Tenth Page)

democratic 1aSnlOn the SSu-CIlOccA
of each trade and in
dustry to establish rules of fair COM
petition, so that, they could devote
more Of their energies to producing
and distributing the things people
needed and spend less Of their time
cutting each others throats.
OF course, there are thousand
difficulties in putting even such q
simple, practical program In opera
ton. There are q thousand differ.
ences Of opinion possible as to the
details of establishing and administer
ing codes. But there should be no
dificulty at all in understanding what
the N. r. A. has been trying to do,
and there should be no difference Of
opinion among reasonable, public
spiritd men and women as to the de-
STABILITY Of doing the job.
Agreement on Methods.
1t seems appropriate at this point
also to state that there have been
no substantial differences of opinion
among those responsible for the ad-
ministration of N. r. A, as to the
way in which this program should be
carried forward.
In view of some popular miscon-
ceptions. I should like to point out
particularly that Gen. johnson and I
worked together in the writing OF
the law, and, under the direction OF
the President continued in the crea-
ton and development of N. r. A.
with a most happy harmony OF pur-
pose.
Furthermore, as the end of this
formative period approached, we
found ourselves also in agreement
upon recommendations for the neces.
sary and desirable reorganization OF
N. r. A.--and particularly upon the
recommendation that board should
be appointed by the President ana
made responsible directly to him Tor
the policies and conduct OF the recov-
cry administration.
In looking toward the future, how
ever, the most important issues are
not those of personalities but OF
public policies. If public attention
could be diverted for time from the
imaginary Squabbles of individuals, "
would be most useful to obtain 2
serious consideration Of q few real
problems of industrial reconstruction.
Therefore, tonight I am going to
invite answers from both friends ana
critics of the national administration
to a few blunt questions. !
Much has been accomplished In
one year in bringing about the re-
employment of over 100000 workers,
through shortening hours and in
creasing wage rates, and in raising
our total purchasing power by this
industrial gain and by marked
Improvement In agricultural condi-
tions. But the producers Of durable
goods and the construction industries
have not moved forward sufficiently
to re-employ other millions still idle.
Nevertheless there Is great need
of improved housing-nct merely OF
renovation-but OF home building. II
we went to work to provide a decent
home for every American family. the
employment directly and indirectly
created would absorb most OF the
unemployed and would raise the
standard of living throughout the
land. As a nation we have the neces-
sary wealth and natural resources
and there Is ample private credit
which could be used to finance q
huge housing program.
Use Of Public Credit.
1t should not be necessary to USE
the public credit for such purpose
But we must face the fact that pri.
vate initiative has not yet been effec'
tive to rehabilitate the durable good
,, industries. The Public Works Ad'
ministration has in fact provided thu
major advance In. this f1eld. Thes'
works are largely of enduring value
and add to the wealth Of the Nation
but they cannot play the part II
economic recovery that would b
| played by a vast increase In private
construction.
It is useless for partisan critic
merely to point out the persistence o
| unemployment in this field of privat
enterprise. It Is useless merely to ad
Tocate that work be spread furthe
and wages be increased In the con
| sumption goods industries. Spreading
work and increasing jobs in producin
and distributing food and clothin
does not provide many more jobs 70
carpenters or lumbermen or stee
workers. We need greater employment
in producing and fabricating metal
and wood and stone, in constructin
heavy machines and transportatio
equipment, and in building house.
That is the heart Of our unemploy
ment problem, and involved in it ar
these practical questions: How ca
private enterprise be induced to Great
employment In the heavy industrie
by undertaking to satisfy the obviou
need for better homes? How ca
credits be made available for thos
willing to venture in this field? Whs
part should the Federal Governmer
play in addition to the better housin
work which is now under way?
Any one who cannot answer the,
questions Is somewhat disqualified 6
critic Of those who are at least tryir
to answer them. But no matter no
these questions may be answered v
will still face the fact of present ur
employment, which cannot be solve
in the next few months. This ia,
compels us to provide for the suppo
Of perhaps 100000 families tn
Winter with the aid of Federal relic
That problem is not going to be solve
by making political speeches denoun,
ing monopolies and other evils, or a,
vocating return to the wisdom of O,
forefathers. There were only a fe
million people in the whole count
in the days Of Washington and Jeffe
} son. They did not have 5,000,0l
unemployed families to feed.
i New Liberty Needed.
Furthermore, no one is helping
relieve unemployment or to feed Il
destitute by calling on the people
defend their ancient liberties. It
r not the ancient liberty to starve whi'
needs defending. It Is the new liber
{ which includes the right of every mi
2 to earn q living, which includes t
' freedom of industrial workers fro
4 sweatshop wages and hours, which /
cludes the freedom of farmers fro