The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-22
ROOSEVELT TO
JOIN FIGHT ON
NRA ABUSES
President Said Considering
Restoring Anti Trust
Legislation.
By United Press

WASHINGTON, May 22.-Assur-
ance came today to the little man
and the consumer>that although the
Darrow board will die in nine days
President Roosevelt himself is TAX
ing up the burden of protecting
them under the NRA.
This was the word that came
through the smoke and shot of as
spectacular a battle of words as
the new deal has seen.
On one side was ranged the Ma
tional Recovery Review Board
headed by the veteran fighter, Clar-
ence Darrow. On the other was the
NRA administration with doughty
General Hugh S. johnson leading
the attack.
Senators, congressman, govern
ment officials, the press and to
public were rapidly aligning in
camps from the extreme repre-
sented by Mr.. Darrow to the out
posts of General johnson.
New Statements Pending
New statements were in the
making to add to the boards orig
inal attack on the NRA as a pro-
moter of industrial monopoly, Mr.
Darrow's suggestion that Socialism
be substituted for the blue eagle
and General Johnson's vitriolic
criticism of the board, to which he
added new details last night.
Mr.. Darrows colleagues said he
had Q. new statement ready regard
ing the Presidents intention to
abolish the board May 81.
No formal comment was forth
coming from the White House re-
garding the controversy except for
the announcement that the DarroW
board would cease to exist with the
end of May. However, it was
learned that the President was i'm
pressed with the dangers to small
business and consumers inherent in
the NRA.
Protection Is Planned
He plans to take whatever action
is necessary to protect their inter
eSts and some said he was ready to
propose restoration of antitrust
laws if it could be shown that this
is needed to correct the situation
That monopolistic abuses exist I'M
der the NRA, as charged by the
Darrow board, was admitted even by
General johnson in his latest utter
ance.
Perhaps there are some monop-
listic abuses of the Codes" said
General johnson. IF so, we want
to know them, but there are no
monopolistic Codes"
Specific Information Asked
General Johnson claimed the
Darrow board failed to note spe-
Ciflc instances of abuses and asked
for such information.
Whether the DarroW board would
supply data to the satisfaction of
General johnson seemed unlikely,
but it was continuing it's work to-
day unperturbed by news that it
would shortly go out of existence
or by the Juror.
A second report on code prac-
tees is being prepared and hear
ings are being held as usual. The
second report was limited as more
critical than the first.
barrow Ready to Quit
Mr.. Darrow was not prepared to
fight for the boards existence, but
he felt certain the country would
demand reform Of the recovery
agency.
Whenever they want us to quit
we WILL" said the firing battler. Il
didn't want to undertake this lob
at the beginning"
Other hoard members took a
slightly different attitude.
Lots of Work Ahead
I'VE have lots of work to do and
we are sailing into it as heavily as
we can" Board Member Samuel C.
Henry said. Unless we are called
off we are going to finish the Job.
Mr.. Henry said Mr.. Darrow had
been authorized to make a state
ment regarding the abolition of the
board.
There is speculation whether the
board contemplated denying any
prior agreement existed for termi-
nation OF its duties May 81. 1t was
intimated at the White House that
Mr.. Roosevelt, NRA Administration
Hugh S. Johnson and Mr.. Darrow
had such an understanding.
Yesterdays blistering report was
on eight codes. Lowell Mason,
board counsel, said today that hear
ings were scheduled to June IS. In
the report due this week the board
will discuss ten or more other codes,
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