The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-03
THIS PRINCIPLE is THE LIFE-BLOOE
,....,a 81, OF THE REPUBLIC

, The federal government is not gong
into the business of manufacturing turnl-
ture-nOt yet.
Resuming one of the functions 1T re-
nounced a year ago, the lower House OF
Congress on Wednesday defeated by a
vote of 275 to 10 the proposal to put the
government into the furniture making
business in West Virginia. The Senate haa
previously voted for the measure over the
vigorous protest of Senator Bailey, by
vote of 81 to 20. The fight against the
measure in the House was led by Congress
man William B. Umstead of Durham.
The Asheville Citizen sees in the killing
of this proposal, which was pet scheme
of Mrs. Roosevelt, evidence of the fact
that the country is not ready to plunge
headlong into Socialism. In discussing the
outcome of this sinister effort to shove the
government still further into Communism,
The Citizen says:
Because of the principle involved, and because
the Houseiwas voting on the principle the vote on
Wednesday on the proposal to establish govern
nlent furniture factory in of the coal mining
towns of West Virginia may have an important
meaning. -
This particular situation is of very consd-
cradle interest. 1t appears that some time ago
Mrs Roosevelt visited the coal mining area and
Upon her return to Washington expressed the wish
that something be done for the unemployed people
she had seen at a place called Reedsville Accord
ihgy in the post office appropriation provision was
made in committee for the inclusion OF approx
hately half a million dollars to be used for the
construction in West Virginia of factory for the
manufacture of post office supplies, and the IDEA
Vas apparently that this factory would engage
3mong other things in the manufacture of furni-
ture.
J When the bill came. before the Senate some ten
DAYS ago Senator Barley opposed this appropria-
tion in most spirited and extended attack upon
the proposal as putting the government into direct
cbmpetition with an established industry, as the
opening wedge for putting the government into
business generally. Senator Nicely, of West Viz
gtna, defending the appropriation, declared it to
be "but a small part of program Of infinite mag
nitude" Senator Bailey pronounced this "a very
fine description
"That" he said carries to the breast of every
business man in America that carries to the holder
of every dollar of capital in America the news if
it be news, that it is proposed to put the tax-col-
lactng power of the Republic in competition with
the kumblest business of the land and then men
ak why we do not recover from the depression!
And then men ask us why the banks will not lend
money to business! And then men ask US why busi-
ness does not dare to borrow
The proposed project, Representative Umstead
told the House, would be discrimination against
a great industry in my State; it would be dis
elimination against thousands of unemployed furn-
iture workers in my State and all over this coun-
try but greater than all of these objections is the
fundamental one that the United States govern
nent,, in its present FORM cannot hope to relieve
the unemployment of America by the direct invest
ment of government capital in ar overcrowded
private industry for the purpose of relieving ur-
employment in another industry. 1t is wrong III
principle and if carried to it's ultimate conclusion
would disrupt and destroy the industrial and So
cial life of America"
The news report says that the Durham member
was heard with intense interest and warmly ap-
pIauded; more important still, the House voted,
275 to 10, to strike out the furniture factory
appropriation. If the members who voted to strike
it out understood fully what they doing, If
they were guided by the principle which Mr.. UNI
stead laid down, it is a decision which must be
Interpreted as potentially far-reaching As Sena-
tor Barb6ss said, the government would have tc
spend twenty-five billions to build enough factories
to- make work for the 100000 people who are
estimated to be unemployed. 1t would in so doing
destroy existing industries and those who are pres