Evening star., 1934-03-08

best he can. That's all anybody, even
a retired old lawyer can do"
1t IS. therefore. common sense for the
consuming public in their own inter-
ests. as well as for labor and for in
dustry, to join in seeing to it that
the few who think only Of selfish
gain be made to play the game with
the overwhelming majority"
Warning Of That Bird.
Now in respect Of this "pitiful" az
lection Of mine for the Blue Eagle
may say to my good friend (and ]
hate to say it because he has done
as much to carry forward the Presi-
dents program as any mani that. II
we took away the Blue Eagle for some
noncompliance (Which would never
happen) his great department store
would collapse like row Of dominoes
in q fortnight for lack Of patronage
and. dear friend, don't advise anybody
to start trifling with that bird.
I would like to express this thought
even though it may not seem perti-
nent. 1t arises from the suggestion
that tho. Blue Eagle is Q personal
symbol. I admit that rather favor
him. But have neither political nor
personal ambition. I am Q soldier by
training and inclination, J think this
is war and that there can be only
one leader in a war
I came here against every inclina-
ton to help Franklin Roosevelt be-
cause I love him and think he Is
right. II, In my own judgment, my
blunders get so gross that they are
hurting him, will get out. Or If ]
am too slow to see that I have done
this and he implies it, I will get out
But in either event, I will applaud
the act that Gusts me and stand by
my chief no matter what happens
Except for his encouragement would
have gone long ago.
In the meantime. nobody need
speculate on getting me out or affect
ing my course Of conduct by threats.
I am in for the duration and. If my
manner is politically unorthodox, so is
this Job unorthodox" we will carry
on to the end.
OF course we can't succeed with
out public support Of what we are
trying to do and I want to warn nom
compliers that We are not only going
out to revive public sentiment for the
Blue Eagle but under specific orders
from the President, we are reorganiz-
ing to enforce the penal sections Of
the act. Regardless of publicity
have been too gentle. We deliberately
delayed action because Of misunder-
standings buff I may lapse into the
vernacular-"you amt seen nothin'
yet"
Twelve Heads Proposed.
At the beginning of public hearings
I proposed IL heads Of code improve
even that was said to be
q smart crack. The conferences have
and defined those IL
points but they have added no new
points. Merely for an administrative
reason, our proposal is (when all the
evidence is digested and a conclusion
reached) that the final suggestions be
announced as q presidential ruling,
governing all codes, and that definite
period be stated during which any in
dustry, or company, which finds rea-
sons why 1t cannot comply, shall be
given an opportunity to present those
reasons and why Gas to that industry
or company within an industry
there should be a modification, stay or
exemption. I must emphasize that
this applies to all IL points and not
merely to the question of hours and
points and all will be treated on the
same formula.
Now I want to say something about
this conference. Do you (who are sit
ting here) realize that when the Presi-
dent spoke 1t was to an economic con-
gress at which was represented the
whole OF American industry?
There has been much talk Of
economic planning. But nothing like
it has ever happened in the history
OF the world. It is as important as
the council Of Nicea or the treaty
Of Verdun.
Economic planning may be as per-
feet q guide for action as q sheet Of
piano music. but no harmony will ever
reach our ears If there is no keyboard
to the piano. Do you realize that we
have here-for the first time in his
tory-the keyboard Of a complete in
dustrial and commercial system and
upon 1t we hope you can ut last pro-
duce economic harmony? The Presi-
dent assembled it to use It for q
purpose for which it was created-to
improve certain business conditions,
in scope.
I will say frankly that have been
disappointed. Perhaps I expected too
much. I thought you would bring US
scme plan. I think that there are
still possibilities. believe that. on a
plan that I shall later present to you,
we will still get results.
We all want the purpose of this
meeting to prevail. We want to prove
through this codified organization that
industry, acting at the instance and
with the participation Of Government.
can produce definite results for the
general good. It Is something new
under the sun, but 1t Is not something