Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-09-26
Gen. Johnson Steps Out.

Gen. Hugh S. Johnson is no longer
TO be "czar of industry and the
N. r. A. is to take on new form.
Both announcements, contained in the
letter of resignation submitted by the
general and the letter Of the President
accepting the resignation, are of great
importance to American industry and
labor. More important than the re-
tirement of the general, however. is
the reorganization of the National
Recovery Administration. What is to
be its direction? Will it mean more
or less interference and control Of
private business by the Federal Gov
eminent? The Government in bust
ness in the end spells politics in bust
ness, and that is not a pretty picture
nor does it make for real freedom.
On the contrary, it means special
privilege of rather low variety.
It is said that Gen. Johnsons re-
tirement as the head of the N r. A.
relieves the President and the admin
istration of much embarrassment
Whether this means that the admin
istration has been embarrassed by
Gen. Johnson's recent attack on the
leaders Of the cotton textile workers
or by his failure to see eye to eye with
Donald Richberg and Miss Perkins.
Secretary of Labor, in plans for the
revamping of the N. r. A., or both, is
not explained. 1t is merely said that
the continuance Of Gen. johnson as
administrator of the N r. A. was en-
barrassing to the administration.
Perhaps the administration believes
that with johnson out of the picture
it will be easier to give the country a
different opinion and conception of the
N. R. A. AS long as the general re-
manned on the job the N. R. A. would
retain the same flavor. It's revamping
is TO be along permanent" lines. It
was set up originally as an emergency
measure to aid recovery. 1t terminates
by law next June unless extended by
Congress. Presumably the coming re-
vision of the N R. A. will take the
form which the President will recon-
mend for permanent" legislation
when the Congress meets in January.
Many persons in the country believe
that the N r. A. has been set task
which, if carried through to the end,
would result in injury to industry and
the country as whole. These critics
have been cried down, however, on
the theory that they are seekers after
special privilege and that they are
merely selfish. If the day comes when
critics are silent because they fear
what may happen to them under the
long arm of the Government and its
control of industry 1t will be an evil
day for the country.
Gen. johnson was given a huge
task when he was appointed to head
the new recovery administration. He
has labored in season and out. He
has been the target Of labor. and Of
industry. He has been charged with
cracking down" on the workers and
the business men. The very fact that
he has been attacked from both sides
would lead to the belief he was
seeking to be impartial in his admin
istration. No one in his position
could have been entirely free from
mistakes. He showed courage and
tireleSs energy. He vitaliZed the
whole N r. A. set up. With his re-
tirement, the N. r. A. will, indeed,
lose color and change its appearance.
A board or council is to supplant
the general in control of the N. r. A.,
if reports are to be credited. There
are to be Legislative" and judicial"
agencies as well as executive" in the
new N. R. A. set-up What Congress
and the courts will think of such an
arrangement remains to be seen. The
purposes Of the revamped N. r. A.,
judging from the letter of the Presi-
dent to Gen. johnson accepting his
resignation, will be at least to continue
to prevent child labor in industry, to
maintain a fair wage" collective
bargaining" and the elimination Of
unfair practices within business. All
of these proposals have a fair sound.
No one could argue against them.
The difficulty arises, however, when
the Government undertakes to bring
them about by law and administra-
ton; in effect, by force.