Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-17
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
I hope you will be kind enough to
print this. my effort to comply with
the Presidents wishes for more con-
structive criticism on the N. r. A.,
etc. While sincerely hoping that the
N. R. A. will have been worth the
effort because of its educational fea-
lures. cannot conceive of the pos
sibility OF it becoming a success in
achieving its stated purposes. How
ever. do believe there is a way out
Of our present and continued predica-
ment and wish briefly to outline my
idea Of what Is necessary in order
that people may work and live again
without change in our present form
Of government.
Early in 1892 Mr.. Roosevelt made
speech in Georgia in which be re-
terred to the necessity for a more
equitable distribution of income or
wealth. but AL called him a demagogue,
and since then the President has
confined himself to pretty strong
language indicating that the idea of
more equitable distribution of income
is necessary, but he has not used the
word. Nevertheless. he has spon-
sored some very excellent starting
point legislation, but it seems he is
still unprepared to bring forth a
real program with the declared pur-
pose of bringing about more eQuita-
bic distribution of income.
Every one knows that the real rea-
son for our present plight is the fact
that during and since the war enor-
nous profits were made by a few Of
the financiers and industrialists, but
comparatively little of these profits
were permitted to filter through to the
working class and masses. These
profits were, of course, made possible
by modern methods and machinery.
but the working classes, who are also
the consumers, were not permitted to
get a large enough share to buy back
their production and, of course. sur
pluses were accumulated, production
was stopped and unemployment pre-
vailed. Mr.. Hoover recommended and
put over the r. F. c. to loan money
to railroads SO they could pay their
NSbIS W Vic dllSC SOiARoAAASo.
OF course, previous to that he urged
all employers, late in 1929. not to
reduce wages. and now the N. R. A..
is urging" them to increase wages
and shorten hours, and that is about
all that it is possible for the N. r. A.
or any other organization to do
Just urge!
The real problem is to bring about
a more equitable distribution of in
come, SO that the mass. the workers,
the consumers, when they have the
power-buying power-to consume,
may again be permitted to work and
live. Of course, it is obvious that
the Federal Government is the only
agent that could possibly bring this
reform about, and if the problem were
recognized, admitted and dealt with
frankly and honestly, we would prob
ably be much nearer the solution of
the problem than We are today or
than there is present indication of
our being in the near future.
The most effective way for a more
equitable distribution of income ever
yet conceived which Is both enforce
able and practicable is through tax
alton. Our present income tax law.
assuming the Couzens amendment will
become part of the law, is big
step in that direction, but it would
seem to me that since 1t is the Presi-
dents desire to raise wages and sal
aries, the taxing of the excess profits,
with a definite tie-up or relation to
the wages maid would be a much
more effective method of increasing
wages than an N. r. A. with 600 codes
and Thousands Of individual Arms and