Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-07-26
National Topics Interpreted


Ions of the national Industrial recov-
cry act when that question comes up
for congressional action next January
or February. An undercurrent of in
formation, to the effect that a move
ment to that end is under way, has
begun to seep into Washington in a
growing volume. 1t indicates that we
will hear much about NRA during the
coming campaigns. Indeed, some OBJ
servers are convinced that President
Roosevelt already is attempting to get
the Administrations side of the story
to the country by sending General
johnson, recovery administrator, out
for a tour Of speechmaking to sell the
blue eagle to the country.
The President, 1t will be remem-
bered, already has declared that NRA
must be made a permanent part of our
economic structure. have found few
persons who disagree with that. There
is a difference of views, however, and
1t is emphatic, as to the extent to
which NRA should 60 in managing the
country's business on a permanent
basis. 1t is upon that question, there
fore, that the battle apparently will be
waged.
From what can pick up around
here, 1t is certain that a considerable
portion of the business interests is de-
sirous Of a Limitation on the recovery
act provisions so that they will apply
really Just to establishment Of maxi
mum hours Of labor and minimum
wages, and to abolition Of the sweat
shop and elimination of child labor.
They are determined in their opposi-
ton to retention In the recovery act of
provisions that give power to fix
prices, to control production and to
grants Of authority that bring private
business books into the limelight when
ever shopping government agents want
to dig into private affairs Of individ-
uals or corporations. Frankly, think
that feature has done more to discred-
1t NRA than any other phase of the
law under which it operates. On the
other hand, only the meanest and
cheapest of individuals can oppose any
move that is designed to provide better
working conditions and hours of labor
for those who live by the sweat of
their brow.
While obviously none can foretell
the result Of this issue at such an
early date, the opinions that gather
among observers here make me be-
lieve that there is quite popular ap-.
peal in the argument which is being
advanced for revision of the recovery
act and limitation of NRA control.
Folks generally will go along with
propositions that work for betterment,
but which do not at the same time In
clude invasion Of what they believe to
be their personal rights. The admins
tration contends, however, that extern
sion Of the recovery act powers-or at
least, retention Of the powers now ex-
istant in NRA-are not an invasion of
personal rights beyond the necessity
for creating greater human happiness.
But the hard-headed business man,
great or small, Is going to be hard to
convince, it seems to me, that govern
prices and doing some of the other
things now permitted is not an undue
messing with his personal affairs.
The lessons Of the four-year depres-
sion have been so severe that there Is
little evidence of important opposition
to curtailment of hours of labor Like
wise, sound business leaders cannot
justify opposition to minimum wages
nor can they find a safe ground upon
which to propose use of child labor or
operation under sweat shop conditions
Politically, therefore, labor will be in
terested only in those four items; the
women vote Of the country probably
will be interested only in accomplish
ment Of those ends, and business in
terests worthwhile will not object.
Attention was called above to the
tour which General johnson is making
in behalf of the
Johnson Wants blue eagle of the
to Retire NRA. and it will
be recalled that
some months ago I reported on the
probability of changes in NRA man.
agement. During General Johnson's
absence, a board OF five men consti-
tutes the administrative authority of
NRA. 1t seems to be in the nature
Of an experiment. II 1t works out sat
isfactorily, we may expect to see the
veteran army officer retire to private
life. He has said as much. He wants
to get back into private business. Mr..
Roosevelt, however, likes the fighting
qualities of General Johnson, and it
is still possible that he will remain
on the job. He is responsible for the
general plan Of MIRA administration
and the theories embodied in the va
rious codes. 1t would seem, therefore,
that the man who worked out the
codes should stay along and sift
them down to the permanent level, II
permanency be the goal.
Whether General johnson continues
at the helm, or whether the manage
ment Of that work is entrusted finally
to General Johnson's hand-picked
group Of FIVE, It is certain that the
summer and autumn will witness elm
nation Of many petty features of
codes that have proved to be only an.