Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-10-11

tween large groups OF
employers and large
groups of employees
through which there would be a cessa-
ton OF the strikes that have been dis
rupting the nations business. He said
he would ask the representatives OF
those forces to agree temporarily on
questions of wages, hours and working
conditions, and that with such agree
ments In force he expected further ad-
justments would be made ~peaceably,
through governmental or private medi-
alton.
Il shall not ask either employers or
employees permanently TO lay aside the
weapons COMMON to Industrial war; he
added. but | shall ask both groups
to give a fair trial TO peaceful methods
of adjusting their conflicts of opinion
and interest, and to experiment for 4
reasonable time with measures suitable
to ~civilize our industrial civilization.
By way of reply to the appeals OF
many business, industrial and financial
leaders that the more radical measures
OF the administrations program be
abandoned, Mr.. Roosevelt declared the
New Deal Is to go on. To the ques-
lions OF those leaders concerning bal
ancing Of the budget, government ex-
penses, further devaluation of the dol
lar or return to the gold standard, he
made no reply. However, he did de-
clare himself In favor of a system OF
business based on private profit. Then
he said.
Il am not for a return to that def
milton of liberty under which for many
years a free people were being gradu-
ally regimented into the service of the
privileged few. | prefer and | am sure
you prefer that broader definition Of lib
erty under which we are moving for
ward to greater freedom. to greater Sc
curity for the average man than he
has ever known before In the history
of America
Concerning the NRA, the President
gave praise to General Johnson and
said the national recovery administra-
ton was entering its second phase,
which Is In turn a period of repair
ton for legislation which will deter
mine its permanent FORM He admit
ted there was q question as to the
wisdom of some of the devices EN-
ployed during the first phase OF the
NRA, but decried the attacks on the
constitutionailty of many of the things
his administration mas done. I'VE are
not he said, frightened by reaction
airy lawyers or political editors. All
these cries have been heard before
Near the beginning of his address,
the President said:
Il am happy to report that after
years Of uncertainty, eliminating In
the collapse Of the spring of 1899, we
are bringing order out of the old chaos
with a greater certainty Of the employ
ment Of labor at a reasonable wage
and OF more business at a fair profit.
These governmental and industrial de-
yelopments hold promise of new
achievements for the nation"
First formal response to the Presi-
dents speech came from the National
Association OF Manufacturers, which
urged him to Issue a proclamation for
a truce on Industrial warfare during
which existing employment relations
would be continued, and challenged the
American Federation of Labor /. take
like action. Its statement said:
"The President VIII hnd employers
willing to sit down with him, as he
proposes, to devise means for ending
the constant series of strikes which
have been me of the major obstacles
to recovery"
Green and Morrison, respectively
president and secretary Of the fedora
ton, said this was a subterfuge and
that the manufacturers should first
publicly announce they would obey the
decisions of constituted authorities. es.
pecially concerning discrimination and
collective bargaining.
WHILE President William Green
w and some other leaders of the
American Federation of Labor, just
convened In San Francisco, expressed
approval Of what Mr.. Roosevelt said In
his radio address, many others prom
inent in the federation are far from
satisfied with the way things are 60
ing. The executive councils annual
report devoted pages to an. analysis of
the effect Of the MIRA upon the inter.
ests Of labor. Almost without excep-
ton, the effects we're found either dl-
rectly harmful or at least unsatlsfac-
tory. y
The criticism was directed at the
workings OF the recovery program. Ia
actual operation. The MIRA and the
New Deal itself were not condemned.
But the committee indicted the pro
gram on these main grounds.
That IT has failed to increase the
purchasing power Of workers.