Evening star., 1934-12-09
R0PER'S ADDRESS
HELD S|GN|F|CAN
Express Presidents Desire
to Reconcile Conflicting
Interests.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

DAVID La " nCNSLs
Business can continue to take the
administration at its word that CO.
operation is its aspiration, its true
objective, notwithstanding all the
fantastic predictions made now and
then by persons here and there in the
vast machinery of the New Deal.
Dan Roper, Secretary of Commerce,
wise, seasoned, able and energetic,
went to Warm Springs and talked at
length with President Roosevelt, but
most of the press dispatches preferred
to talk about DR.. Tugwell or the con-
f1ict between Messrs. Ickes and Moi
felt.
But when Mr.. Roper came away
from Warm Springs he had the draft
of a very important speech which he
delivered Thursday before the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers.
Cites Six Major Points.
What Mr.. Roper said followed the
broad outlines of Mr.. RooSevelt's re-
assuring address on the radio Sep
tember 30 It is the first important
poSt-election statement that has been
made by any member of the admins
tration and, therefore, carries far
reaching significance. Mr.. Roper
stated his ideas in six major points,
which are worth repeating here:
Business and Government work.
ing comparatively now face a pro-
gram that will:
Il. Restore as rapidly as possible
the return of relief responsibilities
and administration to States and To-
calities in order to relieve the Fed
eral Government of its large relief
expenditures.
20. Plan sound public works pro-
gram that will provide worthwhile
projects of general utility, where such
aid is most needed, without conflicting
with private investment and private
industry.
''3. Devise practical plan for un-
employment reserves which will bring
a spirit of greater assurance and
safety to employees without penalizing
business progress.
a. Open foreign markets to secure
. more extensive exchange of goods.
IS. Prepare for Congress sugges-
tions and recommendations looking to
the preservation of those features In
the National Recovery Administration
which have proved workable and sue
cessful and the elimination Of those
which have not. This must include
the readjustment of code operations
in the light of experience and admin
iStration SO as to safeguard equitable
treatment for all business and in
duStry, large and small.
IS. Seek every means possible to
re-employ capital. This is just as
vital a recovery asset as the re-
employment of labor, and business
must seek every means possible to re-
lease and re-employ capital"
Program Held Sound.
The foregoing is a program which
business leaders unquestionably will
call sound and constructive. Mr..
Roper urged that efforts to draw
lines of demarcation between classes"
in America be discouraged. pointing
out that "the laborer of today be-
comes the manager of tomorrow" and
that the manager of today in our
proflt-and-loss system may become
the worker Of tomorrow when his
business fails"
There is no doubt that the Roper
address will be regarded by business
and industry as inspired by the Presi-
dents desire to bring about the all
important reconciliation between con-
flicting interests which is so essential
to the development of the recovery
program.
Also, just as Donald Richberg a
week or so ago stressed the impor-
tance of the heavier goods industries
and the possibilities of replacing obso-
lescent equipment, so Secretary Roper
is pointing to the same thing, for,
after referring to the deferred assets
of recovery" he declared that the
replacement of deprecated and obso-
lescent capital requirements offers to
business an opportunity to make an
ton to increased business activities"
Point of View Changed.
A year ago this sort of philosophy
was difficult to get over to Govern
ment officials. The theory that over
production had caused the depression
and that hence America was overbuilt
in every direction was too deeply
rooted to be dislodged. Now, however,
it is beginning to be apparent to the
administration that what the heavier
goods industries and the partisans of
the idea of aiding the machinery in
dustries were thinking about pri-
marily was replacement of existing
facilities.
For things wear out. During the
last five years many kinds of small
machinery and equipment have worn
out. Businesses have hesitated to
make commitments for new purchases.
Now, with inStallment credit being
rapidly developed, and with the ad-
ministration endeavoring to instil
confidence. it is plain that one of the
main avenues for Unemployment will
be in the heavier industries. Alto
gether Mr.. Roper's address and his
point of view will materially strengthen
the entente which has been develop
ing during the last several weeks be-
tween business generally and Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
(Copyright 1934)