Evening star., 1935-03-19

the primary test of ability to COM
mand a national audience? Do they
realize, although these vaudeville
artists have their value and useful
ness, that as molders Of public opinion
they are a grave menace to our ma
tional sanity?
It was not the incidental fact, or
fiction, of Nero f1ddling during the
burning of Rome that destroyed the
empire. 1t was the underlying fact
that the people of Rome were becom-
ing accustomed to look upon their
government as the provider of bread
and circuses, and were forgetting that
self-government and self-support are
serious business. to which the
masses and the leaders of the people
must give their serious attention most
Of the time If they are to prosper and
to survive as a nation.
Emotion or Reason?
The critical issue of 1885 lies in
this question: Is public opinion to
be formed, and the leadership of busi-
ness and politics to be guided, more
and more by unreasoning emotion, or
shall We see a revival of the rule of
reason? Are the ShouterS, the ex-
horters and the wise-crackers going
to dominate public thinking, or, before
long, will bored and noise-weary
people turn off the radios, turn away
from the believing, in the press and
on the platform, Of obstructionists
and destroyers and listen to progress
minded leaders in business and
politics who, on the basis of long ex-
perience and practical knowledge, are
known to be sincerely working for the
greatest good Of the greatest number?
OF course, every one will listen to the
President. But it takes thousands of
lesser voices to create and maintain
a, sound public opinion in a nation
Of 125,000000 people.
Let me concentrate this critical
issue for a few minutes upon the
future of the N. R. A.
Nearly two years ago the President
asked the Congress for authority to
launch a great adventure in the re-
construction of our industrial system.
He proposed to establish cooperation
within trades and industries, between
industries, between management and
labor and between business and the
Government. so that all could work
together more effectively for the COM
mon good The Congress passed the
law. The National Recovery Admin
istration was created.
The N. R A. has accomplished a
great deal in the unemployment OF
labor. in improving wages. hours and
working conditions, in eliminating un-
fair competition, in protecting small
enterprises, in balancing production
against consumption, in establishing
! better, fairer industrial system cap
ble of greater and more sustained
srvice to the general welfare.
The N. r. A. has made many mis-
taxes, as was inevitable. But its most
dangerous and dubious policy lay in
tn effort to accomplish a far-reach-
inl reorganization of business in a
few months, and in the resort TO CO.
ercSn and emotion in order to drive
Management. labor and consumer
into the acceptance of sweeping
changes in customary methods of do
ing business and in the relations be-
tweer industry and Government. There
were many valid reasons for rapid,
vigorous action Many good results
we're achieved by speed, excitement
and c'mpulsion. Idle workers were
empltysd and wages were advanced to
an extent unprecedented in the re-
coVery from any previous depression.
Hostility Generated.
But at the same time hostility was
generated, along with much sullen
acquieserc, instead of willing coop
Grafton. assistance to methods were
begotten ,Nn when principles and
purposes were approved. The vast
complexity d the operations of the
N. R. A. Increased the difficulty of
understanding Many of those who
sought to learn something about it
became exaseated with the difficulty
of learning ernlgh about it for intelli-
gent criticism ard became emotionally