Evening star., 1935-06-07

To let the conscience of business be
its guide. at least for the time being,
is apparently President Roosevelt's
fixed purpose. II industrial leaders
voluntarily continue to operate more
or less along N. r. A code lines, that
will be altogether agreeable TO the
White House. The point is that no
sort of legislative pressure TO require
business so 10 comport itself is in
prospect. 1t is going to be permitted
10 paddle its own canoe. wholly devoid
of Government control except for the
antitrust laws The President has
faith in the good intent OF the bulk OF
the business world. but is conscious
that a chiSeling minority can so de-
m0ralize wage. hour and competitive
conditions as to compel even right
minded employers. in spirit of self
preservation, to revert to practices
that we're banished under Blue Eagle
rule At any rate, the lid Is now on
and things are simply to run along as
best they can without Uncle Sam S
shepherding hand.
Speculation is unabated as to the
precise motives of Mr.. Roosevelt in de-
Gliding not to seek at this time any
new acts of Congress providing for
some constitutionalized N. r. A. regu-
lation of industry A common view IS
that F. D. RS purpose is to conform
Immediately and unqualifledly to the
Supreme Courts decision in order to
give the country a chance to see how
matters work out minus the system
which the court outlawed. After
April next if not before, there may
be indisputable evidence that economic
conditions were better under N. r. A.
In that event some New Dealers
reckon that there would be popular
demand for restitution OF the Blue
Eagle, If necessary through constitu-
tional amendment. While Mr.. Roose-
welt carefully refrains from any indl-
cation that these are his mental proc
esses, they are widely discussed as a
plausible explanation Of his program.
One thing is certain-through main
tenance of an elaborate fact-f1ndlng
organization on the ruins Of N. r. A.
the President will be able to keep close
tab on what happens during the next
nine months and to fashion his future
policy on the basis Of it.
II business improves in consequence
of the abolition of the Blue Eagle,
as its foes always predicted would De
the case, the administration might
Danish all thought of reviving 1t.
That would not prevent Rooseveltians
from setting up the claim that after
all 1t was N. r. A. and other New
Deal agencies that laid the founda-
tions for recovery. Thus there are
people who contend that no matter
what betides, barring serious business
setbacks, which few authorities an
ticipate. Mr.. Roosevelt's fortunes are
not in jeopardy. Unquestionably the
Nationwide reaction to his Sugges-
tion of constitutional changes did not
quite come up to expectation. The
view is encountered throughout po-
litical Washington that the President
would at this moment force the con-
stitutional issue at grave risk OF re-
buff, BY the time the 1885. cam
paign rolls around 1t may be dill
ferent story.
II X X
While its scope and general char
acter are to undergo drastic altera-
ton, the Naticr"l Recovery Admin
istration will nc. ',ave to change
alphabetical clothes to carry out the
principal assignment scheduled for
the stop-gap organization. 1t will
still be N. r. A.-National Research
Agency, though the skeleton baby
has not yet been thus ehrtstened.