Evening star., 1935-03-19

inspired with an unreasoning an
taQonisrn to the whole performance.
Now we face an accumulation OF
| hostilities to the N. r. A., which, as
expressed, presents an insane lncon-
sistency. Spokesman for big business
charge the N. r. A. with restraining
their monopolistic efforts to dominate
their field. Spokesman for small en-
terprises charge the N. r. A. with
control by big business and with the
oppression of the little fellow" En-
ployer associations claim the N. R. A.
has been administered for the benefit
of organized labor, while labor organ
izations complain of employer control
and failure to protect the interests of
the employees.
The truth is that the principles and
purposes of N. r. A. support none of
these charges. But the methods and
procedures In special cases give some
support to all of them. The law it
self and the fundamental. flexible
means OF its administration offer
every economic element ample pro-
lection and aid in the promotion Of
its just interests. All these interests
must be conserved and brought into
cooperation in any industrial sys-
tenn which is to provide security of
investment, security of employment,
the maintenance of profitable busi-
ness and the payment of good wages.
We have trieA without success in
the last SO years to accomplish these
results through hampering co-opera-
tion and encouraging undisciplined
competition. Monopolies have grown,
small enterprises have been extermi-
mated investments have become more
insecure, unemployment has been
chronic. millions of wage earners have
suffered from long hours of work at
starvation wages. There Is no hope
whatsoever of removing these evils by
going back to the old, unregulated
system which fostered them
The whole problem presented to
the Congress, as a deliberative body
of intelligent men representing all the
people, is how shall the framework
and administration Of the N. R. A.
be improved and strengthened, so that
through it our industrial system may
be improved and strengthened.
Hope for the Future.
The thorough going reactionary. who
wants to return to d discredited Sys-
tenn. who wants to lead us back to
chaos, is OF course, beyond the reach
OF argument. He does not want any
planning, or government, or dis
cipline in our economic system-just
an anarchistic struggle to survive.
God pity him-and those who follow
him! He and his kind have written
most of the bloody pages of history,
moved by and clarifying the most
brutal, selfish instincts of the human
animal
The Destroyers will stand with the
Old Guard against the appeal to reason
and cooperation in that self-service
and public service which are the in
separable aims and obligations of pri-
| vate business. Like the Old Guard
they want industrial warfare and
they Scorn an agency of peace.
| But the remainder of the Congress
the large majority, must be relied upon
| TO determine how should the law be
| rewritten to preserve It's demonstrated
! power for good and to safeguard the
| public interest against weaknesses or
abuses of power in its administra-
ton? Every just criticism of the act
or its administration has been met
in the proposals of the administration
for its extension and revision. Who
that is sane would tear down house
to get rid of bugs in the kitchen or
rats in the cellar?
The lessons of two years have been
learned by those who have lived in
daily contact with the work of the
N. R. A. Business men operating big
and little enterprises throughout the
fields of trade and industry have voted
by overwhelming majority for the ex-
tension of the law. Organized labor
without dissenting voice has called