Evening star., 1936-12-14

NdS II u IL
dates Of the r.x,a r.vr.r..
meeting confiicted
with the dates Of the Council Of Amer
lean Industry called by the National
Association Of Manufacturers to meet
IN New York City last week.
Mai. Berry could easily have selected
come other dates. Weeks in advance
however, important men in the busi-
ness world turned thumbs down on
the Berry conference. Privately, some
said they felt he had forfeited his
usefulness by becoming political per-
sonality in the last election at the head
Of 'Labor's Non-partisan League"
while others said he was so definite
partisan in behalf of labor's side in
controversial matters that he did not
fulfill the requirement of an impair
tial chairman Of such an all impor-
tant conference.
Participation Inevitable.
Granting that both these accusa-
tions have some justification-and it
will be noted that Maj. Berry told a
radio audience he was prepared to
withdraw if he himself was an obstacle
to progress-the fact remains that
; the Berry conference did tackle some
vital problems and that the business
men of America must sooner or later
begin to participate in just such con-
ferences if they are to keep the United
States from embarking on even more
radical experiments than heretofore.
Conference and consultation does
not mean commitment. 1t does mean
debate, discussion, exploration of prin-
ciples, examination of fundamentals,
and If American business men do not
have the qualified Spokesmen to hold
up their end of the argument in any
form Of this kind, then they can
hardly blame the public for assuming
their cause is on those points without
merit.
Plans Further Consideration.
The Berry conference did nothing
more than adopt report for further
consideration on such important ques-
tions as maximum hours and mini
mum wages, fair trade practices, re-
vision of antitrust laws and means
Of furnishing working capital to small
businesses.
All Of these points are absolutely
vital to the recovery movement in
American. and it will be conceded that
once 100000 persons are employed,
there will be tendency for radicalism
10 s,Ibside because 1t will lose its prin-
etpal reason for existence.
But doubtless business leaders, as
they viewed the program in advance,
did not wish to commit themselves on
the matter Of minimum wages or
maximum hours. These are, to be
sure, knotty problems, but there is
. every reason for presenting economic
information and facts to the confer
ence as well as to the court of public
opinion So that nasty action will not
be taken.
What are the objections to a Fed
eral regulation of maximum hours?
The industries of the United States
can present the difficulties in certain
specific lines. Thus, there is an abun-
dance Of information which shows
that there is a shortage of skilled
labor and that lengthening Of hours
Is absolutely essential if prices are not
to go out of bounds and injure the
consumers pocketbook.
Proof Wanted.
n 1t is proved, for example, that in
many industries hours are being
heightened because no apprentices
have been trained during the years Of
the depression, then the proposal to
Ak maximum hours becomes nothing
more nor less than a camoufiage for
tbs purpose of raising wages unduly
and hence showing up consumer costs
more rapidly than his pay envelope
can absorb: ...
Until the American people fully
understand that the vast body of con-
sumers, especially persons who work
In unorganized fields, cannot be ex-
pected to get wage increases as rap
idly a. their brethren and that real
hardship comes from precipitate in
ereases in the cost of living for every
body, the whole question of fixing
maximum hours by legislation takes
on . different color.
The history of industrial United
States reveals gradual curtailment
In the hours Of work per week, and
the tendency toward shorter and
shorter hours from q health stand
point is well recognized. But when
~ shorter hours cut down the wealth Of
the Nation and make difficult the
exchange Of goods at proper prices,
then an entirely different set Of cir
sumstances present themselves.
No Progress In Ignoring.
A. for minimum wages, it will be
arTued that this has a local aspect
and that conditions in the South, for
example. differ from those In the
North. Yet it will be agreed by econ
omists as well as by political leaders
that Americas future prosperity, and
Incidentally her political stability, de-
pends on what Is done for the low
income groups. This is best tackled
by fxing minimum wages, whether
By the States or the Federal Govern
ment or by both. But progress Is not
made by avoiding discussion and de-
bate and q wholesome exposure to
the air Of all points Of view relating
10 such paramount questions Of the
hour. Mai. Berry's conference af-
Sorded such an opportunity, but busi-
ress men for the most part snubbed
ths meeting, though they were de-
eIaring almost coincidentally In New
York City their desire to cooperate
With the Government.
They may not have liked Maj
8erry's views-he Is well liked per-
scually-but, after all, he held thu
titIe Of co-ordinator and PERSONA
representative Of the President OF tht
United States, and 20 long as Presi-
dent Roosevelt sanctioned the ap-
pcintment and the conferences, 1t wal
the duty Of business men to attend
Il rather than ignore IL. {
- = n.