The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-01-07
BUSINESS AND
LABOR BECOME
GREAT ISSUES
ROOSEVELT SAID To BE IN
GOOD SPOT TO BARGAIN
WITH DIFFERENT oRcANI.
CATIONS 80
By BYRON PRICE
fChIef af Iiureau. The Associated
Press Washington

~ tOAy
An attempts to chart the adj
ministrati5n's probable course on
labor ana industrial legislation
have bumped up against barrier
Of Presidential silence which would
seem to be deliberate rather than
accidental. Whatever he may be
thinking personally, Mr.. Roosevelt
manifestfy is in no hurry to dis
close his. program. either to con-
gress or TO his associates.
Administration stalwarts in the
senate, however, have been hur-
Tying To the front with schemes,
both oil and new. to aid labor.
Many Of these have had Mr..
Rooseveit's approval in the past
and undoubtedly viii again. Cuff
fey, for a third time, viii intro
duce a bin to maintain prices in
the soft coal industry; O'Mahoney
viii have a licensing bill for all
corporations engaged in interstate
commerce; and Wagner viii pro-
pose a huge housing program.
That is only a start.
Labor leaders view the situation
with more complacency than do
business executives. Both in pub
lie and in private they have said
confidently that they expect adj
ministration support for most of
their measures. Their first prob
lem, however, is to consolidate
gains already made and to find
some common ground of their
own.
FD.R. Can Afford To Wait
Factors apart from the imme-
date past must be considered in
any thorough analysis OF the rea-
sons for Mr.. Roosevelt's silence.
Some months ago he called upon
business for greater cooperation
in reducing unemployment. Not
much came of this, other than a
tart exchange of ideas. and the
governments relief burden re-
mained heavy.
Since then, however, trade lev
els have forged steadily higher
with special dividends ard bonus
es marking a welcome change
from the skinny fare of depres-
sioa years. Thus business could
not as well plead poverty when
the President turned again to its
leaders in mid November and
asked for q report on what should
BE- done about wages, working
ctnditions and unemployment.
The second request was made
< the advisory council sponsored
by Secretary of Commerce Daniel
RoFer. which is a who's who of
buslness and finance in miniature.
This time three were no sharp re-
joinders. Instead the council ac-
cepted ''the responsibilities placed
upon us" and started to work.
Tbs time there were no sharp re-
uonions working out of the prob
lsEis.
Il also means that Mr.. Roose.
welt has called directly upon bust.
ness for a solution. He is willing
70 bide his time until a reply i:
made. The council knows full
well that its report is not the only
one which will reach the Presi.
dents desk Another will come
from Major George L. Berry:
group, composed mainly of small
basiness men and labor leaders
and recommendations from or
Ranized labor are inevitable.
Labor In Good Position
That suggests two avenues Of
approach for the council. a con
servatiye stand or one sufficient.
II liberal to stave off more radi-
cal proposals of other groups.
100 conservative report might
lave q reverse effect and smother
any chance sfor a middle-of-the
road program. The President
ar0bably viii weigh one recon.
Tnendation against another, anC
he Is in a good position to bar
gain.