Evening star., 1938-12-13

nomic reform and social readjust-
ment which has been accomplished
for the American people. He led
the Nation safely through its most
dangerous period. He saved our
capitalistic system of free enterprise
and, by. his courageous leadership in
government, he has been bringing
the country back to normal condi-
tions.
There are, of course, many people
today anxious to forget that dark
and dismal period when terrified and
desperate people bent their ears to
the radio to hear the vibrant and
courageous voice of President Roose-
velt proclaiming that "the only thing
the people of this country have to
fear Is fear ITSELF" Our country is
now emerging from these dangerous
conditions which had threatened its
destruction, and there are many who
would have us forget the necessity
for these far-reaching reforms and
social readjustments which we have
enacted. For five years Congress
has been steadily engaged in formu-
latlng and enacting this broad
program Of legislation designed to
correct the economic evils and in
Justices which had grown up under
our industrial system.
In order to improve the condition
OF labor, we enacted the Wagner
Labor Relations Act, which under
takes to place labor on an equal
footing with industry in bargaining
power, thus aiding and strengthening
u In It's efforts to secure a fair and
Just division of the fruits of industry
we have enacted a Wage and Hour
Act designed to aid that large Sec
tlon OF American labor which is at
present unorganized and has been
exploited in certain sections of the
country. This legislation will, no
doubt, be the subject of some amend
ments during the coming session
Its general purpose and object, how
ever, has the approval of the Amer
lean people. The result of this legis-
latlon will be to increase the pur-
CHASING power of millions of workers
who have been the victims of serious
exploitation as result of their un-
organized condition.
Social Security Deficient.
we nave enacted a social security
program which I think represents a
ma ]or achievement in the social
legislation of the United States. The
various provisions Of this act are
helping to dispel the fear of poverty
and destitution. The purpose and
intent OF the act has met with gen.
eral approval throughout the coun-
try. 1t is acknowledged, however. to
be deficient in many respects. Many
persons and groups of workers are
excluded from its provisions relating
10 old-age insurance, unemployment
insurance, old-age assistance. and
aid to mothers and dependent chill
dren. The benefits fixed bv the act
are also insufficient in amount and
should be increased During the
coming session this legislation will be
completely overhauled and improved
AT the commencement of the
Roosevelt administration an effort
was made to assist the farmers of
the country in securing a fair share
OF the national income. It was rec
ognized that the American farmer
has been the victim of our American
tarlf1 policy. Under that policy
farm income had gradually dwindled
This, in turn, affected the general
prosperity of the country. There
can, OF course, be no widespread
prosperity until farm prices and
farm income are brought into parity
with industrial prices.
The original A. A. A. Act of 1893
sought to remedy these conditions,
1t worked well and was generally
satisfactory to the farmers. Under
1t. prosperous conditions were de-
veloping in all agricultural sections
OF the Nation, but the act finally was
declared unconstitutional by the
supreme Court. This ruling had
left the farmers without any pro-
gram until the passage Of the Agri-
cultural Act of 1898. Meanwhile
as result of this situation, an over
production of competitive crops had