davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

To raise the purchasing power
Of the farmer is, however, not
enough. 1t will not stay raised
If we do not also raise the pur-
chasing power of that third OF
the nation which receives its in
come from industrial employ
ment. Millions of industrial
workers receive pay so low that
they have little buying power.
Aside from the undoubted fact
that they thereby suffer great
human hardship, they are un-
able to buy adequate food and
shelter, to maintain health or to
buy their share Of manufactured
goods.
We have not only seen mini
mum wage and maximum hour
provisions prove their worth
economically and socially under
Government auspices in 1898,
1894 and 1885, but the people
of this country, by an over
whelming vote. are in favor of
having the CongreSs-this Con-
greSs-put a floor below which
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

In relation to tax changes,
three things should be kept in
mind. First, the total sum to be
derived by the Federal Treasury
must not be decreased as a re-
suit of any changes in schedules.
Second, abuses by individuals or
corporations designed to escape
taxpaying by using various
methods of doing business, cor
porate and otherwiSe-abuseS
which we have sought, with
great success, to end-must not
be restored. Third, we should
rightly change certain provi-
sions where they are proven to
work definite hardship, espec-
tally on the small business men
of the nation. But, speculative
income should not be favored
over earned income.
It is human nature to argue
that this or that tax Is respons-
ible for every i'll. It is human
nature on the part of those who
pay graduated taxes to attack
all taxes based on the principle
The Washington times., 1938-01-03
Hits at Trusts

either fooling himself or trying
to cheat his fellow men. He
wants to eat the fruits, OF
orderly society without paying
for them. .,.,.
AS a nation we have rejected.
any radical revolutionary pro-
gram. For a permanent correc-
ton of grave weaknesses in our:
economic system we have relied
on new applications Of old demo-
cratic processes. It is not neceS-
sary to recount what has been
accomplished in preserving the
homes and livelihood of millions
of workers on farms and in
cities, in reconstructing a sound
banking and credit system, In
reviving trade and industry, in
reestablishing security of life
and property. All we need today
Is to look upon the fundamental.
sound economic conditions to
know that this business recess
sion causes more perplexity
than fear on the part Of most
people and to contrast our pre-.
vailing mental attitude with the
terror and despair Of five years
ago.
Furthermore, we have a new
moral climate in America. That
means that we ask business and
finance to recognize that fact,
to cure such inequalities as they
can cure without legislation but
to join their government in the
enactment of legislation where
the ending of abuses and the
steady functioning Of our eco
nomic system calls for govern
ment assistance. The nation
has no obligation to make Amer"
lea safe for incompetent bust
ness men or for business men
who fail to note the trend Of
the times and continue the use
of machinery Of economics and
practices of finance as outworn
as the cotton. spindle Of 1870.
Government can be expected
to cooperate in every way with
the business of the nation pro-
vided the component parts Of
business abandon practices
which do not belong to this day
and age, and adopt price and
production policies appropriate
to the times.
The Washington times., 1938-01-03
Farm Aid, Pay Rises
Declared Essential
CONTINUED from Page u

than that of many Of the farm
ers of Europe, whom we are
wont to call peasants; that the
prices of our products of agri-
culture are too often dependent
on speculation by nonfarming
groups and that foreign ma
tions, eager to become self-suS-
tanning or ready to put virgin
land under the plough, are no
longer buying our surpluSes OF
cotton and wheat and lard and
tobacco and fruit as they had
before.
Since 1893 we have knowingly
faced a choice of three RENE
dies. First, to cut our cost OF
farm production below that OF
other nationS-an obvious i'm
possibility in many crops today
unless we revert to human
slavery or it's equivalent.
Second, to make the Govern
ment the guarantor of farm
prices and the underwater OF
excess farm production without
limit "a course which would
bankrupt the strongest Govern
ment in the world in decade.
Third, to place the primary
responsibility directly on the
farmers themselves, under the
principle Of majority rule, so
that they may decide, with full
knowledge of the facts OF sur
pluses, scarcities. world markets
and domestic needs, what the
planting of each crop should be
in order to maintain a reason
ably adequate supply which
will assure a minimum adequate
price under the normal proc
esses of the law of supply and
demand.
That means adequacy of sup
ply but not glut. It means ade-
ouate reserves against the day
of drought. 1t is shameless mis-
representation to call this a
policy of scarcity. 1t is in truth
insurance before the fact, in
stead of Government subsidy
after the fact.
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

Another group Of problems af-
fectlng business, which cannot
be termed specific abuses, gives
us food for grave thought about
the future. Generically such
problems arise out of the concen-
tration of economic control to
the detriment Of the body polite
control of other peoples
money, other peoples labor,
other peoples lives.
In many instances such con-
centrations cannot be justified
on the ground of operating ef-
ficiency, but have been created
for the sake Of securities profits,
financial control, the suppress
sion of competition and the am
bition for power over others. In
some lines Of industry a very
small numerical group is in such
a position of influence that its
actions are of necessity followed
by the other units operating in
the same field.
That such influences operate
to control banking and finance
is equally true, in spite of the
many efforts, through Federal
legislation, to take such control
out of the hands of a small
group. We have but to talk
with hundreds of small bankers
throughout the United States to
realize that irrespective Of local
conditions, they are compelled
in practice to accept the poll
cies laid down by a small num-
Der Of the larger banks in the
Nation. The work undertaken
by Andrew jackson and Wood
row Wilson is not finished yet.
The ownership Of vast prop
critics or the organization OF
thousands of workers creates a
heavy obligation of public Serv-
ice. The power should not be
sought or sanctioned unless the
responsibility is accepted as well.
The man who seeks freedom
from such responsibility in the
name of individual liberty Is
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

eve must keep ourselves adequately strong in self de-
fense We propose to observe, have in the past,
treaty obligations; but cannot be certain of
reciprocity the part of others peace most greatly
opardzed in and by those nations where democracy has
been discarded or never developed'
eve have been discovering that vast numbers of
farming population live in poverty abject than
that of many of the farmers of Europe whom we are
wont to call peasants"
"To raise the purchasing power of the farmer is how
ever enough. It will stay raised if do not
also raise the purchasing of that third of the nation
which receives its income from industrial employment"
Nlons of industrial workers receive pay so low that
they have little buying power the people of this
try by overwhelming vote in favor of having the
Congress-ths Congress-put floor below which indus
trial wages shall not fall and ceiling beyond which the
hours of industrial labor shall not rse.'
"Wage and hour legislation, therefore, is problem
which is definitely before this Congress for action is
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

Again I revert to the increase
of national purchasing power
as an underlying necessity Of
the day. If you increase that
purchasing power for the farm
ers and for the industrial work
ers-especially for those in both
groups who have least of it to-
day-you will increase the pur.
chasing power of the final
third of our population-thoSe
who transport and distribute
the products of farm and fac
tory, and those of the profeS-
sions who serve all groups. I
have tried to make clear to you,
and through you to the people
of the United States, that this
is an urgency which must be
met by complete and not by par
tial action.
If it is met-if the purchas.
ing power of the nation as a
whole-in other words, the total
of the nations income-can be
still further increased-other
happy results will flow from
such increase.
We have raised the Nations
income from thirty-eight billion
dollars in the year 1882 to about
Sixty.eight billion dollars In the
year 1887. Our goal, our objec-
tive is to raise it to ninety or
one hundred billion dollars.
We have heard much about a
balanced budget, and it is inter-
esting to note that many Of
those who have pleaded for a
balanced budget as the sole
need now come to me to plead
for additional government ex-
The Washington times., 1938-01-03
Workers Exploited

the simple reason that there
they will find a greater indus
trial efficiency and happier
workers.
No reasonable person seeks a
complete uniformity in wages in
every part of the United States;
nor does any reasonable person
seek an immediate and drastic
change from the lowest pay to
the highest pay. We are seek
ing, of course. only legislation
to end starvation wages and
intolerable hours; more deSir-
able wages are and should con-
tinue to be the product Of col.
lective bargaining.
Many of those who represent
great cities have shown their
understanding Of the necessity
of helping the agricultural third
of the nation. I hope that those
who represent constituencies
primarily agricultural will not
underestimate the Importance of
extending like aid to the in.
duStrial third.
Wage and hour legislation,
therefore, is a problem which is
definitely before this Congress
for action. 1t is an essential
part of economic recovery. 1t
has the support of an over
whelming majority Of our peo-
pie IL every walk of life. They
have expressed themselves
through the ballot box.
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

In regard to the relationship
of Government to certain
processes of business, to which
7 have referred, it seems clear
to me that existing laws require
reconstruction. I expect, there
fore, to address the Congress
in a special message on this
subject, and I hope to have the
help of business in the efforts
of Government to help business.
I have spoken OF labor as an
other essential in the three
great groups Of the population
in raising the nations income.
Definite studies in collective par
gaining have been made and the
right of labor to organize has
been nationally recognized:
Nevertheless in the evolution OF
the process difficult situations
have arisen in localities and
among groups. Unfortunate d1-
visions. relating to jurisdiction
among the workers themselves
have retarded production within
given industries and have, there
fore, affected related industries.
The construction of homes and
other buildings has been hin
dered in some localities not only
by unnecessarily high prices for
yootaIialS but also by certain
hourly wage scales.
For economic and social rea-
sons our principal interest for
the near future lies along two
lines: First, the immediate
desirability OF increasing the
wages of the lowest paid groups
in all industry; and, second. in
thinking in terms of regular
izing the work of the individual
worker more greatly through
the year-in other words, in
thinking more in terms OF the
workers total pay for a period
of a whole year rather than In
terms of his remuneration by
the hour or by the day.
In the case of labor, as in
the case of capital, misrepreSen-
tation of the policy of the Gov
ernment Of the United States Is
deception which will not long
deceive. In both cases we seek
cooperation. In every case
power and responsibility must
go hand in hand.
I have spoken of economic
causes which throw the nations
income out Of balance; I have
spoken of practices and abuses
which and correction
through the cooperation of cap
ital and labor with the Gov
ernment. But no government
can help the destinies Of people
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

There are many communities
in the United States where the
average family income is pitt
fully low. 1t Is in those COM
munities that we find the poor
est educational facilities and the
worst conditions of health.
Why? 1t is not because they are
satisfied to live as they do. It
is because those communities
have the lowest per capita
wealth and income; therefore,
the lowest ability to pay taxes;
and, therefore, inadequate func-
tioning of local government.
Such communities exist in the
East, in the Middle West, in the
Far West, and in the South.
Those who represent such areas
in every part of the country do
their constituents ill-service by
blocking efforts to raise their
incomes, their property values
and, therefore, their whole scale
of living. In the long run, the
profits from child labor, low
pay and overwork enure not to
the locality or region where
they exist but to the absentee
owners who have sent their CAPT.
tai into these exploited commun-
tiles to gather larger profits for
themselves. Indeed, new enter
prises and new industries which
bring permanent wealth will
come more readily to those COM
munities which insist on good
pay and reasonable hours, for
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

Any such plan for the control
of excessive surpluses and the
speculation they bring has two
enemies. There are those we'll
meaning theorists who harp on
the inherent right of every free
born American to do with his
land what he wants-to cultl-
vate it well-or badly; to con-
serve his timber by cutting only
the annual increment thereof
or to strip it clean, let fire burn
the slash and erosion complete
the ruin; to raise only one crop
and if that crop fails, to look
for food and support from his
neighbors or his Government.
That, I assert. is not an in
herent right of citizenship. For
If a man farms his land to the
waste of the soil or the trees,
he destroys not only his own
assets but the Nations assets.
Or if by his methods he makes
himself, year after year, a finan-
cial hazard Of the community
and the Government, he be-
comes not only a social problem
but an economic menace. The
day has gone by when it could.
be claimed that Government has
no interest in such ill-considered
practices and no right through
representative methods to stop
them.
The other group of enemies
Is perhaps less well-meaning. 1t
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

my judgment, the expenditures
of the National Government can.
not be cut much below seven
billion dollars a year without de-
stroying essential functions or
letting people starve. That sum
can be raised and will be cheer
fully provided by the American
people, if we can increase the
nations income to a point well
beyond the present level.
This does not mean that as
the nations income goes up the
Federal expenditures should rise
in proportion. On the contrary,
the Congress and the Executive
should use every effort to hold
the normal Federal expenditures
to approximately the present
level, thus making it possible,
with an increase in the nations
income and the resulting in.
crease in tax receipts, not only
to balance future budgets but
to reduce the debt.
In line with this policy fall
my former recommendations for
the reorganization and improve
ment Of the administrative struc.
ture Of the Government, both
for immediate Executive needs
and for the planning of future
national needs. I renew those
recommendations.
The Washington times., 1938-01-03
Deficit to Be Cut

penditures at the expense Of un.
balancing the budget. AS the
Congress is fully aware, the an
nual deficit, large for several
years, has been declining the
last fiscal year and this. The
proposed budget for 1889, which
I shall shortly send to the Con-
greSs, will exhibit a further de-
crease in the deficit, though not
a balance between income and
outgo.
To many who have pleaded
with me for an immediate
balancing of the budget, by a
sharp curtailment or even elimi-
nation of government functions,
I have asked the question
What present expenditures
would you reduce or eliminate?"
And the invar1able answer has
been 'That is not my business
know nothing Of the details,
but am sure that it could be
done" That is not what you
or I would call helpful citizen
ship.
On only one point do most of
them have a suggestion. They
think that relief for the unem-
ployed by the giving of work is
wasteful and, when ! pin them
down, I discover that at heart
they are actually in favor of sub.
stituting a dole in place Of use
full work. To that neither I nor,
1 am confident, the Senators and
Representatives in the Congress
| will ever consent.
The Washington times., 1938-01-03
Pledges Business Aid

who insist on putting sectional
and class-conSciousneSs ahead Of
general veal. There must be
proof that sectional and class
interests are prepared more
greatly than they are today to
be national in outlook.
A government can punish spe-
cific acts Of spoilation; but no
government can conscript CO.
operation. We have improved
some matters by way Of reme-
dial legislation. But where in
some particulars that legisla-
ton has failed we cannot be
sure whethec it fails because
some of its details are unwise
or because it is being Sabotaged.
At any rate, we hold our objec.
tives and our principles to be
sound. We will never go back
on them.
Government has a final re-
sponsibility for the well being Of
its citizenship. If private CO.
operative endeavor fails to pro-
vide work fpr willing hands and
relief for the unfortunate, those
suffering hardship from no
fault of Their own have a right
to call upon the Government for
aid; and a Government worthy
of its name must make fitting
response.
It is the opportunity and the
duty of all those who have faith
in Democrstic methods as ap-
piled in industry, in agriculture
and in BUSINESS, as well as in
the field Of politics, to do their
utmost to cooperate with Gov.
ernment = without regard to
political affliation, special inter.
estS or economic prejudiceS-
in whatever program may be
sanctioned oy the chosen repre-
sentatiVes If the people.
That presupposes on the part
of the representatives Of the
people a program, it's enact
ment and Es administration.
Not beca !se of the pledges Of
party programs alone, not be-
cause of he clear policies of
the past I've years, but chiefly
because Of the need of national
unity in ending mistakes of
the past and meeting the
necessities Of today, we. must
carry on
: do rtt propose to let the
people dovn. -:
I am SIRE the Congress Of
the Unitel States will not let
the people down.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT,
The Wtite House,
January 8, 1898.
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

in production until such time as
the surplus is consumed; the use
of patent laws to enable larger
corporations to maintain high
prices and withhold from the
public the advantages of the
progress of science; unfair COM
petition which drives the smaller
producer out of business locally,
regionally or even on a national
scale; intimidation of local or
State government to prevent the
enactment of laws for the pro-
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

I am as anxious as any banker
or industrialiSt or business man
OF investor or economist that
the budget of the United States
Government be brought into
balance as quickly as possible.
But I lay down certain condi-
tions which seem reasonable and
which I believe all should accept.
The first condition is that we
continue the policy Of not per-
mitting any needy American
who can and is willing to work
to Starve because the Federal
Government does not provide
the work.
The second is that the Con-
gress and the Executive join
hands in eliminating or curtail-
lER any FeQeral ACTIVITY WHICH
can be eliminated or curtsiled or
even postponed without harm
ing necessary Government func-
tions or the safety of the nation
from a national point of view
The third is to raise the purchas-
ing power of the nation to the
point that the taxes on this pur-
chasing power - or, in other
words, on the nations income
will be sufficient to meet the
necessary expenditures Of the
National Government.
have hithertn stated that. in
The Washington times., 1938-01-03
Budgets Balancing
Second to Welfare

lection of labor by threatening
to move elsewhere; the shifting
of actual production from one
locality or region to another In
pursuit Of the cheapest wage
scale. ....
The enumeration Of these
abuses does not mean that bust.
ness as a whole is guilty Of them.
Again, it is deception that will
not long deceive to tell the coun-
try that an attack on these
abuses is an attack on business.
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

lished in those nations which
today know it not. In that
faith lies the future peace of
mankind.
At home, conditions call for
my equal candor. Events of
recent months are new proof
that we cannot conduct ma
tional government after the
practice of 1887. or 1887 or
1887, for the obvious reason
that human needs and human
desires are infinitely greater,
infinitely more difficult to meet
than in any previous period in
the life of our Republic. Hitherto
1t has been an acknowledged
duty of government to meet
these desires and needs; moth
ing has occurred of late to
abSolve the Congress, the courts
or the President from that task.
1t faces us-as squarely, as in
Sistently, as in March, 1888.
Much of trouble in our own
lifetime has sprung from a long
period of inaction-from ignor-
ing what fundamentally was
happening to us, and from a
time-serving 'mwillingpess to
face facts as they forced them
selves upon us.
Our national life rests on two
nearly equal producing forces,
agriculture and industr., each
employing onethird Of our citi'
zens. The other third trans
ports and distributes the prod
ucts of the first two, or per.
forms special services for the
i whole.
The first great force. agri-
culture-and with it the pro-
duction of timber, minerals and
other natural REIMBURSEMENT
forward feverishly and thought
lessly until nature rebelled and
we saw deserts encroach, floods
destroy, trees disappear and soil
exhausted.
At the same time we have
been discovering that vast num-
bers of our farming population
live in a poverty more abject
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

ing only because Of existing low
wages and long hours. 1t has
been my thought that, especially
during these past five years,
this Nation has grown away
from local or sectional selfish
The Washington times., 1938-01-03

ness and toward national patri-
otism and unity. am disap-
pointed by some Of the recent
actions and by some recent
utterances which sound like the
philosophy of half a century
ago.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-16
Olympus Leaves Japan

According to news reports Japanese were disturbed to learn that their gov- ernment had given up plans of having the 1940 Olympic games takes place in Tokyo If anything was needed to drive home the fact that the Japs are in war to the finish with the Chinese this decision cer- tainly shows it. It also indicates that in Japanese military circles there is pretty good idea that the present war, just year old, is apt to extend into 1940 and perhaps far beyond it. Further than that sud- den end to hostilities in the next year would leave Japan unable to prepare properly for the Olympics.
 Finland has already put in strong bid for the title the Japs are relinquishing. At first some athletic representatives in that nation, when notified of the decision to seek the games expressed the opinion they could not be ready in time for 1940. But now the impression seems to prevail that if the governing body makes speedy decision in Finland's favor it would be able to coordinate it's forces and make record in staging first-class athletic games under forced conditions
 The natural thing for the international Olympics committee to do might be to return to the site of the last games. This would be Germany, but feelings are still running pretty high against alleged