Montana labor news., 1938-09-15

jumped Ill per cent. The fourth week of
July shows a substantial reduction in the
unemployment figures. All of this bears out
our contention that the industrial machine
is being recharged with energy due to the
federal governments spending program.
Government Regeneration
Outstanding political advocates of free
enterprise untrammeled by government
interference" who strenuously oppose the
federal government in its efforts to provide
employment for those not needed or wanted
by private industry, nave been very ingeni-
Gus in coming phrases which pass for logic,
as a means of befuddling the public.
The fear that the government is regiment
ing the American people" and that the Amer
lean public through its government canno
borrow and spend itself into prosperity"
are two such deceptive phrases.
The term Recommendation Immediately
recalls to the mind of the listener compulsory
military enlistment, military maneuvers I'M
der %compulsion, the goose step.
Public men who decry RECOMMENDATION of
industrial activity by the government are by
no means opposed to RECOMMENDATION provided
their own people" are privileged to do all
the regimenting. In every industrial activ-
ity, a certain amount of voluntary regimenta-
ton is necessary. Wage-earners must agree
to regiment themselves at the time clock
when work begins and at the close of the
work day; and agree to work all of the hours
intervening in accordance with the program
laid down for them by the management.
Every time you see a musical comedy, you
witness a high degree of RECOMMENDATION in the
routine of the ensemble. The music produced
by the orchestra or the band constitutes a
high degree Of RECOMMENDATION.
Mass production industry, transportation,
the operation of department stores, hotels,
restaurants, ETC., could not be carried on
without a high degree of voluntary regi-
mentation. All employees engaged in these
enterprises must forego a certain amount Of
personal discretion for certain periods of the
day in exchange for their wages.
There has also been augmentation under
a private banking system of depositors at
closed banks; and RECOMMENDATION of the I'M
employed in lines at charity soup-kitchens"
and before closed factory gates.
RECOMMENDATION, however, is not in itself
Objectionable, provided there is no compul-
sion about entering into it for stipulated
periods.
Similarly, a species of RECOMMENDATION is
invoked in the performance of work in our
navy yards, arsenals and other governmental
industrial activities. There is no %compulsion
about entering into this RECOMMENDATION, ex-
cept the necessity on the part of the indi-
vidual of making a living the same as in
private industry. The fear of losing an op-
portunity to make a living, the spur of neces-
sity, constitutes the compelling force where
any exists.
The government should be credited with
regimenting opportunities for employment
and should not be unjustly accused of regi-
menting its citizens under compulsion.
The fact is that those who decry this kind
of government RECOMMENDATION in reality want
"Organized Business to do all the regiment
ing of the American people, without having
their grip on the situation challenged by a
peoples government.
In all of the federal spending that has been
going on, a high degree of RECOMMENDATION has
been essential, the same as in private indus
try. However, no government employee has
been compelled to be regimented against his
will; nor have government contractors been
regimented, except to the extent that they
must live up to the requirements Of the plans
and specifications prescribed, in turning out
the work, and observe decent conditions Of
employment, as prescribed by the law. They
have not been compelled to accept contracts
under compulsion. The RECOMMENDATION to
which they may have been subjected by the
government has been entered into ~voluntar-
lily. They could have refused to accept the
contracts, and have the government do its
own work in its own plants.
The other phrase that the American public
through its government cannot borrow and
spend itself into prosperity" is likewise de-
ceptive. 1t is intended to convey the same
idea as that you cannot lift yourself by your
boot straps" The fact is that private industry
is successfully transacting business in this
manner every day. Merchants and manufac-
turers borrow money from the banks and
spend it in purchasing goods and materials
to be sold, or to b. used in manufacturing
processes, and sell the product at a profit.
If it is possible for private business to borrow
and spend itself into prosperity, it is equally
possible for the federal government TO do