The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-09-16

South's long standing wage advun-
tages, In Mr.. Hooks opinion, because
the law permits regional differen-
tials and real wages cannot be es-
tablished by fat To balance freight
rates without simultaneously bal
aneing wage rates and other exist
Ing differentials would put northern
industry, and particularly northern
labor, ct O disadvantage, To balance
quickly only the freight and wage
rates that have developed over @
period Of seventy-five years would
be impraeticable. TO balance neu-
trail advantages would be impos-
sible," he said.
Sharing Markets
For the North TO object 10 shar-
Ing Its substance and markets In
order that the South may advance
will bring upon II the charge OF self
ishness. Would well-to-da New Eng
land object TO sharing her capital
and home markets with southern
manufacturers In order that south
ern people may earn more and live
better9 II New England's answer Is
yes then let her be prepared for q
few epithets' Little interest will be
shown In the logic underlying her
answer which Is that II she does
share her markets and substance
with the South, then New England
herself might DO heading toward the
fate OF those whom she Is helping"
The speaker criticised the Report
OF the National Emergency Council
on economic conditions In the South
which, he said. paints picture Of
human distress amid bountiful re-
sources that, II not erroneous aS I
strongly suspect, does small justice
10 the people OF the South" Accom-
plishment of the south's desires TO
expand industrial activities and In
crease production would necessitate
obtaining new capital and wider
markets In areas where the standard
OF living Is higher and capital and
purchasing power more plentiful
New England should willingly agree
TO these proposals unless In the pro.
cess OF bringing them about New
England's own standard OF living
would decline as much as the
south's would gain, Mr.. Hook de-
elared
"Our southern friends may also
point out that while II Is true that
the increase OF the South's standard
of living might be ut the expense OF
the North In the beginning, from
then onward living standards OF
both sections would rise rapidly to-
gether 80 that the North would soon
DO back where II was and In O posi-
ton 10 advance more rapidly than
ever before. They would base such q
statement, OF course, upon the i'm
portance to the North OF O prosper
Gus South Assuming this theory 10
be correct In the abstract, could. the
North afford 10 take @ chance on II
rs q practical possibility when the
stakes are 80 high9 And what would
It's people be thinking and doing
\meantime9
NEW England Is fortunate In be-
Ing organized TO study these region
al problems and deal with them
realistically. The New England
Council, representing practically
every phase OF New England activ-
ity, while deeply deploring the
South's economic plight II, indeed, II
Is as bad as the report already re-
ferred 10 indicates, must, OF course
evulate the proposed remedies IN
terms OF their effect upon citizens
OF New England. Such evaluation In
wolves particularly their effect upon
our agricultural and manufacturing
industries. now closely interdepend-
emit. These two major industries pro.
vide the means OF livelihood for
more than half OF oil Our working
men and women. Likewise they 'sus-
tain our banking. commercial and
nearly oil oiir professional and serv-
Ice aetivitleA Any action, tending 10
disturb this closely knit economy
upon which the standard OF living
OF our people depends, must become
Ia once O matter OF deep concern "a
ug.
1--WE In New England doubtless fall
10 fully understand the situation
and viewpoint OF the South; doubts
less, our southern friends fall to
see how these matters appear In our
eyes. II the day arrives when
group OF southern business leaders
feel that they would like TO sit down
with O similar group from New Eng
land. certainly we Of the Council
would welcome the opportunity to
meet with them and Join In q dis
cussion OF our common problems"