The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-05-19
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r. y. r. Likes This One
One Of the two points made by the
Is big financial leaders in pledging
cooperation between business and
government really appeals strongly
to President Roosevelt, If it can be
arranged according to his own for
mula. The other is absolutely at
variance with his philosophy, and
has no chance Of adoption.
The point he approves is, in effect,
a short-circuit of the antitrust laws.
1t would permit the interests en-
gagged in a particular line of bust.
ness to agree on production SEIZED
ules, even prices, and other details
calculated to prevent the humps and
valleys # normal business curves
lf-go ment experts, represent
ing The eeople, sat in on the con-
ferences and had the veto power
ON any important decisions.
Applying the principle, if Henry
Ford would agree to sit down with
General Motors. Chrysler, and the
other motor makers, and agree on
how many cars each would pro-
duce, what the prices would be, and
to eliminate the possibility of fore
ing sales SO hard this year that next
year the result would be lay-offs of
workers, the President would think
that was getting somewhere. But
he would want to have his own APP
pointees refereeing the decisions,
with the right to say mo-" effectu-
ally, at any stage. AS, for instance,
if he thought the prices agreed on
were too high, or if there were any
attempt to squeeze the small pro-
ducers.
This is particularly good il
lustration of the theory because no
one believes it is possible. Every
one who knows anything about Hen
ry Ford thinks he would close his
factories down before agreeing to
anything SO violently in conflict with
his whole concept of what is good
for the automobile industry in par
ticular, and the country in general
| General Motors and Chrysler would
like the theory very much, progd-
ing that part about the government
expert having the veto power could
be stricken out, or at least made
innocuous.
Please Other Lines
There are other lines of business
which would welcome the idea. 1t
is essentially what was proposed in
the original recovery program, UNI
der MIRA. Also, it is essentially
what was in the understandings be-
tween the oil operators which SO re-
Gently resulted in their being con-
victed in an antitrust suit.
| 1t is positively not the idea of
Sen. William E. Borah, nor of Rob-
ert H. Jackson, nor of Thurman w.
| Arnold.
The other obvious proposal of the
big Sixteen" is simply absurd,
from the White House standpoint,
The idea of President Roosevelt CIV
ing up his economic and social OBJ
jectives is SO fanciful that it is sin
cerely doubted by some friends of
several individuals on the big Six
teen" whether they did not have
their tongues in their cheeks when
they signed the document.
The President had just reiterated
his insistence that a bill providing
for federal regulation of wages and
hours must be passed before con-
gress adjourns. He was in the midst
of the preparation of his antitrust
message. He had on his desk the
speech to be delivered by Trust
buster Arnold. But more than that.
every friend he has knows that he
has a whole truckful of new ideas
for legislation intended, through the
imposition Of the power OF the gov
eminent on business, to better the
lot Of the downtrodden.
But meanwhile he would like the
approval Of business for his spend
ing program
Q Bell syndlcaic.-wNU Service.