Evening star., 1939-02-25

reachlng just agreements with en-
ploycrs. Labor must fully realize
that under our economic system
businessmen have to make money to
hire workers" That is sound COM
mon sense. 1t is something, how
ever, which many businessmen have
contended the New Deal admins
tration has failed utterly to take
into account in the past.
Mr.. Hopkins said emphatically the
Government is desirous of doing
everything it can to create an en-
vironment in which private invest
ment is encouraged. Well, that Is
certainly just what business and in
dividual American investors desire,
too.
Shift in Emphasis.
The Secretary of Commerce in
sisted that there are few persons
today who are not glad that the
program of social reform-contained
in the New Deal laws-has been
placed on the statute books. He re-
GREETED he said, that it had to be
put SO hurriedly. He added, That
is the price we paid for the past
when previous administrations sold
the Nation short on long overdue
social legislation. Is it not, there
fore, better to have a program of
reform substantially completed than
to have to look forward to important
changes rot begun?
With the emphasis shifted from
reform to recovery this administra-
ton is now determined to promote
that recovery with all the vigor and
power at its command"
Mr.. Hopkins plea to business to
do its utmost and his pledge of
friendly consideration by the Gov
ernment are the strongest utter
ances along these lines made by any
New Dealer since the New Deal
began. His speech undoubtedly will
be we'll received by many business
men, but not by the lawyers. The
lawyers, Mr.. Hopkins said, are the
| city slickers-he did not use this
phrase-Who have caused a great
deal OF the trouble between the Gov
ernment and business in recent
years. The bigger the lawyers the
worse they acted, according to Mr..
Hopkins.
II business expected any back
tracking from the New Deal pro-
gram and legislation on the part of
Mr.. Hopkins, it was doomed to dis
| appointment. He gave the program
clean bill of health, and particu-
larly did he praise President Roose-
velt and his attitude.
Law Changes Assured.
| What will be the effect of Mr..
Hopkins address on business re-
mains to be seen. Business received
no assurances that any of the laws
10 which it has objected are to be
amended. 1t received no assurance
that the administrations S spending
program is to be curtailed. 1t was
told, on the other hand, that Mr..
Hopkins. like the President and
Secretary of the Treasury Morgen-
thau, does not believe that any new
taxes should be levied-although he
might like to have some amended
1t was told. too, that Mr.. Hopkins
is going to do his level best to help
business help itself and that he
believes basically in the things in
which businessmen believe, relating
to free enterprise and the right to
earn profits.
Mr.. Hopkins address is regarded
as bid for the support of a large
section of business which has been
. anti-New Deal. If business conf
dence is restored and if business
improves, there seems good reason
to believe that the party now in
power will be returned to Office in
the elections Of 1910. II these
things do not happen. it looks as
though nothing on earth could pre-
vent defeat of the party in power
at the polls. 1t seems obvious,
therefore, that the present effort
of the New Deal administration to
bring recovery" and to forget for
the time being reform is full of
political significance Naturally, 1t
will take more than one speech to
make Mr.. HOPKINS a presidential
nominee, if he has any such am
bitions.