Evening star., 1939-01-19
|ndustfia|ists Cheered
By Talk Of Hopkins
Harmony Plans
PorIey With WiIIkie
Expected to Be One
OF First Moves

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 19.-Some lead
ing industriaists predicted yester-
day that the congressional conarma-
ton of Harry Hopkins as Secretary
of Commerce would be followed by
a series Of conferences between Hop
kins and nationally-knoWn business
leaders, If present plans are carried
out.
Hopkins, these sources said, has
already outlined the scope of his
plans to number of prominent
business men, and financial world
emissaries purporting to carry mes
sages from him have contacted
others
In Hopkins behalf, those leaders
already contacted we're told:
l. Hopkins was named Secretary
of Commerce to do job" namely,
bring business and Government to-
gether.
2. He has the blessing, and also
the ear, of the President in his new
venture.
g. The New Deal was represented
to be prepared to enter whole
heartedly" into an "appeasement"
program, in which the administra-
ton would undertake to give con-
sideration to serious requests Of
big business" that were found not
to be incompatible with the general
social and economic objectives of the
New Deal.
Sound Out Willkie.
One of the first conferences. these
sources said, is expected to be be-
tween Hopkins and Wendell l.. Will
kie, president of Commonwealth &
Southern Corp, who has waged a
running battle with the New Deal
over the Tennessee Valley Authority
power project.
Purported emissaries of good will
have told Willkie, the sources con-
tinued, that Hopkins wishes not
only to work out permanent de-
marcation of Wilkes private power
operations and T. V. AS power dis
trict that will be mutually satisfac-
tory, but hopes in SO doing to make
a convincing demonstration that
the Government hereafter will
keep out of business"
Willkie, they said, has in reply
indicated he would enter without
any previous reservations or preju-
dices into such discussions, if he is
formally asked by Hopkins.
Labor Truce Talked.
Despite Hopkins own denial ir
Washington recently that he in.
tended to bring the American FED.
Grafton of Labor and the Congress:
of Industrial Organization together
these sources said that the same
supposed Hopkins emissaries have
spread the word that Hopkins doe
intend to try to reduce labor fric
ton as a major and early task in hi
program, in an effort to answer tn
not infrequently heard criticism il
Wall Street circles that the New
Deal has failed to reduce labo
Troubles.
Although the general attitude 0
: those approached on the subjec
. has been at least receptive, and il
some cases quite optimistic, it wa
explained, considerable skepticisn
continues to be expressed, partly, n
doubt, for reasons of political bias
but partly also in the belief tina
aside from the particulars men
. toned and general expressions Q
. good will. there would be little tn
{ New Deal could do without amend
;. ing laws it fought to obtain and ha
hitherto opposed changing in majo
!. particular.
- However, the President in hi
. opening message to Congress, tn
: industrialists pointed out, did Civ
=, some hope to those adherents il
= Wall Street who expect no effec
tive opposition from the admins
tration relative to such quasi-leg