Evening star., 1940-05-04

had seating capacity several times
too large for the audience which
turned out to hear the orators. Up
ward to $500 attended.
Representative Norton of New
Jersey, staunch defender of the
New Deal and the rights of labor,
acted as moderator over a debate
participated in by Mr.. Jackson, Mr..
Hartman, Senator Meade of New
York, Democrat and liberal, and
Felix Morley, editor of the Wash
ington Post.
Opening the debate. Mr.. jackson
took as his subject, Business and
Government Have Worked To-
gether." He declared, "It is one Of
the syndicated fables of the oppo-
sition that this administration is
hostile to business"
Requested by Business.
practically every regulation that
has at any time been imposed on
American business has been cham
pioned by one group of businessmen
to protect itself from the COMPETE
tion or exploitation of another
group" Mr. Jackson said.
1T was businessmen" Mr.. Jack
son continued, who bought electric
power and the investors who bought
electric securities Who demanded
the regulation of the public utilities
holding companies. / am unable to
recall single antitrust prosecution
that was not instituted on the COM
plant of businessmen. Nothing
would be more disastrous than for
the Government to cease these acti-
vities and let business be governed
only by the principle OF dog at-dog. "
The administration. he continued,
is determined to arm the laboring
forces of the country with such
weapons as collective bargaining"
He expressed the belief this policy
is equally good for labor and busi-
ness.
The campaign of 1910 can be a
constructive one" Mr. Jackson said.
IF those who are complaining of
present legislation will state frankly
and honestly what they propose to
repeal and what they propose to
enact. Why not tell us what they
propose to do with the Labor Rela-
tions Act or the Wage and Hour
Act? How much profit will they
want from the great industries be-
fore they will be willing to support
old age pensions or relief for the
unemployed?"
Hartman Cites Change.
Mr.. Hartman, speaking generally,
discussed our transition from an
agricultural country with new
frontiers to develop to an industrial
land where the need is apparent for
the social insurance Of the individual
against three great hazards of life
sickness, unemployment and old
age"
He declared "it may we'll be true
that laws passed to give security
are not in all ways wise, and they
may require change and amendment.
To this end the Government and
business should study and dispas-
sionately Cooperate"
He insisted that business must
recognize that labor is entitled to
the untrampled right to organize
or to remain organized as it de-
sires, and to have a ceiling for its
hours and a floor for its wages"
Il personally feel that many de-
tails of our present labor acts are
unwise and that the administra-
ton of them is not entirely un-
biased" Mr.. Hartman stated, but l
do say to American business that If
it asks Congress to correct these
acts it should at the same time
lessen the need for such laws"
He spoke for free business enter
prise without Government compe-
tition" and declared that large
profits are necessary to compensate
industry for many and inevitable
losses"
Warns Against Low Profit Ceiling.
Any limitation of profit to 3 or
per cent. he said, will sound the
death knell of private enterprise
and herald the advent of state So
cialism."
The speaker praised Secretary of
State Hull for his reciprocal trade
treaties and for his stand In favor
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