Evening star. [volume], December 14, 1936, Page A-9, Image 9

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Business Lost
Glance for
Expression
Snubbing of Berry**
Conference Fails to
vSettle Problems.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Little noticed, yet deeply aig
nlflcant, was the meeting of
the Council for Industrial
Progress, otherwise known as
•MaJ. Berry's Conference,” which has
Just, ended Its sessions here.
The episode was Important because
, It illustrates the
way business men
make strategic
mistakes and then
wonder after
ward why public
• pinion goes
against them. The
Berry conference
was boycotted by
the principal busi
nesses and indus
tries of the coun
try. The ostensi
ble reason given
was that the
dates of the
meeting conflicted
David Lawrence.
with the dates of the Council of Amer
ican Industry called by the National
Association of Manufacturers to meet
tn New York City last week.
Maj. Berry could easily have selected
dome other dates. Weeks in advance
however, important men in the busi
ness world turned thumbs down on
the Berry conference. Privately, some
■aid they felt he had forfeited his
usefulness by becoming a political per
•onality in the last election at the head
of "Labor's Non-partisan League,”
while others said he was so definite
partisan in behalf of labor's side in
controversial matters that he did not
fulfill the requirement of an impar
tial chairman of such an all Impor
tant conference.
Participation Inevitable.
Granting that both these accusa
tions have some justification—and It
will be noted that Maj. Berry told a
radio audience he was prepared to
withdraw if he himself was an obstacle
to progress—the fact remains that
» the Berry conference did tackle some
Vital problems and that the business
men of America must sooner or later
begin to participate in just such con
ferences if they are to keep the United
6tates from embarking on even more
radical experiments than heretofore.
Conference and consultation does
not mean commitment. It does mean
debate, discussion, exploration of prin
ciple*. examination of fundamentals,
i and if American business men do not
have the qualified spokesmen to hold
up their end of the argument in any
form of this kind, then they can
hardly blame the public for assuming
their cause is on those points without
merit.
Plan* Further Consideration.
The Berry conference did nothing
more than adopt a report for further
consideration on such important ques
tions as maximum hours and mini
mum wages, fair trade practices, re
* vision of Rnti-trust laws and means
of furnishing working capital to small
businesses.
All of these points are absolutely
Vital to the recovery movement in
American, and it will be conceded that
once 9,000,000 persons are employed,
there will be a tendency for radicalism
to subside because it will lose its prin
cipal reason for existence.
But doubtless business leaders, as
they viewed the program in advance,
did not wish to commit themselves on
the matter of minimum wages or
maximum hours. These are, to be
sure, knotty problems, but there is
0 vvery reason for presenting economic
Information and facts to the confer
ence as well as to the court of public
opinion so that hasty action will not
he taken.
What are the objections to a Fed
eral regulation of maximum hours?
The industries of the United States
can present the difficulties in certain
specific lines. Thus, there is an abun
dance of information which shows
that there is a shortage of skilled
labor and that lengthening of hours
Is absolutely essential if prices are not
to go out of bounds and injure the
consumers’ pocketbook.
Proof Wanted.
If It is proved, for example, that in
many industries hours are being
lengthened because no apprentices
have been trained during the years of
the depression, then the proposal to
0x maximum hours becomes nothing
> more nor less than a camouflage for
the purpose of raising wages unduly
end hence shoving up consumer costs
more rapidly than his pay envelope
oan absorb. «
Until the American people fully
nnderstand that the vast body of con
sumers, especially persons who work
In unorganised fields, cannot be ex
pected to get wage Increases as rap
idly as their brethren and that real
hardship comes from precipitate in
creases in the cost of living for every
body. the whole question of fixing
maximum hours by legislation takes
on a different color.
The history of industrial United
Btates reveals a gradual curtailment
In the hours of work per week, and
the tendency toward shorter and
■barter hours from a health stand
point is well recognized. But when
* y shorter hours cut down the wealth of
the Nation and make difficult the
exchange of goods at proper prices,
then an entirely different set of cir
eumstanoes present themselves.
No rrocre— in Ignoring.
Am for minimum wages, It will be
argued that this has a local aspect
and that conditions in the South, for
example, differ from those in the
North. Yet it will be agreed by econ
omists as well as by political leaders
that America's future prosperity, and
tnddentally her political stability, de
Cds on what is done for the low
mim groups. This is best tackled
by fixing minimum wages, whether
by the States or the Federal Govern
ment or by both. But progress is not
maAa by avoiding discussion and de
bate and a wholesome exposure to
the air of all points of view relating
to such paramount questions of the
hoar. Uej. Berry's conference af
forded such an opportunity, but busi
ness men for the most part snubbed
the meeting, though they were de
claring almost coincidentally In New
York City their desire to co-operate
nttb the Government.
They may not have liked Maj.
Barry’s views—he is weU liked per
aomhy—but, after all, he held the
Bile of co-ordinator and penonal
representative of the President of the
fjtolted States, and #o long as Ptesi
dmt Roosevelt sanctioned the ap
pointment and the conference, it was
the duty of business men to attend
it rather than ignore it.
^ The President, of course, la mmf
News Behind the News
*
___________________________ »
King Edward’s Dislike for Job Advanced as Reason
For His Abdication.
BY PAUL MALLOW.
rg London dispatches, said: "The sovereign sacrtfeed his throne
for love.”
The official gossips here (that is the authorities who are in a
position to know a little and guess a lot) said: "Fooey! Mr. Wind
sor decided he did not like his Job many months ago. The tip-off esme
when little Princess Elisabeth was taken out of ordinary regal schooling
shortly after her grandfather s death
and placed In charge of special tu
tors to prepare her for queendom.
"Premier Baldwin was not only
not shocked at the turn of events,
but co-operated wholeheartedly
with Mr. Windsor in his scheme to
get out at the first opportunity.
Mrs. Simpson merely furnished the
opportunity."
Take your choice of these inter
Dretations. but be assured, in either
event, that a lot oX sawdust has run Xrom a lot or stunea sntisn oosonu
In the past week.
Note—George Bernard Shaw called the turn on It.
a a * a
There is more than a suspicion in semi-official quarter* here that tha
Duke of York will complete the disillusionment by being a Victorian mon
arch. He is a splendid character, they aay, but Incapable of fulfilling tha
illusion that kings are necessarily a higher type of ruler*.
The English are a resilient people. They can adjust them
selves to nearly anything, but possibly not to the stammering Duke
of York.
The current cycle of British events, some believe, began when Musso
lini escaped unharmed with laughter at the British Lion by conquering
Ethiopia. The British Empire has been maintained for centuries by the
simple but effective method of conquering the seas. They built more and
better ships than any one else, and therefore ruled the waves which tied
together their world dominions.
Since then, the airplane has been developed. Small nations with a
few million dollars’ worth of air bombers ean cut the British lifeline any
time they choose.
Note—The reason the British press is talking up Princess Elizabeth la
that ahe is far more popular with the people than her father.
* * * *
A complete reorganization of The White House secretariat is supposed
to be in the President's mind. The departure of Steve Early January 1
to fill one of those several offered jobs will open the way for it. No matter
how it finally is worked out officially, the real secretariat is composed of
the following, who may or may not show their faces publicly:
Thomas Corcoran, R. P. C. attorney, co-author with Ben Cohen of
the holding companies act, etc., now in excellent standing as a result of
his campaign help on speeches. (Corcoran wisely will not take an official
White House position, because it would nail down his activities with an
official sUmp. He can work better unofficially.)
Dr. Sanley High, the former radio preacher, who injected the religious
touches in the President's campaign speeches with great success.
Charles O. West, the phantom liaison man with Congress, who has
been working lately on the Ohio delegation for Mr. Rayburn’s election as
floor leader, and who is Assistant Secretary of the Interior, in name only.
(He might get Louis Howe's desk.)
Norman Baxter, publicity man for Jesse Jones, who was rushed up
to Maine to edit a newspaper which Mr. Parley bought in an effort to
swing that State. The liberals do not like him because he is Jones’ man.
Edward Roddan, than whom there is no better newspaper man. He
left Hearst to join the Roosevelt campaign crowd a* assistant to Charles
Michelson, and really could do- as good a job as Michelson will get the
credit for.
^ ^ ^
Peace people have been pestering the War Department with telephone
rails since the new war mobiliation scheme was given out. They assert
Bor
Mac*h
such publicity helps to create war.
The War Department is polite but
unrepenting. Its business is war,
in peace time as well as in war
time.
The background of its mobiliza
tion scheme is somewhat like the
old American Legion plan. It would
not seise industry, but It has can
vassed about 20.000 industrial
plants, of which 12,000 have been
obligated to co-operate on 24
hours’ notice. Also, it has a plan to establish a war finance board whicn
would finance plant changes. The plan covers everything from silk socks
to big guns.
The department says if this country gets into another war it will not
have to go through a transition period, as it did last time.
The best tip on the current trend of affairs lies within the plat
form adopted by the National Association of Manufacturers at its
annual convention. Fundamentally, it is an invitation to business
leaders to make their own New Deal before Mr. Roosevelt does it
for them.
The significant thing about the report is the signatures to it. Mem
bers of the committee which drew it up include most of the prominent
men who financed the Liberty League and the campaign against Mr.
Roosevelt, Including a du Pont.
(Copyrisht. 1P36.)
-_a_._ ' '
what at fault for not clearing up the
question of Maj. Berry's future status,
especially since the Business and Ad
visory Council in the Department of
Commerce, set up by Secretary Roper,
was established to achieve the very
purpose which MaJ. Berry'* confer
ence has sought to accomplish.
(Copyright, nets, by the North Americas
Newspaper Alliance. Ine.i
rflS F STRI
® Pleasing Him is our business!
u
9S
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maroon, navy blue,
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shawl collars with
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I §1
CTHE opinions of the writers on this page are their own, not
necessarily The Star’s. Such opinions are presented in
The Star’s effort to give all sides of questions of interest 'to its
readers, although such opinions may be contradictory among
themselves and directly opposed to The Star’s.
Abdication Loosens Empire
! * .
Dominions Likely Now to See Economic Forces
Without Sentiment of Crown.
BY JAY FRANKLIN.
HR hum an-interest angle* of
King Edward's romance and
the constitutional flub-dub of
Prime Minister Baldwin*
struggle with the legal head of the
British Empire have hidden the real
meaning of the royal abdication.
As the consequences of this event
unroll in the years to come, it will
be discovered that the United King
dom has turned the dominions a little
more adrift and has thrown in Us lot
a little cloeer to the fate of Europe.
To us, this will mean closer rela
tions with Canada, Australia and
New Zealand, whose defense will
depend Increasingly upon the Amer
ican Navy. To the British, It will
mean a more active policy on the
European continent, beginning with
the Spanish situation. The Anglo
French joint proposal to Portugal,
Italy, Germany and Russia for medi
ation In Spain is a clear sign that
England feels freer to act in Europe,
now that the crown has been reduced
to its old position as the private
property of the British Parliament.
Dissolves Link.
This threatens to scrap the post
war statute of Westminister, under
which the British dominions had a
vested interest in the crown equal to
that of the United Kingdom. Despite
the long-distance wig-wagging be
tween London and the dominion cap
itals and despite the fact that Mr.
Baldwin, strongly backed by his own
Parliament, was convinced that the
dominion cabinets sympathi7ied with
his position, it is a fact that the
dominion parliaments, of which their
cabinets are merely the executive
committees, were not consulted on
this serious step. It should also be
noted that the British Parliament
itself was not consulted—merely faced
with an accomplished fact resulting
from Mr. Baldwin’s pressure on King
Edward, without opportunity to learn
the facts of the dispute or to consult
the will of the electorate.
The fact that' forced abdication
was thus possible, on a minor issue
of marital and constitutional correct
itude, explodes the entire legal theory
of the King-Emperor who served as
the golden link In the British com
monwealth of nations. Since the
crown was also the symbol of the
power of the British Navy, the flow
of British trade and the circulation
of British finance, nothing real has
been changed.
But the way Is now open for a freer
play on the part of natural economic
and political force*—with lees senti
mental distortion. Thus the abdica
tion *» part of the long process by
which the dominions have been drift
ing away from the mother country.
This reached an acute stage shortly
after the outbreak of the war, when
dominion entanglement In a conflict
which they had not helped to create
led to the establishment of the Im
perial War Council to separate diplo
matic representation at the Peace
Conference In the League if Nations
and at other International gather
ings. The statute of Westminster,
passed in December, 1931, went a
little too far in giving legal expression
to this trend, for it was apparent
that so long as nations like New Zea
land and Australia had to rely on the
British Navy for defense, they could
not In fact enjoy practical inde
pendence.
Crown’s Prestige Staggers.
Developments since 1931, however,
have modified the political chemistry
of empire sentiment. The rise of an
aggressive Japan which the British,
entagled in Europe, are powerless to
oppose, has increased the strategic
and political dependence of Australia,
New Zealand and Canada upon the
United States. The threat of war in
Europe, with the rise of Mussolini
and Hitler, has compelled England
to become part of the old European
balance of power which dragged the
empire and ourselves Into the last
World War. Our big navy policy
and—whisper It not in gath’—Mr.
Hull's trade agreements policy, have
put us in the position to undertake
the responsibility of the defense of
Canada—as part of the Monroe Doc
trine—and to consider the defense of
the Pacific dominions as welL
Under these circumstances, with
the real bonds of empire steadily
loosening, the symbolic bond becomes
less Important. And at this moment
in history, the British cabinet and
the ex-King together have dealt a
serious blow to the prestige of the
crown. The result is that the far
flung empire has been flung a little
| farther—for a small loss—and that
| we move a little closer to our natural
position as the center of gravity of
, the English-speaking world.
1 (Copyright. 1936.)
MRS. BOETTIGER BEGINS
WORK ON SEATTLE P.-l.
Becomes Director of Homemakers’
Club of Northwest, Paper
Announces.
BT the Auocleted Frew.
SEATTLE. December 14 —Mrs. Anna
Eleanor Roosevelt Boettiger, (laughter
of President and Mrs. Franklin D.
Roosevelt, took over Saturday her
first work on the Seattle Poet-Intelli
gencer, of which her husband, John
Boettiger, is publisher. ^
The newspaper announced she had
been appointed director of its Home
makers' Club of the Northwest.
Whether Mrs. Boettiger personally
would edit a page devoted to the club
was not announced.
Boettiger, former Chicago and
Washington, D. C., newspaper man
and assistant to Will Hays, president
of the Motion Picture Producers and
Distributors of America, was appointed
publisher November 25 by William
Randolph Hearst. •
--9 • ■
Electric Map Aniweri Queries.
An electrified map in the Los An
geles office of the Automobile Club
of Southern California answers mo
torists' mileage queries by flashing
the number and also the location of
the points mentioned. It contains 13
mile* of wire.
IVjshington
IVaits for it!
Washington
Welcomes it!
Clearance
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Group Two: Regular $40 SUITS & OVERCOATS*
Kuppenheimer & Grosner Tailoring. Fine, meaty wor
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Kuppenheimer, Grosner & AA-1. The finest that Kup
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Tigertwists, Embassies and imported French worsteds!
•The overcoats are Kuppenheimer’s, McGregor’s and
worsted cheviots, formerly $65.
OPEN A CHARGE ACCOUNT—10 Pay, Budget or Monthly
HOUSE OF KUPPENHEIMER GOOD CLOTHES . . . GROSNER of 1325 F St.
This Changing World
"Edward the Quitter" History’s Label Likely for
Former King.
BY CONSTANTINS BROWN.
Whatever the emotional feeling may be regarding Edward's right to
live like any other ordinary mortal, there 1* little doubt that history will
label him as “Edward the quitter.”
For the aake of maintaining the prestige of the crown—badly shaken
throughout the Empire—the prime minister* and the other official* of
England have thrown bouquets at the abdicated monarch.
But there Is a strong feeling that, regardless as to what his heart
Inclinations were, the former monarch had no right to abandon his throne
at tne present moment, wnen
Great Britain is In grave danger,
ease
There is no doubt that as far as
shirking responsibilities, Edward
left the throne at the right mo
ment. His brother, King George
VI. is taking over under moat dif
ficult circumstances.
The atmosphere in Europe is
becoming almost unbearable. Eu
ropean statesmen expect a war to
breax wnnin tne next lew montn*. orant pessimisvs mini n mum wish
only a few weeks and believe that the chief danger point is once more in
Spain.
* * * *
The Spanish civil war has been internationalised. Germans and
Italians have complete control over Francos exhausted armies.
One heart mostly the Italian language spoken at Salamanca,
the headquartert of Franco, while in the press bureau of the revo
lutionary government you are out of luck if you do not speak
German.
There are 5.000 Germans in Spain ready to enter the firing line, while
some 10,000 Italian “volunteers” are being enrolled in the "8panish
Leagkm” in Italy and are expected to land on Spanish soil in the course
of this week.
Franco's troops have been checked before Madrid by the “foreign
column," composed mostly of French "volunteers." 8oviet military advisers
hold the most responsible positions in the Loyalist Army. It is needless to
add that the aviation of both belligerants la Italian and German on
Franco's side and Russian on the Loyalist side.
What will be the repercussion in Europe when these “volunteers"
clash for th^* first time is difficult to say. But there Is no doubt that their
first encounter is expected with tremendous apprehension.
* * * *
The British government realises the dangers of the situation and
while determined to keep out of trouble it is afraid that it will not be
able to stay out of the fray for long. The neoessary preparations to meet
the emergency are being taken in London.
A food defense plan department hat been set up within the
Board of Trade. It will work in conjunction with Sir Thomas
Inskip, minister for co-ordination of defense. This new department
has estimated the reserve of foodstuffs necessary in the event of
war to cover a period of 12 month*.
Great Britain is now in the market to purchase 3.650.000 tons of wheat.
5.000,000 tons of potatoes. 1.300,000 tons of cheese, 2,250,000 tons of
onions and 625,000 tons of butter.
* * * a
The food defense department is endeavoring at the present moment
to obtain effective storage for these supplies and avoid as much as possible
hoarding, control prices and flx prices on freights.
Plan* are being rormuiatea ior
commandeering all home product*
of meat, wheat, barley, oat* and
milk.
* * * a
In Germany, where military
preparation* are rushed with the
utmost possible speed, the govern
ment has started the rationing of
foodstuffs and clothing. This
measure of the Berlin government
worried the French government
more than the actual military preparation* or the Heirn. iney laise tms
control of food and clothing a* a definite sign that Hitler considers that
the moment to strike Is rapidly approaching and he does not want to
leave anything to chance.
* * * *
Despite the official denials from Berlin and Tokio that there is no
military understanding between the two countries, report* from Berlin
indicate that the Japanese military attache in Berlin, Gen. 0*hima, is
now a frequent caller at the Reich's foreign office. He also is frequently
aeen in the offices of the German chief of tuff, an office only rarely
visited by foreign officers. _
Gambling Casino Not to Open.
As a protest against high taxes the
Palais de la Mediterranee. the gam
bling casino at Nice, Prance, will not
open for the Winter season.
Land Reclamation.
A big project of land reclamation
and drainage la to be carried out In
the mountainous districts of Tipperary,
I Irish Free State.
Headline Folk
and What
They Do
—
Dancing Airp!ane
Credited to Seversky,
I Russian War Ace.
BY LEMUEL F. PARTOV.
MAJ. ALEXANDRE DE SEVER
SKY, racing from New Yorlt ’
to Havana a* a detail of the
"ceiling aero" air fete at i
Miami, la the Impresario of the
dancing airplane. The daring
Russian flyer, now a resident of
the United States, first rigged his
D« 8«rer»kr.
pirouetting plane
in 19.11. Using
an alarm clock, a
pair of head
phones and a dry
battery, he makes
hi* ship swoop
and *wirl to one
two-three waits
time, played op
land. It's all
done by music.
Lover* may sit
out "The Blue
Danube” In the
sky with no wear
and tear on shoe
leather. Maj. De
seversky, nymg ior nu»u m mu
World war, was severely injured and
wears a wooden leg. He loves w'altz
lng and has found * way to carry on.
It sounds like a great labor savor, as
one lusty band could waltz a thou
sand airplanes.
In the war, Maj. De Seversky, a
trim-rigged, good-looking young Rus
sian air are, brought down 13 German
planes, flying on the Baltic front. In
this country he became consulting
engineer for the United States Air
Service. He is a thorough-going tech
nician, rigidly trained In his youth,
but just plain flying is quite routine
business these days, and he likes to
work in interesting frills. For in
stance, he is the world greatest mas
ter of stunt flying with a dead motor.
In this pastime he is Lloyds’ worst
risk, but has never had a crack-up.
Details of airplane design engross
him, particularly problems involving
the adaptability of planes to land
and wrater and to snow and ice. He
has led in ski and pontoon design
for planes. For this he once won a
Russian naval prize. He designed the
skis for Sir Robert Wilkins’ Arctio
plane and several others.
Mrs. De Seversky was Evelyn Oli*
phant. a New York society girl. She,
too, is an expert pilot. When she
had had only a few hours in the air,
she piloted a guest home in the fam
ily plane, in the absence of her hus
band, this being her first turn at the
controls, and she has been flying solo
ever since. They have been married
10 years. Mrs. De Seversky says the
airplane is leveling barriers between
the sexes. Men can’t patronize a
j woman who can hold her own In the
! sky tourneys. And Mrs. De Seversky
cites ample evidence to show that
women meet this test.
(Copynsht. 1838.)
Heather Is Disappearing.
The heather hills of Scotland, whera
: King Edward often has hunted, are
threatened with barrenness because of
I the ravages of the heather beetle.